Mackie 1604-VLZ3 manual

1 60 4-VLZ3 OWNER’S MANUAL 16-Channel Mic/Line Mixer[...]

2 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 Important Safety Instructions 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water . 6. Clean only with a dry cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’ s instructions. 8. Do not in[...]

3 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Part No. SW0548 Rev . E 01/09 ©2006-2009 LOUD T echnologies Inc. All Rights Reserved. Loosely based on a dream sequence in which the entir e marketing depart- ment dance "The T wist" on a live TV pop music show back in 1966. Other Nuggets of Wisdom For optimum sonic performance, the channel fad- ers [...]

4 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 Introduction Thank you for choosing a Mackie professional com- pact mixer . The 1604-VLZ3 is equipped with our preci- sion-engineered XDR2 TM Extended Dynamic Range premium studio-grade mic pr eamp. Now that you have your 1604-VLZ3, fi nd out how to get the most from it. That’s wher e this manual comes in. How T o Use This[...]

5 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Contents CHANNEL STRIP DESCRIPTION ............................... 15 “U” LIKE UNITY GAIN ............................ 15 25. CHANNEL F ADER ..................................... 15 A CLEAN F ADE ........................................ 15 26. ASSIGN (1–2, 3–4, L–R) ........................ 15 27. SOL[...]

6 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 HOOKUP DIAGRAMS Recording System DIRECT OUT BAL/UNBAL CHANNEL INSERTS STEREO RETURNS MAIN INSERT C/R OUT BAL/UNBAL MAIN OUT BAL/UNBAL MONO STEREO PHONES OUT AUX SENDS BAL/UNBAL SUB OUTS BAL/UNBAL CHANNEL INPUTS TAPE OUT TAPE IN Headphones Bass Mic 1-2 Guitar Stereo Compressor Multi-trac k Digital Recorder Dela y Re verb Mono [...]

7 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Live Stereo P A System DIRECT OUT BAL/UNBAL CHANNEL INSERTS STEREO RETURNS MAIN INSERT C/R OUT BAL/UNBAL MAIN OUT BAL/UNBAL MONO STEREO PHONES OUT AUX SENDS BAL/UNBAL SUB OUTS BAL/UNBAL CHANNEL INPUTS TAPE OUT TAPE IN Headphones Mics 1-4 Guitar Stereo Compressors Activ e Stage Monitors Multi-trac k Digital Reco[...]

8 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 Converting T o Rackmount Mode Not only is the new 1604-VLZ3 a compact, profes- sional-quality tabletop mixer , it’s rack- mountable. The unique rotating input pod makes this possible. With a trusty phillips scr ewdriver , nerves of steel, grit, determination, your charming good looks, and a few moments of your valuable time[...]

9 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Patchbay Description At the risk of stating the obvious, this is where you plug everything in: microphones, line-level instruments and effects, headphones, and the ultimate destination for your sound: a tape recorder , P A system, etc. A few of the features described in this section ar e on top of the mixer , b[...]

10 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 4. INSER T These unbalanced 1/4" jacks are for connecting serial effects processors such as compressors, equalizers, de-essers, or fi lters. The insert point is after the GAIN [3] control, but before the channel’ s EQ [32], LOW CUT [33], F ADER [25] and MUTE [30] controls. Insert cables must be wired thusly: Tip = se[...]

11 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual The outputs of the multitrack are then patched to the next eight LINE [2] inputs on the 1604-VLZ3 (multi- track out 1 to LINE input 9, 2 to 10, 3 to 11, etc.). Aha! That’s why it says “TRACK 1” next to channel 9’ s fader , “TRACK 2” next to channel 10, and so forth. These chan- nels (9–16) will b[...]

12 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 9. C-R OUTS (CONTROL ROOM OUTPUTS) These 1/4" jacks are usually patched to the inputs of your control room amplifi er or a headphone distribu- tion amplifi er . T o learn how signals are routed to these outputs, see CTL ROOM/PHONES [43] on page 20. 10. PHONES OUTPUT (on front panel) The 1604-VLZ3’s ster eo 1/4"[...]

