Mackie Mix 260FX Owners Manual - Page 13

SET to show where the level should be when adjusting a channel's gain in the solo mode, as described in "Set the Levels" on page 5. If nothing is selected in the CONTROL ROOM SOURCE SELECT and no channels are in SOLO, the meters won't do anything. To display a signal level, a source must be selected in the CONTROL ROOM SOURCE SELECT, which feeds the CONTROL ROOM [55] and PHONES [50] outputs. The meters reflect the program level of the selected source prior to the CTRL ROOM/PHONES [23] level knob. The reason for this is because you want the meters to reflect what the engineer is listening to, and the engineer is listening either to the CONTROL ROOM outputs or the PHONES outputs. The only difference is that while the listening levels are controlled by the CTRL ROOM/PHONES knob, the meters indicate the SOURCE mix before those knobs, giving you the real facts at all times, even if you're not listening at all. When a channel is soloed, the meters change to reflect the level of that channel's signal level, pre- or post-fader, depending on the SOLO MODE [25] setting. LOOK You may already be an expert at the world of "+4" (+4 dBu=1.23 V) and "-10" (-10 dBV=0.32 V) operating levels. What makes a mixer one or CLOSER the other is the relative 0 dB VU (or 0 VU) chosen for the meters. A "+4" mixer, with +4 dBu pouring out the back will actually read 0 VU on its meters. A "-10" mixer, with a -10 dBV signal trickling out will read, you guessed it, 0 VU on its meters. So when is 0 VU actually 0 dBu? Right now! TAPCO mixers show things as they really are. When 0 dBu (0.775 V) is at the outputs, it shows as 0 dB VU on the meters. 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 MIX FX Series' wide dynamic range, you can get a good mix with peaks flashing anywhere between -20 and +10 dB on the meters. Most amplifiers clip at about +10 dBu, and some recorders aren't so forgiving either. For best real-world results, try to keep your peaks between "0" and "+7" ("+5" on the 220.FX). Remember, audio meters 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). AUXILIARY SECTION 28. MASTER AUX SEND Knobs The Master AUX SEND knobs provide overall control for the aux send levels, just before the signal is delivered to the Aux Send outputs. It ranges from off when fully counter-clockwise, to unity gain at the center detent position, to +15 dB gain when fully up. 29. MASTER AUX SEND SOLO Switches These allow you to monitor the aux send signals in the CONTROL ROOM and PHONES outputs. This is especially handy for listening to an aux send being used to feed on-stage monitors. 30. Master AUX RETURN Level Control This adjusts the amount of the Aux Return signal that is added to the Left and Right Main Mix buses just before the MAIN MIX [42] faders. (Note: For additional routing options for the AUX RETURN signal, see "Assign Switch" next). 31. MAIN/ALT 3-4 Assign Switch (Mix.220FX) MAIN/SUB 1-2 Assign Switch (Mix.260FX) When this switch is up, the Aux Return signal is routed to the Left and Right Main Mix bus. When the switch is down, the signal is routed to the Alt 3-4 (Mix.220FX) or Sub 1-2 (Mix.260FX) buses instead of the Main Mix bus. 32. Master FX RETURN Level Control This adjusts the amount of the FX Return signal that is added to the Left and Right Main Mix buses just before the MAIN MIX [42] faders. If there is nothing plugged into the FX RETURN Inputs, the FX Return signal comes from the Internal Effects module. If the output from an external effects processor is plugged into the FX RETURN Inputs, the Internal Effects is disconnected and only the external effects signal is routed through the FX RETURN level control. 33. RTRN TO AUX 1 Level Control This routes the FX RETURN signal to the AUX 1 SEND. This is not affected by the FX RETURN level control, so you can use this control to add the FX RETURN to the monitor mix independently. The stereo effects return signal is summed to mono and routed to the AUX SEND 1 (MON) bus via this control where it is combined with the other signals at the AUX SEND 1 (MON) bus, prior to the MASTER AUX SEND 1 control [28]. 13