Mackie 1640 User Manual download pdf (Page 16)

ONYX 1640

The reason for this is because you want the meters to

reﬂ ect what the engineer is listening to, and as we’ve

covered, the engineer is listening either to the CON-

TROL ROOM outputs or the PHONES outputs. The only

difference is that while the listening levels are con-

trolled by the CONTROL ROOM and PHONES knobs, 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

reﬂ ect the level of that channel’s signal level, pre- or

post-fader, depending on the SOLO MODE [25] setting.

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

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!

Mackie 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 Onyx 1640’s wide

dynamic range, you can get a good mix

with peaks ﬂ ashing anywhere between

–20 and +10 dB on the meters. Most am-

pliﬁ ers 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.”

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).

32. RUDE SOLO Light

This large green LED ﬂ ashes on and

off when a channel’s solo is active, as an

additional reminder beyond the indicat-

ing LEDs next to each SOLO button.

If you work on a mixer that has a solo

function with no indicator lights and you

happen to forget you’re in solo mode,

you can easily be tricked into think-

ing that something is wrong with your

mixer. Hence, the RUDE SOLO light. It’s

especially handy at about 3 am when no sound is coming

out of your monitors but your multitrack is playing back

like mad.

33. SOLO LEVEL

The SOLO LEVEL control is used to adjust the volume

of the solo’ed signal as it is routed to the CONTROL

ROOM and PHONES outputs. This control is indepen-

dent of, and prior to, the CONTROL ROOM and PHONES

level controls.

This controls the solo signal level for both PFL and

AFL solo modes (see next paragraph).

34. SOLO MODE

Engaging a channel’s SOLO switch will cause this

dramatic turn of events: Any existing SOURCE matrix

selections are replaced by the SOLO signal, appearing

at the CONTROL ROOM OUTPUTS, PHONES and at the

RIGHT METER (LEFT and RIGHT METERS when in

AFL SOLO MODE). The audible SOLO levels are then

controlled by the CONTROL ROOM knob [20]. The

SOLO levels appearing on the meters are not controlled

by the CONTROL ROOM knob—you wouldn’t want that.

You want to see the actual channel level on the meters

regardless of how loud you’re listening.

With the SOLO MODE switch in the up position, you’re

in PFL mode, meaning Pre-Fader Listen (post-EQ). This

mode is required for the “Set the Levels” procedure and

is handy for quick spot-checks of channels, especially

ones that have their faders turned down.

With the switch down, you’re in AFL mode, meaning

After-Fader Listen. You’ll hear the stereo output of the

soloed channel—it will follow the channel’s GAIN, EQ,

FADER and PAN settings. It’s similar to muting all the

other channels, but without the hassle. Use AFL mode

during mixdown.

In PFL mode, SOLO will not be affected by a channel’s

MUTE switch position.

Remember, PFL mode taps the chan-

nel signal before the fader. If you

have a channel’s fader set way below

“U” (unity gain), SOLO won’t know

that and will send a unity gain signal

to the to the C-R OUTS, PHONES output, and meter dis-

play. That may result in a startling level boost at these

outputs when switching from AFL to PFL mode, depend-

ing on the position of the SOLO LEVEL knob [33].

SOLO

LEVEL

SOLO MODE

PHONES

PFL

AFL

RUDE

SOLO

LEVEL

SET

LEFT

RIGHT

0dB=0dBu

CLIP

MAX

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Mackie 1640 User Manual Page 16

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