Mackie 1604-VLZ Pro Owner's Manual - Page 25

METERS The 1604-VLZ PRO's peak metering system is made up of two columns of twelve LEDs. Deceptively simple, considering the multitude of signals that can be monitored by it. If nothing is selected in the SOURCE matrix and no channels are in SOLO, the meter display will just sit there. To put them to work, you must make a selection in the SOURCE matrix (or engage a SOLO switch). Why? You want the meter display to reflect what the engineer is listening to, and as we've covered, the engineer is listening either to the C-R OUTS or the PHONES output. The only difference is that while the listening levels are controlled by the CTL ROOM/PHONES knob, the meter display reads the SOURCE mix before that control, giving you the real facts at all times, even if you're not listening at all. When the solo MODE switch is set to LEVEL SET (PFL) (down) , all soloed signals will be sent to the left meter only. That, combined with LEVEL SET LED , are along the path of enlightenment known as the Level-Setting Procedure . During NORMAL (AFL) mode, the meters will behave normally. Meters vs. Reality You may already be an expert at the world of "+4" (+4dBu=1.23V) and "-10" (-10dBV=0.32V) operating levels. Basically, what makes a mixer one or the other is the relative 0dB VU (or 0VU) chosen for the meter display. A "+4" mixer, with a +4dBu signal pouring out the back will actually read 0VU on its meter display. A "-10" mixer, with a -10dBV signal trickling out, will read, you guessed it, 0VU on its meter display. So when is 0VU actually 0dBu? Right now! At the risk of creating another standard, Mackie's compact mixers address the need of both crowds by calling things as they are: 0dBu (0.775V) at the output shows as 0VU on the meter display. What could be easier? By the way, the most wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from. Thanks to the 1604-VLZ PRO's wide dynamic range, you can get a good mix with peaks flashing anywhere between -20 and +10dB on the meter display. Most amplifiers clip at about +10dB, and some recorders aren't so forgiving either. For best real-world results, try to keep your peaks between "0" and "+7." Please remember: Audio meter displays are just tools to help assure you that your levels are "in the ballpark." You don't have to stare at them (unless you want to). AUX TALK First of all, there is no particular alliance between AUX SEND 1 and AUX RETURN 1. 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 . AUX 1 and 2 are sent to the AUX SENDS 1 and 2 master knobs before the AUX SEND outputs and AUX 3 through 6 are sent directly. These outputs are fed to the inputs of a reverb or other device. From there, the outputs of the external device are fed back to the mixer's AUX RETURN inputs . Then these signals are sent through the AUX RETURN level controls, and finally delivered to the MAIN MIX . So, the original "dry" signals come from the channels to the MAIN MIX and the affected "wet" signals come from the AUX RETURNS to the MAIN MIX, and once mixed together, the dry and wet signals combine to create a glorious sound. Armed with this knowledge, let's visit the Auxiliary World: AUX SENDS (MASTER) These knobs provide overall level control of AUX SENDS 1 and 2, just before they're delivered to their AUX SEND outputs . This is perfect for control- ling the level of stage monitors, since you'll be using AUX 1 and 2 for this, with their PRE switches en- gaged . AUX SENDS 3 through 6 have no such control - they'll just send their mixes directly to their respective AUX SEND out- 1604-VLZ PRO 12V 16-CHANNEL MIC/ LINE MIXER 0.5A WITH PREMIUM XDRTM MIC PREAMPLIFIERS LAMP puts at unity gain. This knob goes from off (turned fully down), to unity gain at the U 1 +10 U U 1 +20 U U 1 TO AUX SEND 1 +15 EFFECTS TO U MONITORS OO OO OO OO OO OO center detent, with 10dB of extra 2 2 2 TO AUX SEND 2 gain (turned fully up). As with +10 AUX some other level controls, you may SEND +20 U +15 ASSIGN OPTIONS 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 1 3 OO OO SOLO 2 +20 U MAIN MIX 1-2 TO SUBS 3-4 SOLO 4 PHAN PWR C-R / PHNS RETURNS +20 ONLY SOLO STEREO AUX RETURN U LEFT RIGHT 0 dB=0 dBu monitor, and sticks his thumb in 28 MAX +20 10 OO OO the air. (It would follow suit that if CTL ROOM / PHONES TAPE IN 7 the singer stuck his thumb down, 4 TAPE TAPE TO 2 you'd turn the knob down, but MAIN MIX 0 that never happens.) SUBS 1-2 2 4 SUBS 3-4 OO MAX SOLO LEVEL SET 7 10 MAIN MIX CTL ROOM SOURCE MODE NORMAL (AFL) LEVEL SET (PFL) 20 30 RUDE SOLO LIGHT 25