Mackie 1402VLZ4 Owner's Manual

1402VLZ4

At the risk of creating another standard, 1402VLZ4

mixers address the need of both crowds by calling things
as they are — 0 dBu (0.775 V) at the output shows as  
0 dB VU on the meters. What could be easier? By the
way, the most wonderful thing about standards is that
there are so many to choose from.

Remember, audio meters are just tools to help assure

you that your levels are “in the ballpark.” You don’t have
to stare at them (unless you want to).

Sends are outputs, returns are inputs. the channel

aux [30 and 31] knobs tap the signal off the channel
and sends it to the aux send [8] outputs. Aux 1 signal is
sent to the aux 1 master [40] knob before going to the
aux send 1 [8] output and the aux 2 signal goes directly
to the aux send 2 [8] output.

These outputs can be fed to the inputs of a reverb or

other device. From there, the outputs of this external
device are fed back to the mixer’s stereo return [7]
jacks. Then these signals are sent through the stereo
return [41] 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
stereo 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:

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 1402VLZ4, aux send 1 can play
either role, depending on the position of this switch.

With this switch up (disengaged), aux send 1 will  

tap a channel pre-fader (level) and pre-mute/alt 3-4,
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 (level) 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.”

This knob provides overall level control of aux send 1,

just before it’s delivered to the aux send 1 [8] output.
(Aux send 2 has no such control.) This knob goes from
off (turned fully down), to unity gain at the center
detent, with 10 dB of extra gain (turned fully up).  
As with some other level controls, you may never need
the additional gain, but if you ever do, you’ll be glad you
bought a 1402VLZ4.

This is usually the knob you turn up when the lead

singer glares at you, points at his stage monitor, and
sticks his thumb up in the air. (It would follow suit that
if the singer stuck his thumb down, you’d turn the knob
down… but that never happens.)

These two controls set the overall level of effects

received from stereo return [7] inputs 1 and 2. These
controls are designed to handle a wide range of signal
levels, from off, to unity gain at the detent, with 20 dB
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 effects device’s outputs, not the mixer.  
That way, the mixer’s knobs are easy to relocate  
at the center detent.