Mackie 1642-VLZ4 Owners Manual - Page 21

Owner's Manual 49 51 49 50 51 50 Thanks to the 1642VLZ4's wide dynamic range, you can get a good mix with peaks flashing anywhere between -20 and +10 dB on the meter display. Most amplifiers clip at about +10 dB, 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). If you find that staring at the meters sends you into a hypnotic trance, please do not be alarmed. Just cut my lawn and polish my car every Tuesday. Aux Talk Sends are outputs, returns are inputs. Each channel's aux [35] knobs tap the signal off the channel and send it to the aux send [6] outputs. Aux 1 and 2 are sent to the aux sends 1 and 2 [49] master knobs before the aux send o­ utputs; aux 3 and 4 are sent directly. These outputs can be 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 stereo return [7] inputs. Then these signals are sent through the stereo return [51] level controls, and finally delivered to the main mix. 46 44 45 48 So, the original "dry" signals come from the channels to the main mix, and the affected "wet" signals come from the stereo 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: 47 49. Aux Sends (Master) These knobs provide overall level control of aux sends 1 and 2, just before they're delivered to their aux send [6] outputs. This is perfect for controlling the level of stage monitors, since you'll be using aux 1 and 2 for this, with their pre [36] switches engaged. Aux sends 3 and 4 have no such control - they'll just send their mixes di- rectly to their respective aux send outputs at unity gain. Meters vs. Reality These knobs go from off (turned fully down), to unity You may already be an ­expert at the world of "+4" (+4 gain at the center detent, with 10 dB of extra gain dBu=1.23 V) and "-10" (-10 dBV=0.32 V) operating (turned fully up). As with some other level controls, you levels. Basically, what makes a mixer one or the other may never need the additional gain, but if you ever do, is the relative 0 dB VU (or 0 VU) chosen for the meter you'll be glad you bought a 1642VLZ4. display. A "+4" mixer, with a +4 dBu signal pouring out the back will actually read 0 VU on its meter display. A "-10" mixer, with a -10 dBV signal trickling out, will read, you guessed it, 0 VU on its meter display. So when is 0 VU actually 0 dBu? Right now! This is usually the knob you turn up when the lead singer glares at you, points at his stage monitor, and sticks his thumb 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.) At the risk of creating another standard, VLZ4 com- pact mixers address the need of both crowds by calling things as they are: 0 dBu (0.775 V) at the output shows as 0 VU 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. Owner's Manual 21