MACKIE PROFESSIONAL MIC/LINE MIXERS WITH FX AND USB I/O PROFX16 - Manual (Page 19)

Owner's Manual 19
28. FX FOOTSWITCH
This 1/4" TRS connector is where to connect your
favorite footswitch. This allows you to easily mute or
un-mute the internal effects at will. Any one-button
on/off footswitch will work.
If the internal effects have already been muted with
the internal FX mute switch [48], then the footswitch
has no affect.
29. AUX RETURN L/R
The stereo (aux) returns are designed for 1/4" TRS
balanced or 1/4" TS unbalanced signals, from -20 dB to
+20 dB. They allow the stereo processed output from
external effects processors or other devices to be added
to the main mix.
Level adjustment of the incoming signals is made with
the aux return controls [43].
You may also use these inputs to add any stereo
line-level signals to your main mix, so it could be
another line-level source, not just an effects processor.
If you are connecting a mono source, use the left
(mono) stereo return input, and the mono signals will
appear on both sides of the main mix.
30. MAIN OUT L/R: XLR & 1/4"
The male XLR connectors provide a balanced
line-level signal that represents the end of the mixer
chain, where your fully mixed stereo signal enters the
real world. Connect these to the left and right inputs of
your main power amplifiers, powered speakers, or serial
effects processor (like a graphic equalizer or
compressor/limiter). The XLR outputs are 6 dB hotter
than the TRS outputs.
The 1/4" TRS output connectors provide balanced or
unbalanced line-level signals. Connect these to the next
device in the signal chain like an external processor
(compressor/limiter), or directly to the inputs of the
main amplifier. These are the same signal that appears
at the XLR main outputs, but 6 dB lower than the XLR
outputs. When the meters read “0”, these TRS outputs
are at 0 dBu.
31. CR OUT L/R
These 1/4" jacks are usually patched to the inputs of
a control room amplifier or a headphone distribution
amplifier.
32. SUB OUT 1-4
These four 1/4" jacks are usually patched to the
inputs of a multitrack deck or to secondary amplifiers
in a complex installation.
33. PHONES
This 1/4" TRS connector supplies the output to your
stereo headphones. It is the same signal that is routed
to the control room outputs [31]. The volume is
controlled with the cr/phones knob [53], right above
the main mix fader [56].
Whenever a solo switch [22] is engaged, you will
only hear the soloed channel(s) in the headphones.
This gives you the opportunity to audition the channels
before they are added to the main mix. (Solo signals
reaching the headphones are not affected by the
channel level or main level, therefore turn down the
phones level first, as soloed channels may be loud.)
The phones output follows standard conventions:
Tip = Left channel
Ring = Right channel
Sleeve = Common ground
WARNING: The headphone amp is loud and
can cause permanent hearing damage. Even
intermediate levels may be painfully loud
with some headphones. BE CAREFUL! Always turn the
phones level control [53] all the way down before
connecting headphones or pressing a solo switch, or
doing anything new that may affect the headphone
volume. Then turn it up slowly as you listen carefully.
34. TAPE INPUTS / OUTPUTS
The stereo unbalanced RCA inputs allow you to play a
tape, CD player, iPod ® dock, or other line-level source.
The tape in jacks accept an unbalanced signal using
standard hi-fi hookup cables.
The stereo unbalanced RCA outputs allow you to
record the main stereo mix onto a tape deck, hard disk
recorder, or automatic CD burner, for example. This
lets you make a recording for posterity/archive/legal
purposes whenever the band gets back together again.
The tape output is the stereo main mix, and it is not
affected by the main mix fader [56]. The output could
also be used as an extra set of main outputs for feeding
another zone.