être insérées 3. Heed Warnings — All warnings on this Mackie product and à fond sans laisser aucune pariie à découvert. in these operating instructions should be followed.
READ THIS PAGE!!! Other Nuggets of Wisdom We realize that you must have a powerful hankerin’ to try out your new 1604-VLZ PRO. Or For optimum sonic performance, the channel faders and the MAIN MIX fader should be set near you might be one of those people who never reads manuals.
CONVERTING TO RACKMOUNT MODE Not only is the new 1604-VLZ PRO a compact, An optional accessory called the ROTOPOD- professional-quality tabletop mixer, it’s rack- VLZ is available and can be used in desktop or mountable! Its unique rotating input pod rackmount installations.
CUT, post-fader and post-MUTE. They are the of attenuation fully down and 45dB of gain fully key player in “split monitoring,” making the up, with a “U” (unity gain) mark at 10:00. 1604-VLZ PRO perfect for an 8-track studio. To wire your own cables:...
SPLIT MONITORING But let’s not forget that the 1604-VLZ PRO is a 4-bus mixer. These buses lead to the SUB With split monitoring, you use the first eight OUTS , and are designed to accomplish the channels for your sound sources: vocal mics,...
" MONO output jack . Alternatively, use PHONES OUTPUT an RCA Y-cord to combine the TAPE OUTPUT The 1604-VLZ PRO’s stereo " phones jack jacks (Radio Shack ® #274-511, for instance).
Just reach for this knob EXTENDED DYNA and turn it down a bit. Just the thing for send- CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, AND MANUFACTURED BY MACKIE DESIGNS INC • WOODINVILLE • WA • USA • MADE IN USA • FABRIQUE AU USA • COPYRIG...
(the track). It is possible for airborne “U” LIKE UNITY GAIN crud to land on the track. Should that happen, Mackie mixers have a “U” you may hear scratchy noises or signal drop- symbol on almost every level outs as the wiper stumbles over the crud. Do control.
SOLO won’t know that and will send a unity should be disengaged (up). gain signal to the C-R OUTS, PHONES output The 1604-VLZ PRO is what we call a “true and meter display. That may result in a startling 4-bus mixer.” Each channel can be assigned or...
DIRECT OUT signals on channels 1 through 3-BAND MID-SWEEP EQ 8. And of course, that fun-loving OL (MUTE) LED will commence to glow. The PRE AUX The 1604-VLZ PRO has a 3-band, mid-sweep , channel INSERT send and SOLO sends...
LOW CUT The LOW CUT switch, often referred to as a high pass filter (all depends on how you look at it), cuts bass frequencies below 75Hz at a rate of 18dB per octave. This ain’t no thrown-in –5 TRIM dime-store filter —...
In PRE mode (switch down), AUX 1 and 2 We recommend going into a stereo reverb in follow the TRIM and LOW CUT settings only. mono and returning in stereo. We have found EQ, PAN, fader and MUTE settings have no ef- that on most “stereo”...
OUTPUT SECTION DESCRIPTION You’ve just learned about the At Mackie, audio quality is much more im- input channels and how the sig- portant than the price of wall warts. All of our 1604-VLZ PRO 0.5A 16-CHANNEL MIC/ LINE MIXER nals get in and out. The signals...
You may have already seen this, but in case To quote step 6 of the Level-Setting , “Push in the MODE switch in you missed it: The 1604-VLZ PRO’s solo system Procedure comes in two flavors: NORMAL (AFL) (sometimes the output section (LEVEL SET (PFL) mode) —...
METERS AUX TALK The 1604-VLZ PRO’s peak metering system is First of all, there is no particular alliance between AUX SEND 1 and AUX RETURN 1. made up of two columns of twelve LEDs. Decep- tively simple, considering the multitude of signals They’re just numbers.
AUX RETURN 3’s stereo signal will not low-level effects. Signals passing through the STEREO AUX be sent to the MAIN MIX, but to subgroup fad- 1604-VLZ PRO 0.5A RETURN level controls will pro- ers 1 and 2 (1–2/3–4 switch up) or subgroup...
Congratulations! You’ve just read about all but you don’t want the mixdown deck and/or the features of your 1604-VLZ PRO. You’re prob- audience to hear it. By gum, this is the switch ably ready for a cold one. Go ahead. The rest of for you.
1604-VLZ PRO Post-EQ Mod Mackie Disclaimer This changes AUX SENDS 1 and 2, with the Any modification of any Mackie Designs prod- pre switch engaged, to receive their signals post-EQ uct must be performed by a competent electronic instead of pre-EQ. The signal remains post-low cut, technician.
Page 29
Mackie Disclaimer This changes the CTL ROOM/PHONES level control in the SOURCE matrix to receive the Any modification of any Mackie Designs prod- main mix stereo signal pre-MAIN MIX fader in- uct must be performed by a competent electronic stead of post-MAIN MIX fader.
