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Compact Mixer Reference Guide

MIXER ANATOMY: CHAPTER 2

Inputs, Outputs, and Related Controls

Mackie E-Z Interfacing

Concerned about levels, balancing, impedance,

polarity, or other interface goblins? Don’t be. On
your Mackie mixer, you can connect almost anything
almost anywhere, with nary a care. Here’s why:

•

Every main input and output is balanced .

•

Every 1/4" input and output jack also accepts
unbalanced connections.

•

Every input is designed to accept virtually any
output impedance.

•

The main left and right mix outputs can de-
liver +28 dBu into a 600 ohm load (that’s hot!)

•

All the other outputs can d22 dBu into
a 600 ohm load (that’s plenty).

•

All the outputs are in phase with the inputs.

All Mackie mixers have both microphone and line-

level inputs. Some channels have both, some chan-
nels have only line-level inputs. Consult your mixer’s
quick start guide (or just look at the connector
panel) for the exact arrangement. Below is the rear
panel of the 1604-VLZ PRO.

Mic? Line? – What’s The Difference?

Microphones produce a relatively low

voltage, generally in the range of 1 to 250
millivolts, depending on the sensitivity of

the mic, and how loud the sound is. Voltages in the
0.15 to 3 volt range are considered to be line-level.
These aren’t rules or standards, just ways of talking
about two widely different operating voltage ranges,
both of which are common in audio.

A microphone typically requires 20 to 60 dB of gain

in order to bring its signal up to the mixer’s operat-
ing level. A line-level signal requires little if any gain,
and may need to be brought down in level to match

the mixer. So, while there’s a wide adjustment range
for both mic and line inputs, the mic inputs have
higher gain.

Don’t forget the Level-Setting Proce-

dure at the beginning of this book. Mic
and line inputs are happiest when run-

ning at the optimum levels. That procedure will get
you there.

Check the Tips section and Glossary for more infor-

mation about terms we’ll be using here like operating
level, impedance, balanced, unbalanced, XLR, and
TRS. Also study the mixer block diagrams, as each
one is worth a thousand words or more.

Mic Inputs

Mackie mixers include phantom-powered, bal-

anced XLR microphone inputs just like the big studio
mega-consoles, and for exactly the same reason:
A fully balanced circuit is excellent at rejecting
hum and noise, and phantom powering means that
condenser mics can be used without external power
supplies or batteries.

You can plug in almost any kind of mic that has a

standard male XLR-type connector without fear of
overloading the preamp. Professional ribbon, dy-
namic, and condenser mics all sound great through
these inputs.

XLR Input Connectors – Mic wiring

Nearly all professional mics are designed to con-

nect to a low impedance input, and employ balanced
wiring terminating in an XLR-style plug. You’ll fi nd an
illustration and wiring diagram in the Tips section,
chapter 9. We use the wiring convention:

Pin 1 = shield
Pin 2 = positive (+ or hot)
Pin 3 = negative (- or cold)

UTILISE UN FUSIBLE DE RECHANGE DE MÊME TYPE. DEBRANCHER AVANT DE REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE

INSERT

LINE

INSERT

MIC 4

MIC 3

MIC 2

MIC 1

BAL
UN-
BAL

LINE

PHANTOM

POWER

120 VAC 50/60 Hz 20W

1A/250V SLO-BLO

MIC 16

INSERT

MIC 15

MIC 14

MIC 13

MIC 12

MIC 11

MIC 10

MIC 9

MIC 8

MIC 7

MIC 6

MIC 5

SUB OUT

C-R OUT

MAIN INSERT

(TIP SEND

RING RETURN)

TAPE

MAIN OUT

AUX SEND

DIRECT OUT

AUX RETURN

MONO

BAL/UNBAL

INPUT

OUTPUT

(MONO)

BAL
UN-
BAL

LINE

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF

FIRE REPLACE WITH SAME

TYPE FUSE AND RATING

CAUTION:

UTILISE UN FUSIBLE DE RECHANGE DE MÊME TYPE. DEBRANCHER AVANT DE REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE

CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, AND MANUFACTURED BY MACKIE DESIGNS INC • WOODINVILLE • WA • USA • MADE IN USA • FABRIQUE AU USA • COPYRIGHT ©1998 • THE FOLLOWING ARE TRADEMARKS OR REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF MACKIE DESIGN INC.: "MACKIE", "VLZ", "XDR", AND THE "RUNNING MAN" FIGURE • US PATENT NUMBER 29/049,129

XDR

EXTENDED DYNAMIC RANGE MIC PREAMPLIFIERS ARE PROPRIETARY TO MACKIE DESIGNS, INC.

XDR

MIC PRE

XDR

MIC PRE

XDR

MIC PRE

XDR

MIC PRE

XDR

MIC PRE