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164-VLZ3
1642-VLZ3
44. MODE (NORMAL (AFL)/LEVEL SET (PFL))
You may have already seen some of this in the SOLO
discussion, but in case you missed it: The 1642-VLZ3’s
solo system comes in two flavors:
• NORMAL (AFL) (sometimes called SIP, or solo-
in-place)
• LEVEL SET (PFL) (sometimes called PFL, or
pre-fader-listen)
In NORMAL (AFL), the soloed channel’s signal is
sent directly to the control room, headphones, and me-
ters, just as it would sound to the channel’s assignment
switches: post-EQ [32], post-FADER [25] and post-PAN
[31]. The only difference is that SOLO works regardless
of the channel’s assignment positions, and that makes it
really handy — you can check out a channel before you
assign it.
NORMAL (AFL) is the preferred mode during mix-
down. For example, if the channel has some midrange
boost at 4.2 kHz, is panned a smidgen to the left, and its
fader is at –5 dB, that’s exactly what you’ll hear if you
SOLO during NORMAL (AFL) mode. It’s just as if you
took the time to MUTE all the other channels.
LEVEL SET (PFL) solo is the key player in the all-im-
portant Level-Setting Procedure. It’ll send the channel’s
actual internal levels to the meters so you’ll know just
what’s going on, level-wise. This procedure should be
performed every time a new sound source is patched
into a channel’s MIC [1] or LINE [2] input jacks.
LEVEL SET (PFL) is also the preferred mode for SR
(sound reinforcement, or live sound), to preview chan-
nels before they are let into the mix. It won’t give you
stereo placement, but will give you signal even if the
fader is turned down.
Remember, LEVEL SET (PFL) taps the chan-
nel signal before the fader. If you have a chan-
nel’s fader set way below “U” (unity gain),
SOLO won’t know that and will send a unity gain signal
to the control room, headphones, and meters. That may
result in a startling level boost at these outputs, depend-
ing on the position of the SOLO level knob.
45. LEVEL SET LED
To quote step 6 of the Level-Setting Procedure, “Push
in the MODE [44] switch in the output section (LEVEL
SET (PFL) mode) — the LEVEL SET LED will light.”
When the solo MODE switch is engaged, it’s in LEVEL
SET (PFL) mode, the mode you must be in to set levels.
Now, when you engage any solo switch, this LED will
be a “green light” to set levels. If you tried to set levels
during NORMAL (AFL) mode, the meter display would
be at the mercy of the channel fader, and that would be
a big problem.
46. SOLO (LEVEL)
This knob controls the level of the signals coming
from the SOLO system. It’s range is off when fully down,
unity at the center detent, with 10 dB additional gain
turned fully up. After the SOLO level is determined, the
SOLO signals will proceed to take over the control room,
headphones, and meters.
Once again, LEVEL SET (PFL) SOLO taps the
channel signal before the fader. If you have
a channel’s fader set way below “U” (unity
gain), LEVEL SET (PFL) SOLO won’t know that and
will send a unity gain signal to the control room, head-
phones, and meters. That may result in a startling level
boost at these outputs, depending on the position of the
SOLO level knob.
47. RUDE SOLO LIGHT
This flashing LED (light emitting diode) serves two
purposes — to remind you that you’re in SOLO, and to
let you know that you’re mixing on a Mackie. No other
company is so concerned about your level of SOLO
awareness. We even force the soloed channel’s –20 LED
to play along, so you can find that rogue switch fast.
If you work on a mixer that has a SOLO function with
no indicator lights, and you happen to forget you’re in
SOLO, you can easily be tricked into thinking that some-
thing is wrong with your mixer. Hence the RUDE SOLO
LIGHT. It’s especially handy at about 3:00 in the morn-
ing, when no sound is coming out of your monitors, even
though your multitrack is playing back like mad.
48. METERS
The 1642-VLZ3’s peak metering system is made up
of two columns of twelve lobster-hypnotizing LEDs.
Deceptively simple, considering the multitude of signals
that can be monitored by it. If nothing is selected in
the SOURCE [42] matrix, and no channels are in SOLO
[27], the meter display will just sit there. To put them
to work, you must make a selection in the SOURCE
matrix (or engage a SOLO switch).
Why? You want the meter display to reflect what the
engineer is listening to, and the engineer is listening
either to the C-R OUTS [9] or the PHONES [10] output.
The only difference is that while the listening levels are
controlled by the CTL ROOM and PHONES [43] knobs,
the meter display reads the SOURCE mix before the
controls, giving you the real facts at all times, even if
you’re not listening at all.
When the solo MODE [44] switch is set to LEVEL SET
(PFL) (down), all soloed signals will be sent to the left
meter only. That, combined with LEVEL SET LED [45],
are along the path of enlightenment known as the Level-
Setting Procedure. During NORMAL (AFL) mode, the
meters will behave normally.