8
VLZ3 4•Bus
Typical Recording System
Once the band has played a few shows and feel that the songs are up to par, then it's time to record
them for posterity and all three adoring fans. The good thing is that the Mackie VLZ3 4•Bus mixer
functions great in both environments... live and recording!
Here is how to record the band in three easy steps:
1. Drum tracking: wire up everything as shown above. Bus the kick (panned left) to subgroup 1 and
snare (panned right) to subgroup 2 so they are recorded to their own tracks in the DAW. They will show
up on inputs 1 and 2. All four subgroup assign 1-2 Left/Right switches should be engaged so these
signals may be monitored in mono. Bus the tom mics and overhead mics to subgroups 3 and 4; set the
pans as preferred. The subgroup assign 3 left and subgroup assign 4 right switches should be engaged.
These signals are recorded and monitored with the pan image as set up on the mixer and will show up
as inputs 3 and 4. Check the levels carefully as they cannot be mixed later. The drums now need to be
mixed in the DAW before overdubbing takes place.
2. Overdubbing: first, route the stereo USB return into the last stereo channel (23/24 or 31/32,
depending on which VLZ3 4•Bus is being utilized). Next, route the stereo channel to the L/R Main
so playback occurs in the headphones. Now route the bass to the L/R Main by sending the bass mic
(panned left) to subgroup 1, and input 1 to track 5 of the DAW, while sending the bass DI (panned right)
to subgroup 2, and input 2 to track 6 of the DAW. Finally, engage the subgroup assign 1 and 2 Left/
Right switches to hear the bass in mono. Congratulations, you are overdubbing with zero latency!
3. Rinse and repeat: follow these same steps for guitars, keyboards, vocals, kazoos, llamas, and
whatever else you can fit in the studio. It's that easy!
As the session progresses, the engineer, band, producer, A&R representative, and whatever posse may
be present can crank the tunes through a pair of Mackie HR824mk2's and nod their collective heads to
the beat.
2404
USB
L
R
TAPE
OUT
IN
MONO
MAIN OUT
INSERT
LINE
RIGHT
MAIN OUT
INSERT
LINE
LEFT
MAIN OUT
INSERT
LINE
TALKBACK
MIC
POWER
ON
PHANTOM
ON
2
1
2
1
6
5
4
2
1
6
5
4
AUX INSERTS
AUX SENDS
L
R
STEREO RETURNS
3
3
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
INSERT
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
LINE IN
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10
MIC 20
MIC 19
MIC 18
MIC 17
MIC 16
MIC 15
MIC 14
MIC 13
MIC 12
MIC 11
MIC 10
MIC 9
MIC 8
MIC 7
MIC 6
MIC 5
MIC 4
MIC 3
MIC 2
MIC 1
3
2
1
4
GROUP OUTS
GROUP INSERTS
3
2
1
4
MONITOR
PHONES
MONITOR
L
R
L
R
23/24
21/22
WARNING:
AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE — NE PAS OUVRIR
LEVEL
OUTPUT
+6
Laptop
Computer
with audio
production
software
Mackie HR824mk2
Powered Reference
Monitors L/R
Headphone Amp
Headphones
Chris
on keys
Francis
on bass
Amplifier
modeler
DI
Box
Dustin
on drums
desTROYer
on six-string
Brian on
lead vox
