Mackie 1640 Owner'S Manual Download Page 16

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ONYX 1640

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