C-R/Phns Only (Aux Ret 4); Returns Solo; Modifications - Mackie 1604-VLZ PRO Owner's Manual

(MAIN MIX TO SUBS switch up) and you did a
drum fade-out using subgroup faders 1 and 2,
the "dry" signals would fade out, but the "wet"
signals would keep on singing. All you would
hear is the drum reverb (the "wet"), and none of
the original drum signals (the "dry"). That's be-
cause the reverb is being fed by the channel's
AUX sends, and they have no idea that you've
pulled down the subgroup faders. That's why we
threw in these switches.

C-R/PHNS ONLY (AUX RET 4)

Once again, the default for all the STEREO
AUX RETURNS is to feed them directly into
the MAIN MIX. You've just learned about the
optional exceptions involving AUX RETURN 3.
AUX RETURN 4 also has an optional excep-
tion: By engaging the C-R/PHNS switch, you
will remove AUX RETURN 4's stereo signal
from the MAIN MIX and send it directly to the
CTL ROOM/PHONES SOURCE matrix
matters not if any of the SOURCE matrix
switches are assigned, but it will be inter-
rupted, as usual, if a SOLO switch is engaged.
Let's pretend you're doing a live mix to a
2-track deck, a house PA, or both, and you
want to play along to a click track. You could
run the click track directly into the MAIN MIX,
but you don't want the mixdown deck and/or
audience to hear it. By gum, this is the switch
for you. Similarly, it can be used for voice-over
tracks, narration, anything you want heard by
the engineer and players but not by the audi-
ence and mixdown deck.

RETURNS SOLO

This switch operates just like the channel
SOLO switches — engaging it sends signals to
the C-R OUTS, PHONES output and meter dis-
play and interrupts whatever happened to be
there before you soloed. It follows the MODE
switch setting as well. The only difference is
that when you engage the RETURNS SOLO
switch, it sends all four STEREO AUX RETURNS
signals to the SOLO circuit.
Assume you want to solo the snare drum.
Hit that channel's SOLO switch, and you get
the "dry" (no effects) snare only. That helps,
but you want to hear it with the reverb you
have patched into an AUX RETURN. Leaving
that channel's SOLO switch engaged, also en-
gage the RETURNS SOLO switch, and now
you'll get the dry snare and its reverb.
Since it is a global feature, you'll also get
the signals from all the other AUX RETURNS,
. It
so there may be some sounds that you didn't
want to hear. If they offend your sensibilities,
simply turn down the levels of the STEREO
AUX RETURNS you don't want to hear, or
MUTE the channels feeding the unwanted sig-
nal to the effects device you do want to hear.
Congratulations! You've just read about all
the features of your 1604-VLZ PRO. You're prob-
ably ready for a cold one. Go ahead. The rest of
the manual can wait.

MODIFICATIONS

For most folks, the 1604-VLZ PRO works just
fine the way it is. But for special applications,
there are two signal routing changes that can be
performed easily on the 1604-VLZ PRO. Easy for
someone with soldering experience, that is. If
you don't know how to solder, find a technician
that can. This is NOT a good place to learn!
• Modification A changes AUX SEND 1 and 2,
with the pre switch engaged, to be
post-EQ instead of pre-EQ.
• Mod B changes the SOURCE matrix's
MAIN MIX selection to tap the stereo
signal before the MAIN MIX level control
(pre) instead of after (post).
Instructions for performing these modifications
can be found on our website at www.mackie.com
(click on Support). Or you can call Tech Support
at 1-800-258-6883 for assistance.
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