Mackie 1402-VLZ4 Owners Manual - Page 13

Owner's Manual Channel Strip Description The ten channel strips look alike, and function identically. The only difference is that the six on the left are for individual mics or mono instruments and have more gain available, while the next four are for either stereo or mono line-level sources. (Each of the stereo channel strips is actually two complete circuits. The controls are linked together to preserve stereo.) We'll start at the b­ ottom and work our way up... "U" Like Unity Gain VLZ4 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 what you're doing level-wise if you choose to change a control's settings. You won't have to check it here and check it there, as you would with some other mixers. In fact, some don't even have any reference to actual dB levels at all! You were smart - you're using a 1402VLZ4. The 1402VLZ4 has "dual-mode solo." The solo mode [35] switch in the master section determines which mode you'll be hearing. With the switch up, you'll get "AFL" (after-fader-listen), which is post-fader, post-pan, making it ideal for mixdown soloing. With the switch down, you're in "PFL" (pre-fader-listen), used in the level setting procedure. Soloed channels are sent to the source mix, which ultimately feeds your control room, phones and meter display. Whenever solo is engaged, all source selections (main mix, alt 3-4 and tape) are defeated, to allow the soloed signal to do just that - solo! 25. Mute/Alt 3-4 The dual-purpose mute/alt 3-4 bus is our signature. When Greg was designing our first product, he had to include a mute switch for each channel. Mute switches do just what they sound like they do. They turn off the signal by "routing" it into oblivion. "Gee, what a waste," Greg reasoned. "Why not have the mute button route the signal somewhere else useful... like a separate stereo bus?" So mute/alt 3-4 really serves two functions - muting (often used during a mixdown or live show), and signal routing (for multitrack and live work) where it acts as an e­ xtra stereo bus. 23. Channel Fader This adjusts the channel's level... from off, to unity gain, on up to 10 dB of additional gain. To use this as a mute switch, all you have to do is not use the alt 3-4 [16] outputs. Then, whenever you press this switch, you will assign a channel to these unused outputs, disconnecting it from the main mix, and effectively muting the channel. Channels 1 through 6 use mono To use this as an alt 3-4 switch, all you have to do is faders, and channels 7 through 14 use connect the alt 3-4 outputs to whatever destination you stereo faders, and so they may feel desire. Here are two popular examples: slightly different. Not a problem. When doing multitrack recording, use the alt 3-4 24. Solo outputs to feed your multitrack. With most decks, you can mult the alt 3-4 outputs, using Y-cords or mults, to This lovable switch allows feed multiple tracks. So, take alt output L and send it 25 you to hear signals through to tracks 1, 3, 5 and 7, and alt output R and send it to your headphones or control tracks 2, 4, 6 and 8. Now, tracks that are in record or 24 room without having to route them to input modes will hear the alt 3-4 signals, and tracks in the main mix or alt 3-4 mix. You don't playback or safe modes will ignore them. 23 even have to have the channel's fader turned up. Folks use solo in live work to preview channels before they are let into the mix, or to just check out what a particular channel is up to anytime When doing live sound or mixdown, it's often handy to control the level of several channels with one knob. That's called subgrouping. Simply assign these channels to the alt 3-4 mix, engage alt 3-4 in the source [33] during a session. You can solo as many channels at a time as you like. matrix, and the signals will appear at the control room and headphones. If you want the alt 3-4 signals to go back into the main mix, engage the a­ ssign to main mix Solo is also the key player in the [37] switch, and the ­control room/submix [34] level level-­setting procedure on page 5. control becomes the one knob to control the l­evels of all the channels assigned to alt 3-4. Owner's Manual 13