13 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual 12. T APE INPUT These unbalanced RCA jacks are designed to work with semipro as well as pro recorders. Connect your 2-track tape recorder’ s outputs here, using standard hi-fi RCA cables. T o learn how signals ar e routed from these inputs, see T APE IN (LEVEL) [40] on page 20. Use these jacks for convenien[...]

14 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 22. PHANTOM SWITCH This switch controls the phantom power supply for all the MIC [1] inputs, as discussed on page 9. When turned on (or off), the phantom power circuitry takes a few moments for voltage to ramp up (or down). This is perfectly normal. Make sure that you pull down the mas- ter fader , and headphone/control room[...]

15 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Channel Strip Description The sixteen channel strips look alike and function identically . So if you learn one, you have learned them all. The only difference is that the eight on the left have DIRECT OUT [5] jacks and the eight on the right don’t. W e’ll start at the bottom and work our way up. “U” LI[...]

16 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 27. SOLO This lovable switch allows you to check signals in your phones or control room without having to assign them to the L-R, 1-2 or 3-4 mixes. Y ou can solo as many channels as you like. SOLO does not interrupt any of the other channels, buses or outputs — that’s called nondestruc- tive solo. Using the MODE [44] swi[...]

17 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual The LOW EQ provides up to 15 dB boost or cut below 80 Hz. The circuit is fl at (no boost or cut) at the center detent posi- tion. This frequency r epresents the punch in bass drums, bass guitar , fat synth patches, and some really serious male singers who eat broken glass for breakfast. Used in conjunction wi[...]

18 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 33. LOW CUT This switch, often referr ed to as a high pass fi lter (all depends on how you look at it), cuts bass frequencies below 75 Hz at a rate of 18 dB per octave. This ain’t no thrown-in dime-store fi lter — an 18 dB per octave curve requir es an elaborate circuit. Nothing but the best. W e recommend that you use[...]

19 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Output Section Description Y ou’ve just learned about the input channels and how the signals get in and out. The signals come in via MIC [1] and LINE [2] input jacks, are manipulated by the channels, and then sent to the output (master) section. Things get a little more complicated, so put on your thinking c[...]

20 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 If you want the subgroup to appear in the center of the main mix, engage both the ASSIGN TO MAIN MIX, LEFT and RIGHT switches. The signal will be sent to both sides, and will be attenuated just enough to preserve constant loudness, just like the channel P AN [31] knobs when set in the center . 40. T APE IN (LEVEL) This knob [...]

21 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Engaging a SOLO switch will cause this dramatic turn of events: Any existing SOURCE matrix selections will be replaced by the SOLO signals, appearing in the con- trol room, headphones and meter display . The audible solo levels are controlled by the SOLO [46] level knob. The SOLO levels appearing on the meter [...]

22 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 48. METERS The 1604-VLZ3’s peak metering system is made up of two columns of twelve LEDs. Deceptively simple, con- sidering the multitude of signals that can be monitored by it. If nothing is selected in the SOURCE [42] matrix, and no channels are in SOLO [27], the meter display will just sit there. T o put them to work, y[...]

23 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual AUX T ALK SENDS are outputs, RETURNS ar e inputs. Each channel's AUX [34] knobs tap the signal off the channel and send it to the AUX SEND [6] outputs. AUX 1 and 2 are sent to the AUX SENDS 1 and 2 [49] master knobs before the AUX SEND outputs; AUX 3 through 6 are sent directly . These outputs can be fed [...]

24 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 52. TO AUX 1 and TO AUX 2 If you want to add reverb or delay to the stage monitor mixes, these are the knobs for you. Operating indepen- dently of their respectively number ed STEREO RE- TURNS [51] level controls, these knobs are exactly the same as the channel strip AUX 1 [34] and AUX 2 knobs. These two knobs feed stereo r [...]

