17. MUTE GROUP Assign Switches

Use these switches to assign the channel to one or more mute groups. The master mute groups [54] are located in the Master section next to the Talkback section. When a master mute group switch is pressed, all the channels assigned to that mute group are muted. This makes it easy to mute a number of channels all at once, for example, all the drum mics or all the vocal mics.

18. MUTE

Press this switch to mute the individual channel. This disconnects the channel’s signal from all the Groups, the Main Mix, and Aux Send buses (pre* and post- fader). You can still solo the channel (PFL) when the MUTE switch is pushed in.

*If the pre-fader Aux Send’s internal jumper is wired for pre-EQ [14], the MUTE switch will not affect the PRE Aux Send.

19. Channel Fader

The fader controls the channel’s level…from off to unity gain at the “U” marking, on up to 10 dB of additional gain.

“U” Like Unity Gain

Mackie mixers have a “U” symbol

on almost every level control. This

“U” stands for “unity gain,” meaning

no change in signal level. Once you

have adjusted the input signal to line-level, you can set every control

at “U” and your signals will travel through the mixer at optimal levels. What’s more, all the labels on our level controls are measured in decibels (dB), so you’ll know

with the channel’s PAN knob, they are used to determine the destination of the channel’s signal.

With the PAN knob [12] at the center detent, the left

Owners’

and right sides receive equal signal levels (GROUPS 1-2,

3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and MAIN MIX L-R). To feed only one side

or the other, turn the PAN knob accordingly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re doing a mixdown to a 2-track, for example,

Manual

simply engage the MAIN MIX switch on each channel

that you want to hear, and they’ll be sent to the MAIN

MIX bus. If you want to create a subgroup of certain

channels, engage either the 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, or 7-8 switches

instead of the MAIN MIX, and they’ll be sent to the ap-

propriate Group faders. From there, the groups can be

 

sent back to the MAIN MIX (using

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAN

 

the MAIN MIX assign switches [41]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

above the Group faders), allowing

 

L R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you to use the Group faders as a

 

 

MUTE GROUP

 

 

 

master control for those channels.

 

 

 

 

 

1

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re creating new tracks or

3

4

 

 

 

bouncing existing ones, you’ll also

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

use the GROUP ASSIGN switches,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but not the MAIN MIX switch. Here,

 

 

 

 

MUTE

 

you don’t want the subgroups sent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

back into the MAIN MIX bus, but

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

sent out, via the GROUP SEND jacks

dB

 

[74], to your multitrack inputs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, if you’re printing tracks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

via the DIRECT OUTS [70], the

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

channel assignment switches don’t

 

 

 

 

 

+10

 

 

 

matter because the DIRECT OUTS

U

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

come before the ASSIGN switches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22. PFL SOLO Switch

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GROUP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSIGN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what you’re doing level-wise if you choose to change a control’s settings.

20. Signal Level LEDs

This handy switch allows you to hear signals through your headphones or monitor outputs without having to route them to the MAIN or GROUP mixes. Folks use solo in live

20

30

1-2

3-4

5-6

These LEDs indicate the channel’s signal level after the GAIN and EQ controls, but just prior to the channel ’s fader. So even if the fader is turned down, you can see if a signal is present.

If you’ve followed the “Set the Levels” procedure, the

–20 and 0 LEDs should light frequently, the +10 LED

work to preview channels before they are let into the mix, or just to check out what a particular channel is up to anytime during a session. You can solo as many channels at a time as you like.

40

50

7-8 60

OO

MAIN

MIX

PFL

should light occasionally, and the OL (Overload) LED should not light at all. If the OL LED is blinking fre- quently, the signal is probably distorted from overdriving the input. Either turn down the GAIN control or turn down the signal at its source.

21. GROUP and MAIN MIX ASSIGN Switches

Alongside each channel fader are five buttons referred to as channel assignment switches. Used in conjunction

The Onyx 80 Series has two solo modes. PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) is

the default solo mode, and the mode used for soloing individual channels and the stereo Aux Inputs. AFL (Af- ter-Fader Listen) is activated whenever an AFL switch is pressed on an Aux Send, Matrix, or Group.

PFL solo mode always overides any AFL solo mode. The Rude Solo LEDS below the SOLO meters indicate which solo mode is active.

Owner’s Manual

13