MACKIE CFX SERIES - Manual (Page 15)

15
MASTER SECTION FEATURES
CLIP
0dB=0dBu
LEFT RIGHT
ZERO
LEVEL
SET
48v
dB
30
20
10
O O
40
50
5
5
U
60
10
POWER STATUS
RUDE SOLO
22
10
7
4
2
0
2
4
7
10
20
30
STEREO
MAIN MIX
PHANTOM POWER
We hope you’ve understood, if not memo-
rized, the CHANNEL STRIP FEATURES you
just read. If you’re still confused, please look
them over again before you tackle this section.
Don’t worry, it’s easy to swallow as long as you
take it a bite at a time.
MAIN MIX FADER
As the name implies, this stereo fader con-
trols the levels of signals sent to the main
outputs: XLR and TRS
MAIN OUT . The
TAPE OUTPUT RCA jacks also receive the
main mix, but before the MAIN MIX Fader.
Signals feeding the MAIN MIX Fader, after
passing through the STEREO GRAPHIC EQ ,
include: SUB ASSIGN , MAIN INSERT ,
STEREO EFX RETURN 1 and 2 (including
the EMAC EFFECTS PROCESSOR ), and
TAPE INPUT . All assigned SUB Faders
and EFX RETURNs that are not turned
fully down will appear in the MAIN MIX.
The fader, set fully up, provides 10 dB of gain.
A “ U” unity gain point is just below that. When
set fully down, the main mix is effectively
muted. This is the fader to pull down at the end
of the song when you want The Great Fade-Out.
METERS
The CFX Mixer’s peak metering system is
made up of two columns of twelve LEDs each,
with thresholds ranging from –30 dB up to
“CLIP” (+22 dBu at the TRS
MAIN OUT ,
+28 dBu at the XLR MAIN OUT). The meters
display the main mix, post MAIN MIX Fader
, unless a SOLO PFL switch is engaged.
When a SOLO PFL switch is engaged,
the meters will instead display the solo infor-
mation, at unity gain (pre channel fader
).
Why, you ask? The meters, being a tool for the
engineer, must display what the engineer is lis-
tening to via the
PHONES output.
You can get a good mix with the meter’s
peaks flashing anywhere between –20 and +10
dB. Most amplifiers clip at about +10 dB, and
some recorders aren’t so forgiving either. For
best real-world results, try to keep your peaks
between “0” and “+7.”
You may already be familiar
with “+4” (+4 dBu=1.23V)
and “–10” (–10 dBV=0.32V)
operating levels. Basically,
what determines the operat-
ing level is the relative 0 dB VU (or 0VU)
chosen for the meters.
A “+4” mixer, with a +4 dBu signal pouring
out the back, will actually display 0 dB on its
meters. A “–10” mixer, with a –10 dBV signal
trickling out, will also display 0 dB. So ... when
is 0 dB actually 0 dB? Right now!
At the risk of creating another standard,
Mackie’s compact mixers address the need of
both crowds by calling things as they are: 0 dBu
(0.775V) 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.)
RUDE SOLO
This infamous flashing LED (Light Emitting
Diode) serves two purposes —- to remind you
that at least one
SOLO PFL switch is en-
gaged, and to let you know that you’re mixing
on a Mackie.
Engaging a SOLO PFL switch affects
these features: PHONES and Meters .
No other outputs are affected in any way.
Although the “SET THE LEVELS” section of
“QUICK START” (page 5) will get your level-
setting tasks accomplished, using the meters
in PFL SOLO mode lets you really tune in.
Instead of one flickering LED, you can make
use of the 12-segment VU display in the
meters. How? Just engage a
SOLO PFL
switch and watch the meters.
WARNING: SOLO is pre-
fader and taps the channel
signal before the fader
.
If you have a channel’s
fader set well below “
U”
(unity gain), SOLO won’t know that and will
send a unity gain signal to the PHONES
output. That may result in a startling level
boost in your headphones.
STEREO GRAPHIC EQ
This equalizer, used to shape the frequency
spectrum of the main mix, is the last thing in
the chain prior to the
MAIN MIX Fader
and MAIN OUT XLR and TRS jacks.
Although there is no actual bypass switch
for the STEREO GRAPHIC EQ, by setting all
the sliders to zero (center) you’ll effectively
remove it from the signal path.
How to find and reduce feedback:
1. Set the GRAPHIC EQ sliders to zero (center).
2. Set the TRIM levels, using the ZERO
LEVEL or SOLO PFL .