Output Section Description; Main Mix Fader; Subgroup Faders; Assign To Main Mix - Mackie 1604vlz Owner's Manual

Output Section Description

You've just learned about the input channels and how
the signals get in and out. The signals come in via mic
[1] and line [2] input jacks, are manipulated by the
channels, and then sent to the output (master) section.
Things get a little more complicated, so put on your
thinking caps, take a deep cleansing breath, take this
manual, get on a bycycle, ride down to the canal, ponder
your life and all its unique experiences, then read this
section.
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37. Main Mix Fader

This fader controls the levels of signals sent to the
main out [14] jacks and tape output [11] RCA jacks.
All channels and stereo returns that are assigned to the
main mix, not muted and not turned fully down will
appear at the main outs. Before the main mix gets to
this fader, the signals pass through the main insert [13].
The main mix signals are off with the fader fully down,
the "U" marking is unity gain, and fully up provides
10 dB additional gain. This additional gain will typically
never be needed, but once again, it's nice to know
it's there. The fader itself is a stereo version of the
channel and subgroup faders — same supersmooth
custom taper, same dead silence when turned fully
down. This is the fader to pull down at the end of the
song when you want "The Great Fade-Out."

38. Subgroup Faders

As you might expect, these faders control the levels
of signals sent to the sub outs [8]. All channels that are
assigned to subgroups with the assign [26] switches,
not muted and not turned fully down will appear at the
sub outs. Unlike the main out [14], the subgroup signals
do not pass through an insert jack on their way to the
subgroup faders. That's no problem — should you want
to send these signals through a serial effects processor,
simply patch from the sub outs to the effect's input,
and from the effect's output to whatever the final
destination is, usually a multitrack recorder.
The subgroup signal is off when its fader is fully down,
the "U" marking is unity gain, and fully up provides
10 dB additional gain. Remember that if you're
treating two subgroups as a stereo pair, subgroup
1 and 2 for example, make sure that both subgroup
faders "ride" together, to maintain the left/right balance.

39. Assign To Main Mix

One popular use of the subgroups is to use them
as master faders for a group of channels on their way
to the main mix. Let's say you've got a drum kit hogging
up seven channels and you're going to want to fade them
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out at a different rate than the other channels. You don't
want to try that with seven hands or seven fingers,
so just un-assign these channels from L–R, reassign
them to subgroup 1–2, engage the assign to main mix,
left on subgroup 1 and the assign to main mix, right
on subgroup 2. Now you can ride the entire stereo drum
mix with two faders — 1 and 2.
If you engage just one assign to main mix switch per
subgroup (left or right), the signal sent to the main
mix will be the same level as the sub outs [8]. If you
want the subgroup to appear in the center of the main
Owner's Manual
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