Common Questions - Mackie CR-1604 Owner's Manual

10 COMMON QUESTIONS

1. How do I get the effects into my monitors?
2. How do I get effects out the ALT 3/4 Bus?
3. How do I set up a monitor or auxiliary send master?
4. What modifications can be done to the mixer?
5. How do I perform the modifications to my mixer?
6. Can I use the Bal./Unbal. Main Outputs and Mono
Output at the same time?
7. Can I split the Main Outputs with a Y-cord?
8. Can I use the XLR Mic Inputs for line inputs?
9. How do I record with effects?
10. Why are there really only 9 questions?
TECH
STUFF
26
(1) Q: How do I get the effects into my monitors?
A: Instead of connecting the output(s) of an
effect device to the AUX RETURN TO MASTER
jacks, it should be connected to the line input(s)
of unused channels. This would make the chan-
nel fader(s) the AUX RETURN to main output
control. This channel or channels should be set
up as if it were receiving any line input signal.
This means setting the proper input trim level
with the fader at unity and setting the pan con-
trol (stereo or mono). You now have the effect
going to your main outputs.
Now to get the effect to the monitors sim-
ply turn up your monitor send on that
channel (the one you have connected the out-
put of the effect to). The AUX OUT is still
connected to the input of the effect the same
way and the individual channels are still sent
to the effect the same way. The only differ-
ence is how you are controlling the return
level of the effect.
Using this configuration you must remem-
ber one important point — NEVER turn up
the AUX SEND level of the particular effect
on the channel you are using as the AUX RE-
TURN. This will give you a feedback loop. For
example, if you are using AUX SEND 2 for a
reverb send and you are using channels 15
and 16 as your stereo AUX RETURNS, you
would NEVER want to turn up AUX SEND 2
on channels 15 and 16.
It may seem that you are losing inputs by
configuring the aux returns this way but you
are not. Your unused AUX RETURNS TO
MASTER JACKS can now be used as inputs.
By engaging the MONO switch on the AUX
RETURNS you can have up to 8 mono inputs.
Also, by returning the output of the effect to a
channel you can now use the EQ to further
enhance the effect.
(2) Q: How do I get effects out of the ALT 3/4 Bus?
A: You will need to perform option #1, 2, or 3
in the modification sheets in order for an indi-
vidual channel to be muted (sent to the ALT
3/4 Bus) and still be capable of sending chan-
nel information out of the auxiliary sends.
Instead of connecting the output(s) of an
effect device to the AUX RETURN TO MASTER
jacks, it should be connected to the line
input(s) of unused channels. This would make
the channel fader the auxiliary return master.