25 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual 55. C-R/PHNS ONL Y (STEREO RETURN 4) Once again, the default for all the STEREO RETURNS is to feed them directly into the main mix. Y ou’ve just learned about the optional exceptions involving STE- REO RETURN 3. STEREO RETURN 4 also has an optional exception: By engaging this switch, you will remove STEREO R[...]

26 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 Appendix A: Ser vice Information W arranty Service If you think your Mackie product has a problem, please check out the following troubleshooting tips and do your best to confi rm the problem. Visit the Support section of our website (www .mackie.com/support) where you will fi nd lots of useful information such as F AQs, a[...]

27 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual “XLR” Connectors Mackie mixers use 3-pin female “XLR” connectors on all microphone inputs, with pin 1 wired to the grounded (earthed) shield, pin 2 wired to the “high” (”hot” or positive polarity) side of the audio signal and pin 3 wired to the “low” (“cold” or negative polarity) side o[...]

28 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 Special Mackie Connections The balanced-to-unbalanced connection has been anticipated in the wiring of Mackie jacks. A 1 ⁄ 4 " TS plug inserted into a 1 ⁄ 4 " TRS balanced input, for example, will automatically unbalance the input and make all the right connections. Conversely , a 1 ⁄ 4 " TRS plug insert[...]

29 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Direct out with no signal interruption to master. Insert only to first “c lick.” Channel Insert jack Channel Insert jack Channel Insert jack Direct out with signal interruption to master. Insert all the way in to the second “c lick.” For use as an effects loop. (TIP = SEND to effect, RING = RETURN from[...]

30 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 Appendix C: T echnical Information Specifi cations Main Mix Noise (20 Hz–20 kHz bandwidth, 1/4" Main out, channel gains @ unity gain, channel EQs fl at, all channels assigned to Main Mix, odd channels panned left, even channels panned right.) Main Mix fader unity , channel faders down: –88.5 dBu (92 dB Signal to N[...]

31 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual 5.7 in 146 mm 9.4 in 238 mm 17.5 in 4 45mm 17.9 in 446mm 13.0 in 330mm 19.0 in/ 483 mm 17.3 in/ 440 mm (with Rack Ears fitted) (with Rack Ears fitted in upper position) (with Rack Ears fitted in upper position) WEIGHT 20.0 lb/ 9.1 kg 5.1 in 129 mm 8.7 in 222 mm 6.3 in 160 mm (with Rack Ears fitted in upper pos[...]

32 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 T rack Sheet PAN AUX 3 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 EQ 5 4 6 5/6 SHIFT PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE GAIN 12 3 456 78 9 1 0 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 ?[...]

33 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE PRE 11 12 13 14 15 16 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 SOLO L - R 3 – 4 1 – 2 OL - 20 OL - 20 OL - 20 OL - 20 OL - 20 OL - 20 A N A UX Q 5 6 5/6 SHIFT PAN AUX 3 EQ E[...]

34 1604-VLZ3 1604- VLZ3 Block Diagram MAIN L SUB 3 MAIN R SUB 2 SUB 1 SUB 4 AUX 1 AUX 2 AUX 3 AUX 4 AUX 5 AUX 6 SIP L SIP R PFL LOGIC 75Hz HPF MID HI 80 100–8K 12K LO L R 1 2 3 4 SIP L SIP R PFL PHANT OM POWER (GLOBAL SWIT CH GAIN MIC IN LINE IN DIRECT OUT (CH'S 1–8 ONL Y) INSERT LOW CUT –20 (FLICKER) SOLO (GLOW) OL (FLICKER) MUTE (GLOW)[...]

35 Owner’ s Manual Owner’ s Manual Mackie Limited W arranty Please keep your sales receipt in a safe place. This Limited Product W arranty (“Product W arranty”) is provided by LOUD T echnologies Inc. (“LOUD”) and is applicable to products purchased in the United States or Canada through a LOUD-authorized reseller or dealer . The Product[...]

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