Mackie 1202-VLZ Pro Owner's Manual - Page 24

AUX TALK First of all, there is no particular alliance between AUX SEND 1 (or 2) and AUX RETURN 1 (or 2). They're just numbers. They're like two complete strangers, both named Fred. Sends are outputs, returns are inputs. The AUX knob taps the signal off the channel and sends it to the AUX SEND outputs . The AUX 1 signal is sent to the AUX 1 MASTER knob before going to the AUX SEND 1 output and the AUX 2 signal goes directly to the AUX SEND 2 output. These outputs are fed to the inputs of a reverb or other device. From there, the outputs of this external device are fed back to the mixer's AUX RETURN jacks . Then these signals are sent through the AUX RETURN level controls, and finally delivered to the MAIN MIX. So, the original "dry" signals go from the channels to the MAIN MIX and the affected "wet" signals go from the AUX RETURN to the MAIN MIX, and once mixed together, the dry and wet signals combine to create a glorious sound. So, armed with this knowledge, let's visit the Auxiliary World: U U OO +10 AUX 1 MASTER PRE POST AUX 1 SELECT EFX TO MONITOR OO OO 1 +20 U NORMALLED 2 AUX +20 RETURN POWER CONTROL ROOM SOURCE MAIN MIX ALT 3-4 TAPE ASSIGN TO MAIN MIX U LEFT RIGHT 0dB=0dBu 28 CLIP 10 7 4 2 0 2 4 7 LEVEL SET 10 20 30 RUDE SOLO LIGHT U AUX 1 SELECT (MON/PRE or POST) Besides being used to work effects into your mix, Aux Sends serve another critical role - that of delivering cue mixes to stage monitors, so musicians can hear what they're doing. On the 1202-VLZ PRO, AUX SEND 1 can play either role, depending on the position of this switch. With the AUX 1 SELECT switch up (disengaged), AUX SEND 1 will tap a channel pre-fader (GAIN) and pre-MUTE/ALT 3-4, meaning that no matter how you manipulate those controls as they feed the MAIN MIX, the AUX SEND will continue to belt out that channel's signal. This is the preferred method for setting up stage monitor feeds. EQ settings will affect all AUX SENDs. With the switch down, the AUX SEND 1 becomes an ordinary effects send - postfader (GAIN) and post-MUTE/ALT 3-4. This is a must for effects sends, since you want the levels of your "wet" signals to follow the level of the "dry." AUX 1 MASTER The AUX 1 MASTER provides overall level control of AUX SEND 1, just before it's delivered to the AUX SEND 1 output. (AUX SEND 2 has no such control.) This knob goes from off (turned fully down), to unity gain at the center detent, with 10dB of extra gain (turned fully up). As with some other level controls, you may never need the additional gain, but if you ever do, you'll be glad you bought a Mackie. This is usually the knob you turn up when the lead singer glares at you, points at his stage monitor, and sticks his thumb up in the air. (It would follow suit that if the singer stuck his thumb down, you'd turn the knob down... but that never happens.) OO MAX CTL ROOM/SUBMIX OO +10dB MAIN MIX 24