Mackie 1642-VLZ Pro Owner's Manual - Page 10

PATCHBAY DESCRIPTION At the risk of stating the obvious, this is where you plug everything in: microphones, line-level instruments and effects, and the ultimate destination for your sound: a tape recorder, PA system, etc. Many of the features described in this section are on top of the mixer, but some are on the rear panel. E-Z INTERFACING Concerned about levels, balancing, impedances, polarity, or other interface goblins? Don't be. On your 1642-VLZ PRO, you can patch anything almost anywhere, with nary a care. Here's why: • Every input and output is balanced (except inserts, phones and RCA jacks). • Every input and output will also accept unbalanced lines (except XLR jacks). • Every input is designed to accept virtually any output impedance. • The main left and right mix outputs can deliver 28dBu into as low as a 600 ohm load. • All the other outputs can deliver 22dBu into as low as a 600 ohm load. • All the outputs are in phase with the inputs. All we ask is that you perform the Level-Setting Procedure every time you patch in a new sound source. So stop worrying and start mixing! MIC AND LINE INPUT FLEXIBILITY Channels 1-8 are mono channels with MIC and LINE inputs, featuring our new XDR Extended Dynamic Range mic preamp circuitry. Channels 9-10 and 11-12 are stereo pairs with left and right LINE inputs and a single MIC input feeding each pair. Channels 13-14 and 15-16 are stereo pairs with LINE inputs only. MIC INPUTS We use phantom-powered, balanced microphone inputs just like the big studio megaconsoles, for exactly the same reason: This kind of circuit is excellent at rejecting hum and noise. You can plug in almost any kind of mic that has a standard XLR-type male mic connector. Always be sure to perform the Level-Setting Procedure . To learn how signals are routed from these inputs: . If you wire your own, connect them like this: SHIELD 2 HOT COLD 3 1 SHIELD 1 COLD 3 2 HOT 1 3 2 SHIELD COLD HOT Pin 1 = ground or shield Pin 2 = positive (+ or hot) Pin 3 = negative (- or cold) Professional ribbon, dynamic, and condenser mics will all sound excellent through these inputs. The 1642-VLZ PRO's mic inputs will handle almost any kind of mic level you can toss at them, without overloading. A WORD ABOUT PHANTOM POWER Most condenser mics require phantom power, where the mixer sends low-current DC voltage to the mic's electronics through the same wires that carry audio. The 1642-VLZ PRO's phantom power is globally controlled by the PHANTOM switch on the rear panel . Semipro condenser mics often have batteries to accomplish the same thing. "Phantom" owes its name to an ability to be "unseen" by dynamic mics (Shure® SM57/SM58, for instance) that don't need external power and aren't affected by it anyway. Unless you know for certain it is safe to do so, never plug single-ended (unbalanced) microphones, instruments or electronic devices into the MIC input jacks if the phantom power is on. MIC 1 XDR MIC PRE MIC 2 XDR MIC PRE MIC 3 XDR MIC PRE MIC 4 XDR MIC PRE MIC 5 XDR MIC PRE MIC 6 XDR MIC PRE MIC 7 XDR MIC PRE MIC 8 XDR MIC PRE MIC 9-10 XDR MIC PRE MIC 11-12 XDR MIC PRE TAPE IN LEFT TAPE OUT LEFT RIGHT RIGHT LAMP 12V 0.5A 1642-VL Z PRO 16-CHANNEL MIC/ LINE MIXER WITH PREMIUM XDRTM MIC PREAMPLIFIERS LINE IN BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN BAL L UN- BAL LINE IN 9 MONO LINE IN 11 MONO BAL BAL L UN- BAL UNBAL INSERT LINE IN 10 LINE IN 12 R R LINE IN MONO 13 LEFT BAL / UNBAL 14 RIGHT LINE IN MONO 15 LEFT PHONES A BAL / UNBAL 16 RIGHT B 10