Control Room Matrix, Metering, And Phones - Mackie 1620 Owner's Manual

Control Room Matrix, Metering, and Phones

Typically, the engineer sends the MAIN MIX to an audi-
ence (if live) or to a mixdown deck (if recording). But
what if the engineer needs to hear something other than
the MAIN MIX in the control room or headphones? With
the Onyx 1620, the engineer has several choices of what
to listen to. This is one of those tricky parts, so buckle up.
Using the SOURCE switches, you can choose to listen
to any combination of MAIN MIX, ALT 3-4, TAPE, and
FIREWIRE (optional). By 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
IN RCA jacks. FIREWIRE is a 2-track feed coming in
through the optional FireWire card from your computer.
PREMIUM ANALOG MIXER
w/ PERKINS EQ & FIREWIRE OPTION
PHONES
CONTROL
LEFT
ROOM/
PHONES
0dB=0dBu
SOURCE
CLIP
MAIN MIX
FIREWIRE
(OPTION)
ALT 3-4
TAPE
RUDE
ASSIGN TO
SOLO
MAIN MIX
MAX MAX
O O O O
CONTROL PHONES SOLO
ROOM MODE
Selections made in
the SOURCE matrix
deliver stereo signals
to the CONTROL
ROOM, PHONES,
and Meters. With no
switches engaged,
there will be no signal
at these outputs and
no meter indication.
The exception to
that is the SOLO
RIGHT
function. Regard-
less of the SOURCE
20
matrix selection,
10 engaging a channel's
SOLO switch will
7
replace that selec-
4
tion with the SOLO
2
signal, also sent
0
to the CONTROL
2
ROOM, PHONES,
LEVEL
SET
4
and Meters.
7
10
20
30
Let's say you're
doing a live show.
Intermission is near-
ing and you want
to play a soothing
CD for the crowd to
PFL
prevent them from
AFL
becoming antsy.
Then you think, "But
I have the CD player plugged into the TAPE inputs, and
that never gets to the MAIN OUTPUTS!" Oh, but it does.
Simply engage this switch and your SOURCE matrix se-
lection, after going through the CONTROL ROOM level
control, will feed into the MAIN MIX, just as if it were
another stereo channel.
What if you have a playlist of MP3 fi les on your laptop
you want to play during the break? Get the optional
FireWire card and engage the FIREWIRE button to play
your MP3s directly from your computer, through the
SOURCE matrix, and into the MAIN MIX.
Another handy use for this switch is to enable the ALT
3-4 mix to become a submix of the MAIN MIX, using the
CONTROL ROOM level control.
Side effects: 1) Engaging this switch also feeds any so-
loed channels into the MAIN MIX, which may be the last
thing you want. 2) If you have MAIN MIX as your SOURCE
matrix selection and then engage ASSIGN TO MAIN MIX,
the MAIN MIX lines to the SOURCE matrix will be discon-
nected from the CONTROL ROOM and PHONES outputs,
to prevent feedback. Then again, why on earth would
anyone want to assign the MAIN MIX to the MAIN MIX?
WARNING: Pushing in both the TAPE
button (in the SOURCE matrix) and
ASSIGN TO MAIN MIX (21) can create
a feedback path between TAPE IN and
TAPE OUT. Make sure your tape deck
is not in record, record-pause, or input monitor mode
when you engage these switches, or make sure the CON-
TROL ROOM knob (22) is turned all the way down (off).
This controls the volume at the CONTROL ROOM
outputs, from off (∞) to maximum gain (MAX). It also
controls the level of the control room signal going to the
MAIN OUTS when ASSIGN TO MAIN MIX is selected in
the CONTROL ROOM/PHONES SOURCE matrix.
This controls the volume at the PHONES output, from
off (∞) to maximum gain (MAX).
This is where you plug in your stereo headphones. It
is a 1/4" TRS stereo jack and provides the same signal
that is routed to the CONTROL ROOM outputs (40), as
determined by the CONTROL ROOM/PHONES SOURCE
matrix (20). The volume is controlled with the PHONES
knob (23) (right next to the CONTROL ROOM knob).