Aux 1 Master; Aux Talk - Mackie 1202 VLZ Owner's Manual

AUX TALK

First of all, there is no
particular alliance between
AUX SEND 1 (or 2) and AUX
RETURN 1 (or 2). They're
just numbers. They're like two complete
strangers, both named Fred.
Sends are outputs, returns are inputs. The
AUX knob
taps the signal off the channel
and sends it to the AUX SEND outputs
AUX 1 signal is sent to the AUX 1 MASTER
knob before going to the AUX SEND 1 output
and the AUX 2 signal goes directly to the AUX
SEND 2 output.
These outputs are fed to the inputs of a re-
verb or other device. From there, the outputs of
this external device are fed back to the mixer's
AUX RETURN jacks . Then these signals are
sent through the AUX RETURN level controls,
and finally delivered to the MAIN MIX.
So, the original "dry" signals go from the
channels to the MAIN MIX and the affected
"wet" signals go from the AUX RETURN to the
MAIN MIX, and once mixed together, the dry
and wet signals combine to create a glorious
sound. So, armed with this knowledge, let's
visit the Auxiliary World:
U
+10
O O

AUX 1 MASTER

MON/PRE
POST
AUX 1 EFX TO
SELECT MONITOR
POWER
SOURCE
MAIN
MIX
ALT 3 - 4
TAPE
ASSIGN
TO MAIN MIX
U BAL
MAX
O O
CONTROL
/ PHONES
ROOM
24
Besides being used to work effects into your
mix, Aux Sends serve another critical role —
that of delivering cue mixes to stage monitors,
so musicians can hear what they're doing. On
the MS1202-VLZ, AUX SEND 1 can play either
role, depending on the position of this switch.
With the AUX 1 SELECT switch up (disen-
gaged), AUX SEND 1 will tap a channel
pre-fader (GAIN) and pre-MUTE/ALT 3-4,
. The
meaning that no matter how you manipulate
those controls as they feed the MAIN MIX, the
AUX SEND will continue to belt out that
channel's signal. This is the preferred method
for setting up stage monitor feeds. EQ settings
will affect all AUX SENDs.
With the switch down, the AUX SEND 1
becomes an ordinary effects send — post-
fader (GAIN) and post-MUTE/ALT 3-4. This
is a must for effects sends, since you want the
levels of your "wet" signals to follow the level
of the "dry."
The AUX 1 MASTER provides overall level
control of AUX SEND 1, just before it's deliv-
ered to the AUX SEND 1 output. (AUX SEND
2 has no such control.) This knob goes from off
(turned fully down), to unity gain at the cen-
ter detent, with 10dB of extra gain (turned
U
fully up). As with some other level controls,
1
you may never need the additional gain, but if
+20
O O
NORMALLED
U
you ever do, you'll be glad you bought a Mackie.
2
This is usually the knob you turn up when
AUX
+20 RETURN
O O
the lead singer glares at you, points at his
stage monitor, and sticks his thumb up in the
LEFT RIGHT
0dB=0dBu
air. (It would follow suit that if the singer
+28 CLIP
stuck his thumb down, you'd turn the knob
+10
down... but that never happens.)
+7
+4
+2
0
-2
-4
-7 LEVEL SET
-10
-20
-30
RUDE
SOLO
LIGHT
U
U
+10dB
O O
MAIN MIX
AUX 1 SELECT (MON/PRE or POST)
AUX 1 MASTER