Mackie 1402-VLZ Pro Owner's Manual - Page 24

OO 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. Here's the whole idea behind sends and returns: sends are outputs, returns are inputs. AUX SENDs tap signals off the channels, via their AUX knobs , mix these signals, then send them out via the AUX SEND jacks . 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 Returns 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 C-R/SOURCE LEFT RIGHT 0dB=0dBu 28 MAIN MIX 10 7 4 ALT 3-4 2 0 TAPE 2 4 ASSIGN TO MAIN MIX SOLO MODE NORMAL (AFL) LEVEL SET (PFL) PHANTOM POWER 7 10 20 30 RUDE SOLO LIGHT LEVEL SET CTL ROOM /SUBMIX dB 10 MAIN MIX dB 10 5 5 U U 5 5 10 10 20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50 60 60 OO AUX 1 SELECT 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 1402-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 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 a constant signal level. This is the preferred method for setting up stage monitor feeds. EQ settings will affect all AUX SENDS. With the switch down, AUX SEND 1 becomes an ordinary effects send - post-FADER 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 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.) AUX RETURNS These two controls set the overall level of effects received from STEREO AUX RETURN inputs 1 and 2 . These controls are designed to handle a wide range of signal levels, from off, to unity gain at the detent, with 20dB gain fully clockwise, to compensate for low-level effects. Typically, these knobs can just live at the center detent, and the effects device's output control should be set at whatever they call Unity gain (check their manual). If that turns out to be too loud or too quiet, adjust the effects device's outputs, not the mixer. That way, the mixer's knobs are easy to relocate at the center detent. 24