Mackie Compact Mixer User Manual download pdf (Page 9)

Compact Mixer Reference Guide

MIXER ANATOMY: CHAPTER 2

On some models, the headphones and control room

share the same level control; on others, there’s a

separate control for headphone level.

Some models have two headphone jacks. The two

jacks on the 1642-VLZ PRO are fed from the same

point, and both follow the same Phones level control.

The 8-Bus console has two completely independent

headphone outputs, each having its own level control

and source selector for two separate mixes to its

headphone jacks.

Studio Output (8-Bus)

The Studio Output normally feeds an ampliﬁ er and

speakers (or powered speakers) in the studio, so that

the musicians can hear a playback without coming

into the control room. These carry the same signal as

the Control Room outputs, but have an independent

level control so you can adjust the playback volume

to suit the listeners.

The 8-Bus TALKBACK microphone can be routed

to the Studio output, so that you can talk to the play-

ers through the studio monitor speakers.

WARNING: When you have mics live in

the studio, they’ll also be live in the studio

monitors if the Studio output control is

turned up. In the extreme case, you’ll get feedback,

but you don’t want to record the speaker outputs ei-

ther. When tracking, be sure to turn the Studio Level

control down between playbacks.

The Studio Output jacks can be used with a second

ampliﬁ er and speakers in the control room, so you

can compare the mix on your high grade monitors

with the boombox speakers the rest of the world

listens to. To switch between the two, turn one level

control down and the other one up, or easier, use an

external monitor A/B switch.

Mix B Output (8-Bus)

The MIX-B jacks are 1/4" unbalanced outputs that

carry the Mix B signal. We’ll cover Mix B in depth

later on, but brieﬂ y, it’s an independent stereo mix

that’s usually used for monitoring the multitrack

recorder returns when tracking.

Channel Inserts

The channel INSERT jacks allow you to break the

channel signal path right after the mic preamp stage

and its associated TRIM control (the low-cut ﬁ lter

too on some mixers) and insert a device such as a

compressor, equalizer, or de-esser into the chain.

You can also insert a signal processor such as a

delay, ﬂ anger, or reverb unit in the channel path to

process the source coming into that channel. This is

sometimes called a “serial” effect hookup since it’s in

series with the signal path.

Since most people who need only a small mixer,

don’t have racks full of processing gadgets, our small-

est mixers don’t have Inserts on every channel. The

larger ones do.

The INSERT jack is a 1/4" TRS type, but in this

instance, the two jack contacts are used as an output

(send) from the preamp and an input (return) back

into the remainder of the channel strip. Switch

contacts built into the jack provide a “normal” con-

nection from send to return when there’s no plug

inserted. When you push a plug all the way in, this

connection is broken, and you have access to the

channel insert points through the jack.

The tip of the plug connects to the SEND, and the

ring connects to the RETURN. Since we’re using only

one contact of the jack for each connection, con-

nections to and from the INSERT are unbalanced.

The send is a low impedance line-level output that

will drive any pro or semi-pro processing device. The

RETURN is a moderate impedance line-level input

that can be driven by almost any device.

You can buy an Insert cable off the rack at your lo-

cal music store, or build one. Here’s how it’s wired:

Tip = Send (Output to effects device)

Ring = Return (Input to effects device)

Sleeve = Common Ground (Shield connects to all

three sleeves

Here’s how to hook an outboard signal processor in

line with the channel path (a “serial” connection):

“tip”

This plug connects to one of the

mixer’s Channel Insert jacks.

“ring”

tip

ring

sleeve

SEND to processor

RETURN from processor

(TRS plug)

OUT

TIP

RING

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Mackie Compact Mixer User Manual Page 9

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