Mackie 1202-VLZ Pro Owner's Manual - page 25
25
AUX RETURNS
These two controls set the overall level of
effects received from
STEREO AUX RETURN in-
puts
1 and 2 . These controls are designed to
handle a wide range of signal levels, from
off, to
unity gain at the detent, with 20dB gain fully
clockwise, to compensate for low-level effects.
Typically, these knobs can just live at the
center detent, and the effects device’s output
control should be set at whatever they call
unity gain (check their manual). If that turns
out to be too loud or too quiet, adjust the ef-
fects device’s outputs, not the mixer. That way,
the mixer’s knobs are easy to relocate at the
center detent.
Signals passing through the
AUX RETURN
level
controls will proceed directly to MAIN
MIX , with one exception (see next para-
graph). The
AUX RETURNs do not have
MUTE/ALT 3-4 switches, so if you want these
signals to get to the
ALT 3-4 mix, you’ll have to
patch the effects device’s outputs into one of
the stereo channels , and
MUTE/ALT those
channels.
EFX TO MONITOR
The idea behind the
EFX TO MONITOR
switch is simple. If you want to add reverb or
delay to the stage monitor mixes, this is the
switch for you. The implementation leading up
to the switch is the tricky part:
With the switch up,
AUX RETURN 1 and 2
behave normally — they deliver their signals
into the
MAIN MIX. With the switch down,
AUX RETURN 1 still behaves normally, but
AUX RETURN 2 will feed AUX SEND 1
instead of the
MAIN MIX.
Still with us? Good. So far, with the switch
down, we have
AUX RETURN 1 feeding the
MAIN MIX and AUX RETURN 2 feeding AUX
SEND 1. Now, suppose you only have one ef-
fects device, and you want it to feed both the
MAIN MIX and AUX SEND 1. That’s where
“jack normalling” comes in.
JACK NORMALLING
Jack normalling (not to be confused with
Jack Normalling, Chicago Cubs utility infielder,
1952-61, .267 LBA) is a feature found on al-
most every mixer, keyboard and effects device.
These jacks have special spring-loaded pins
that connect to the signal pins, but when
something is plugged into the jack, that
connection is broken.
These normalling pins can be used in all
sorts of ways. The ubiquitous phrase “
LEFT
(
MONO)” means that if you plug a signal into
the
LEFT side and have nothing in the RIGHT
side, that signal is also fed to the right input,
courtesy of jack normalling. As soon as you
plug something in the
RIGHT side, that
normalled connection is broken.
How does all this relate to the
EFX TO
MONITOR switch? AUX RETURN 1’s inputs
are normalled to
AUX RETURN 2. If you have
one effects device, plug it into
AUX RETURN 1.
Plug nothing into
AUX RETURN 2. Now the
signals feeding the
AUX RETURN 1 inputs will
also be sent to the
AUX RETURN 2 inputs.
Engage the
EFX TO MONITOR switch, and
now the
AUX RETURN 2 knob will become an
additional
AUX SEND 1 knob for the signal at
AUX RETURN 1 . Say that ten times! Once
again,
AUX RETURN 1 will behave normally,
as always.
Congratulations! You’ve just read about all
the features of your 1202-VLZ PRO. You’re
probably ready for a cold one. Go ahead. The
rest of the manual can wait.
MODIFICATIONS
For most folks, the 1202-VLZ PRO works just
fine the way it is. But for special applications,
there are three signal routing changes that can
be performed easily on the 1202-VLZ PRO. Easy
for someone with soldering experience, that is.
If you don’t know how to solder, find a techni-
cian that can. This is NOT a good place to learn!
• Modification A changes AUX SEND 2 to be
pre-fader, pre-mute instead of post-fader,
post-mute.
• Mod B changes AUX SEND 1 (in
post
mode) and AUX SEND 2 to receive signal
regardless of the channel’s MUTE/ALT
switch position, but still be
post-fader
(GAIN knob).
• Mod C 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.