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Owner’s Manual
Owner’
s Manual
Meters vs. Reality
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. Basically, what makes a mixer one or the other
is the relative 0 dB VU (or 0 VU) chosen for the meter
display. A “+4” mixer, with a +4 dBu signal pouring out
the back will actually read 0 VU on its meter display.
A “–10” mixer, with a –10 dBV signal trickling out, will
read, you guessed it, 0 VU on its meter display. So when
is 0 VU actually 0 dBu? Right now!
At the risk of creating another standard, VLZ4 com
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pact mixers address the need of both crowds by calling
things as they are: 0 dBu (0.775 V) at the output shows
as 0 VU on the meter display. 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 1642VLZ4’s wide dynamic range, you
can get a good mix with peaks flashing anywhere be
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tween –20 and +10 dB on the meter display. Most ampli
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fiers clip at about +10 dB, and some recorders aren’t so
forgiving either. For best real-world results, try to keep
your peaks between “0” and “+7.”
Please remember: Audio meter displays 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).
If you find that staring at the meters sends you into a
hypnotic trance, please do not be alarmed. Just cut my
lawn and polish my car every Tuesday.
Aux Talk
Sends are outputs, returns are inputs. Each channel's
aux [35] 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 and 4 are sent directly.
These outputs can be fed to the inputs of a reverb or
other device. From there, the outputs of the external
device are fed back to the mixer’s stereo return [7]
inputs. Then these signals are sent through the stereo
return [51] level controls, and finally delivered to the
main mix.
So, the original “dry” signals come from the channels
to the main mix, and the affected “wet” signals come
from the stereo returns to the main mix, and once mixed
together, the dry and wet signals combine to create a
glorious sound. Armed with this knowledge, let’s visit
the Auxiliary World:
49. Aux Sends (Master)
These knobs provide overall level control of aux sends
1 and 2, just before they’re delivered to their aux send
[6] outputs. This is perfect for controlling the level of
stage monitors, since you’ll be using aux 1 and 2 for this,
with their pre [36] switches engaged. Aux sends 3 and 4
have no such control — they’ll just send their mixes di
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rectly to their respective aux send outputs at unity gain.
These knobs go from off (turned fully down), to unity
gain at the center detent, with 10 dB of extra gain
(turned fully up). As with some other level controls, you
may never need the additional gain, but if you ever do,
you’ll be glad you bought a 1642VLZ4.
This is usually the knob you turn up when the lead
singer glares at you, points at his stage monitor, and
sticks his thumb in the air. (It would follow suit that if
the singer stuck his thumb down, you’d turn the knob
down, but that never happens.)
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