Mackie Mixer Reference Guide

INTRODUCTION

The DAW's mixer is a Mackie 1642-VLZ Pro, and is used to control the levels of all the inputs and outputs. However, keep in mind that as you adjust these levels through the mixer, the difference in sound you hear is confined to the studio monitors and is not necessarily what your recording will ultimately sound like. In this sense, the mixer acts more like a router than an actual audio mixer. Thus, most settings on the mixer should remain left alone to preserve usability of the DAW. Individual tracks can be “mixed” using the wide variety of software the DAW has to offer.

PATCHBAY

The patchbay on the Mackie Mixer is used to connect all the inputs and outputs to the mixer. There is a total of 16 line inputs used to connect all the input devices, such as mics, instruments, and various signal processors. Out of these 16 line inputs, channels 1-8 are mono channels with Mic and Line inputs. These inputs should be used for low-output devices, such as microphones, because these inputs also offer some pre-amplification to your signal. Channels 9-10 and 11-12 are stereo inputs, while channels 13-14 and 15-16 are stereo inputs, but without a Mic input.

Figure 1: Various ways of connecting your
devices to the Insert plug.

Channels 1-8 each have a Mic input, Line input and an Insert plug. Mic input is used for a microphone, while line input is used for virtually any other signal. One of the special inputs for channels 1-8 is the Insert plug. The insert plug is used for connecting

serial effects processors like compressors, equalizers, de-essers, filters, etc. Figure 1 shows different ways to connect your devices to the Insert plug.

Beside the 8 mono channels, there are 8 stereo channels, numbered 9-16. Channels 9-10 and 11-12 function in the same way. They are both stereo channels with a mono Mic input and two Line inputs, one for left and one for right. The last two channels are 13-14 and 15-16, which are comprised of just two Line inputs each. Once again one of these Line inputs is used for left and other for right in order to give you a final stereo result.

Right above channels 13-16 is a Tape in and Tape out section that is used to connect the mixer to the Sony tape deck. You can, of course, use it to connect to a different tape deck. Beside the Tape inputs/outputs there are two headphone outputs.

CHANNEL STRIPS

		Trim - The trim knob adjusts the gain of your signal. Adjust the trim slowly to avoid unwanted feedback
		Aux - The aux knobs are not used as there are no auxillaury devices connected to the DAW.
		EQ - The EQ’s are used to adjust the frequency of a signal. For example, you can alter the hi, mid, and low frequencies.
		Pan - The pan knob moves the stereo signal from left to right channel in the studio monitors.
		Mute - The mute button mutes the given channel’s signal.
		Solo - The solo buttons mute all other channels regardless of the Main Mix when pressed.
		1-2 - The 1-2 button lets you assign the current channel to the output on Rec 1 and 2. This is to be used with inputs only, since it makes no sense for output to get routed to another output.
		3-4 - The 3-4 button lets you assing the current channel to the output on Track 3 and 4. Once again this is to be done with inputs only.
		L/R - The L/R button controls if a signal from a given channel is routed to the speakers or not.
		Fader - Controls the level of your signal.

OUTPUT SECTION

		Aux Section - None of the buttons or knobs in the Aux section need to be adjusted.
		Phones - The phones knob adjusts the volume of the headphones.
		Control Room - Controls the overall level of the studio monitors. The C-R is a very crude adjustment. Finer adjustments can be made using the Main Mix Fader.
		Tape In/Tape to Main Mix - Tape In adjusts the signal level of the tape in as connected to the Patchbay. Tape to Main Mix send the signal to the Main Mix.
		Solo/Mode - The Solo knob controls the level of the solo tracks, while the Mode button switches between the two solo modes. Please try both solo modes to make sure that it sounds good with your setup.
		Subgroup Faders - Since the mixer acts as a router for the DAW, the subgroup faders control the incoming/outgoing signal levels of other DAW components such as the GINA, Roland and DAT.
		Main Mix Fader - The main mix fader controls the signal level sent to the main outs. In this case, the studio monitors.