Output Section; Main Mix; Control Room Source Matrix; Phones - Mackie 802VLZ4 Owner's Manual

Output Section

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29. Main Mix

This knob controls the levels of signals sent to the
main outputs: XLR [17] and 1⁄4" [16] and RCA tape
output [14]. All channels and stereo returns [8] that
are not muted or turned fully down will wind up in the
main mix.
Fully counterclockwise is off, the center is unity gain,
and fully clockwise provides 12 dB of additional gain.
This additional gain will typically never be needed, but
once again, it's nice to know it's there. This is the knob
to turn down at the end of the song when you want
"The Great Fade-Out."

30. Control Room Source Matrix

Typically, the engineer sends the main mix to an
audience (if live) or a mixdown deck (if recording).
But what if the engineer in the control room needs to
hear something other than the main mix? With the
802VLZ4, the engineer has several choices of what
to listen to. This is one of those tricky parts, so brace
yourself.
With these source switches, you can choose to listen
to any combination of main mix, alt 3-4 and tape. By
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now, you probably know what the main mix is. Alt 3-4 is
that additional stereo mix bus. Tape is the stereo signal
coming in from the tape input [13] jacks.
Selections made in the source matrix deliver stereo
signals to the control room, phones and meter display.
With no switches engaged, there will be no signal at
these outputs and no meter indication.
The exception is the solo function. Regardless of the
source selection, engaging a channel's solo [22] switch
will replace that selection with the solo signal, also sent
to the control room, phones and meters. This is what
makes the getting started procedure so easy to do.
Warning: Engaging both the tape and
assign to main mix [33] button can create
a feedback path between tape input [13] and
tape output [14]. Make sure your tape deck is not in
record, record-pause, or input-monitor mode when you
engage these switches, or make sure the control room /
submix [32] level knob is fully counterclockwise (off).
Now you know how to select the signals to send to
the engineer's control room or phones.

31. Phones

This knob controls the level going to your stereo
headphones. Make sure this is fully down whenever you
are making connections in your system, or putting on
the headphones. Bring up the level slowly and carefully
to protect your hearing.
This dedicated phones level knob makes it is easy to
turn down the studio monitors and listen just with the
headphones, when overdubbing, or when in a room full
of sleeping and hungry leopards.

32. Control Room/Submix

This knob controls the level of the stereo control room
outputs [10]. The control range is from off through
unity gain at the center, with 10 dB of extra gain when
turned fully clockwise.
When main mix is your control room source selection,
those signals will now pass through three level controls
on the way to your control room amp and phones : the
main mix [29] knob, this control room / submix knob,
and the phones knob [31]. This way, you can send a
nice healthy level to the main output (main mix knob
at "U"), and a quiet level to the control room or phones
(control room / submix knob and phones knob where
you like).
When alt 3-4 or tape is selected, or a channel solo
[22] is engaged, the control room / submix knob and
phones knob will be the only ones controlling these
levels (channel controls not withstanding).
Owner's Manual
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