Mackie 1202 VLZ4 : AUX/SEND to stereo pedals?

[tendingtropic]

I thought prefader was good for fx?

[0mega]

I think these threads have convinced me to buy one too

[Schnork]

Prefader means the level going into the effect will not be affected by the level set with the fader on a channel, usually you’d want postfader, meaning if you pull down the fader a bit, less signal is going into your effect and if you pull it down completely, no signal from that channel is going into your effect.

With prefader sends, you’d still hear reverb or delay or whatever you have on an that aux, even with the fader down as long as the aux send is turned up.

Prefader is perfect for monitoring - you still hear the channels in the monitors, regardless of fader positions.

[LouisLingg]

I had this same issue and have just started adjusting for it on my H5s input volumes. Have you had any luck getting a good signal from the Aux though? This is my first mixer with the option, and so its kinda my first experience with trying Aux sends out. I think it’d be real helpful for a project I am working on currently, but the sound is so subtle I can hardly make out any nuance of changes in the effects settings. I even put a DOD Death Metal and a HM2 in the Aux send and it was still hardly noticeable on both 802s I’ve tried

[olelovold]

Yes, it’s a shame for sure… And I also found it odd that there was so little mention of it online, especially as it so frequently comes recommended for use in scenarios involving fx boxes. I had to buy the mixer to find out about it, but fortunately I could return it.

[LouisLingg]

Yeah I haven’t really seen anyone talking about, which is what lead me to being convinced it was user error somehow or a faulty unit. What did you end up replacing yours with? I’m not in a rush to replace it, but I am frustrated and think im gonna put some other options on my radar

[captain8]

first time hearing about this, but I know that Mackie answers their phone have any of you guys called them about it ?
seems like this kinda goes against their pedigree

[PofM]

It isn’t the first time I’ve seen it discussed, not even on this site.

Mono/stereo signal leans a little to the L

Wehn I have a one channel panned center sent through my Mackie 802 VLZ4 or ADA8k into my Babyface my vector scope is showing that it’s an average of 0.4db louder in the left. Same thing when I play a waveform sample on my OT and the Amp bal is 0. As I have lots of things going in my mixes are always louder in the left. Is this something I should be concerned about or a natural occurrence and it’s up to me to balance appropriately?

Why is the Mixer doing this but the OT doesn't

Hi, I’m running my Vermona DRM3 into my Mackie 1202 VLZ4 then on into my OT inputs. When doing so, I’ve noticed that the levels indicator on my Allen and Heath DB4 show up lopsided. However, when I run the DRM straight into the OT, the levels are equal for both L and R. I’ve included the photos from the levels below. Last photo is when running directly into Octatrack. [IMG_20190712_175613] [IMG_20190712_175607] [IMG_20190712_175652]

Mackie 1202VLZ4 suffering from loss of balance - Gearspace

Mackie 1202 VLZ4 mix output misbalance - Gearspace

[olelovold]

Of course, when you search for the specific issue you get hits. But I never saw it mentioned in general reviews which is what I was referring to. Like Louis I thought my unit was faulty until I searched for it and discovered it was a thing, and that’s pretty odd for an ubiquitous product such as this imo.

My 802VLZ4 had a huge 2 db difference between the channels, favouring the right channel.

Tried using a reverb effect on the fx loop - it immediately became obvious that it suffered the same problem with the right side reverb being far louder, and having no balance knob there’s no way around it except taking up one of the stereo input channels instead. To be clear: this hasn’t got anything to do with the send being mono (that’s standard behaviour on most mixers), but rather that the stereo return is imbalanced like the rest of the mixer, but without any means to correct that imbalance since the return doesn’t have a balance knob.

@LouisLingg: I went for a Motu Ultralite MK5 interface instead. Also considered Model 12 and SSL Six but in the end I’m happy with the Motu.

[PeteCT]

I have that Mackie, and it’s a good little mixer, very versatile. Alt 3/4 is brilliant for sampling. The mono send + stereo return is fine, you won’t miss anything. Only the effected part of the signal loses the stereo field on input… the dry signal stays in stereo or whatever its original state.

[LouisLingg]

I haven’t. I bought mine used and never really considered it. Might see if I can get there opinion now since it does seem to be a common problem

[xidnpnlss]

Yeah it’s a serious bummer. I “get around it” by marking on the pan pots where 0 is (it’s always just a bit right of center) Mackie answered that “it tends to happen in these little mixers”. BS. Fortunately it hasn’t gotten worse.

These days sound is bleeding through when the mixer is totally off!

I don’t know if the OG Mackies didn’t display this behavior or everyone has tinnitus but I would hesitate to recommend the VLZ4 tbh.

[tendingtropic]

Good to know!

[Dataflu]

Any updates on this? Many years after, is the problem still present on the last batches?

[jkbb]

Still a problem on my 1202VLZ4. Here’s a sine single cycle waveform from the DTII on my 4 month old mixer:

[Dataflu]

Damn