Mackie 802-VLZ3 Owner's Manual - Page 3

Owner's Manual Read This Page! We realize that you can hardly resist the impulse to try out your new 802-VLZ3. All we ask is that you read this page NOW, and the rest can wait until you're good and ready. But do read it - you'll be glad you did. Level-Setting Procedure Instant Mixing Here's how to get going right away, assuming you have a microphone and a keyboard: 1. Plug your microphone into channel 1's mic input. 2. Turn on the 802-VLZ3. Message to seasoned pros: do not set levels using the old "Turn the gain up until the clip light comes on, then back off a hair" trick. When a Mackie mixer clip light comes on, you really are about to clip. We worked and slaved to come up with a better system, one that provides low noise and high headroom. Adjusting input levels (Chs. 1-3 only) 3. Perform the level-setting procedure. 4. Connect cords from the main outs (XLR, 1⁄4" or RCA, your choice) to your amplifier. 5. Hook up speakers to the amp and turn it on. 6. Turn up the 802-VLZ3's channel 1 level knob to the center, and the main mix knob one quarter of the way up. On the first three channels, it's not even necessary to hear what you're ­doing to set ­the optimal levels. But if you'd like to: Plug headphones into the phones jack, then set the phones knob about one-quarter of the way up. The following steps must be performed one channel at a time: 1. Turn the gain, level and aux send knobs fully down (counterclockwise). 2. Set the EQ knobs at the center detent. 3. Connect the signal source to the input. 4. Engage (push in) the solo switch. 5. Play something into the selected input. This could be an instrument, a singing or speaking voice, or a line input such as a CD player or tape recorder output. Be sure that the volume of the input is the same as it would be during normal use. If it isn't, then you might have to readjust these levels during the middle of the set. 6. Adjust the channel's gain control so that the meter display stays around "0" and never goes higher than "+6." 7. Sing like a canary! 8. Plug your keyboard into stereo channel 5-6. 9. Turn that channel's level knob to the center. 10. Play like a madman and sing like a canary! It's your first mix! Other Notes For optimum sonic performance, the channel level knobs and the main mix knob should be set near the "U" (unity gain) markings. Always turn the main mix, control room/submix, and phones level controls down before making connections to and from your 802-VLZ3. If you shut down your equipment, turn off your amplifier or powered speakers first. When powering up, turn them on last. Save the shipping box! You may need it someday. Please write your serial number here for future reference (i.e., insurance claims, tech support, return authorization, make dad proud, etc.) 7. If you'd like to apply some EQ, do so now and return to step 6. Purchased at: 8. Disengage that channel's solo switch. 9. Repeat for each of channels 1 through 3. Note that channel 3's gain control only affects the mic input, not the line inputs. Date of purchase: Part No. SW0635 Rev. D 08/12 ©2007-2012 LOUD Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Based on a true story.) Owner's Manual 3