90dB 5.0" (127mm) 5.6" (142.2mm) 1604 VLZ-PRO with pod normal 1604-VLZ PRO WEIGHT 20.0 lbs. (9.1 kg) 19.0" (482.6mm) 17.3" (442.0mm) 8.7" (221.0mm) 9.3" (236.2mm) 1604-VLZ PRO with pod to back 1604-VLZ PRO 6.0" (152.4mm) 6.6" (167.6mm) with optional rotopod...
PRO is only available from Mackie Designs, lo- rush one to you). cated in sunny Woodinville, Washington. (Service If you think your 1604-VLZ PRO has a problem, for mixers living outside the United States can please do everything you can to confirm it before call- be obtained through local dealers or distribu- ing for service.
Peterson & Oppenheimer; Handbook for now used universally for balanced microphone Sound Engineers, by Glen Ballou, Mackie Mixer connections. In sound work, a Cannon connec- Book by Rudy Trubitt and Sound Reinforcement tor is taken to mean a Cannon XLR-3 mic Handbook, by Gary Davis.
Page 35
“cueing” circuit is the same as pre-fader (PFL) many audio effects units. detent solo on a Mackie mixer, and often the terms are interchangeable. A point of slight physical resistance (a click-stop) in the travel of a knob or slide con- See decibel.
Page 36
echo A lot of how we refer to equalization has to The reflection of sound from a surface such do with what a graph of the frequency re- as a wall or a floor. Reverberation and echo are sponse would look like. A flat response (no terms that can be used interchangeably, but in EQ) is a straight line;...
Page 37
If you have tionships is important to avoid distortion and noise in your system due to technical grounding minimize added noise. Mackie input and out- problems, check your manual for wiring tips or put impedances are set to work well with the call technical support.
Page 38
input module mixer A holdover from the days when the only way An electronic device used to combine that real consoles were built was in modular various audio signals into a common output. fashion, one channel per module. See channel Different from a blender, which combines vari- strip.
Page 39
“invisible” to ordinary dynamic fader. Sends connected this way are typically microphones. Mackie mixers use standard +48 (but not always) used for monitors (foldback). volt DC power, switchable on or off. Most qual- See post-fader.
Page 40
But make no mistake: the devices. Mackie mixers call it an Aux Send. shelving only thing that the phono jack (or plug) has going for it is low cost.
Page 41
With added reverberation or other effect In Mackie mixers, the tip is send, ring is re- like echo, delay or chorusing. XLR connector turn, and sleeve is ground.
APPENDIX B: CONNECTIONS “XLR” CONNECTORS sleeve to ground (earth). Mackie mixers do not directly accept 1-plug-type stereo Mackie mixers use 3-pin female “XLR” microphones. They must be separated into a connectors on all microphone inputs, with left cord and a right cord, which are plugged pin 1 wired to the grounded (earthed) shield, into the two mic preamps.
Page 43
(earth) or shield SPECIAL MACKIE CONNECTIONS to the surrounding “basket.” The balanced-to-unbalanced connection has UNBALANCING A LINE been anticipated in the wiring of Mackie jacks. ⁄ " TS plug inserted into a ⁄ " TRS balanced...
Page 44
" phone. They are Stereo line inputs and stereo AUX returns unbalanced, but have both the mixer output are a fine example of the Mackie philosophy (send) and the mixer input (return) signals in (which we just made up) of Maximum Flex- one connector (See Figure F).
Page 45
MULTS AND “Y”s A mult or “Y” connector allows you to route one output to two or more inputs by simply providing parallel wiring connections. You can make “Y”s and mults for the outputs of both unbalanced and balanced circuits. Remember: Only mult or “Y”...
APPENDIX C: BALANCED LINES, PHANTOM POWERING, GROUNDING AND OTHER ARCANE MYSTERIES Balanced Lines What is it, exactly? Balanced lines offer increased immunity to ex- The obvious external power source for any ternal noise (specifically, hum and buzz). Because modern microphone is a battery. About the only a balanced system is able to minimize noise, it is electronic advantage that a battery has is that the preferred interconnect method, especially in...
Page 47
Many old ribbon microphones were Phantom powering is defined in DIN standard supplied connected this way. Have a techni- 45 596 or IEC standard 268–15A. Your Mackie cian lift the ground from the center tap. Designs mixer conforms to this standard.
Page 48
Do’s and Don’ts of Fixed Installations 8. Ensure that the electrician uses the star- ground system for the safety grounds in If you install sound systems into fixed installa- your electrical system. All of the audio tions, there are a number of things that you can system grounds should terminate at the do to make your life easier and that increase same physical point.
Page 49
Woodinville, WA 98072 Mackie, the "Running Man" figure, VLZ and XDR are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mackie Designs Inc. All other brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.
Page 50
1604-VLZ PRO 16-CHANNEL MIC/ LINE MIXER WITH PREMIUM XDR MIC PREAMPLIFIERS Session: Date: NOTES: TRIM TRIM TRIM TRIM TRIM TRIM TRIM TRIM +15dB -45dB +15dB -45dB +15dB -45dB +15dB -45dB +15dB -45dB +15dB -45dB +15dB -45dB +15dB -45dB SHIFT SHIFT...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the 1604-VLZ PRO and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers