Mackie Mix 50 Owners Manual - Page 9

LOOK UNITY GAIN The U symbol on most of the controls, stands for "unity gain," meaning there is no change CLOSER 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. EQUALIZATION Each EQ control provides up to 15 dB of boost and cut, with no change to the signal (0 dB) in the center position. The mic/line channels have EQ controls on all models. Only the Mix.60 has EQ controls on the stereo channels. Although you can bring a sound to life with proper EQ, you can also mess things up. If you max the EQs on every channel, you'll get mix mush, not to mention driving your mix levels near or beyond clipping. So equalize subtly; use cut as well as boost. 5. HI EQ Turning this clockwise boosts the level of all frequencies above 12 kHz. Turning it counterclockwise cuts the levels. Use this wisely to add sizzle to cymbals or an overall sense of transparency or edge to keyboards, vocals, guitar, and bacon frying. Turn it down a little to reduce sibilance or hide tape hiss. 1 U 5 EQ HIGH 12kHz -15 +15 U 6 MID 2.5kHz -15 +15 U 7 LOW 80Hz -15 +15 AUX U SEND 10 +15 PAN 11 4 PEAK L R U LEVEL 12 6. MID EQ (all except Mix.50) Turning this clockwise boosts the level of frequencies at and around 2.5 kHz. Turning it counterclockwise cuts the levels. The midrange frequencies include the upper male and lower female vocal ranges, and the fundamentals and harmonics for many instruments. 7. LOW EQ Turning this clockwise boosts the level of all frequencies below 80 Hz. Turning it counter-clockwise cuts the levels. Frequencies of 80 Hz and below represent the punch in bass drums, bass guitar, fat synth patches, and hightestosterone male singers. +15 Mix.60 Mono Channel 8. 75Hz Low-Cut Switch (Mix.100/Mix.120 only) This switch cuts the bass frequencies below 75 Hz. We recommend that you use the Low-Cut switch on every microphone application except kick drum, bass guitar, bassy synth patches, or recordings of earthquakes. These aside, there isn't much down there that you want to hear, and filtering it out makes the low stuff you do want much more crisp and tasty. 9. +4/-10 Switch (Mix.100/Mix.120 only) This switch changes the input sensitivity of the channel to match either the -10 dBv consumer level or the +4 dBu professional level. Most consumer equipment with RCA connectors operate at the -10 dBv level, while most professional equipment with 1/4-inch phone jacks or XLR connectors operate at the +4 dBu level. As you might expect, the +4 dBu level is higher (louder) than the -10 dBv level. If you have trouble getting enough volume from a signal connected to one of these stereo channels, push in the +4/-10 switch to get more volume. AUXILIARY (all except Mix.50) In addition to the main mix output, the mixer provides an auxiliary mix, which you can send to parallel effects processors or stage monitors. 4 U TAPE EQ The AUX 5 L SEND knobs adjust how much -15 +15 HIGH U 12kHz of each channel is tapped off, added 6 to the aux mix, and sent out via the AUX SEND (26) jack. On the stereo -15 +15 MID U 2.5kHz R IN OUT CD/TAPE 7 -15 +15 LOW 80Hz INPUT/OUTPUT 5/6 channels, the 8 9 AUX knob controls a mono sum of the channel's stereo 75Hz AUX U SEND 10 +4 -10 AUX U SEND signals. For instance, on the Mix.60, channel 3 +15 PAN +15 BAL (L) and 4 (R) mix together to feed 11 that channel's L PEAK R L 4 PEAK R AUX send knob. U LEVEL U LEVEL 12 12 +15 +15 9 Mix.120 Mono and Stereo Channels