How many “U” is the 1604 in that rack?
Do you know how many “U” the 1642 VLZ4 is I’m looking for a desktop angled rack?
Thanks
No sure how how big the 1642 is but the rack I’m using is 12u for the top space. A link to the rack is here
Works well as below the mixer I have my interface (MOTU 828x), audio patch bays (2 x behringer ultrapatch pro) and midi interface (iConnectivity Mio 10).
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Thanks mate it’s coming tomorrow just googled the dimensions .
1642VLZ4
Dimensions (WxHxD): 425 x 131 x 421 mm
1604VLZ4
Dimensions (WxHxD): 445 x 129 x 440 mm
Can’t wait to get my hands on it now, only thing is once I have it then I’ll have to shop for more leads lol I think I’m short of them now 
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I am dissapoined by the quality of sound from Soundcraft. …thinner sound and colder than my A&H…
Just took delivery of a 802 VLZ4 today. When running my Digitakt and stereo synth through it, I pretty much immediately noticed that the balance was way off, one side was much louder than the other. Had to make a pretty substantial adjustment with the balance knob to center things, on both stereo channels. It’s been a while since I worked an analogue mixer, is this sort of thing to be expected or did I get a dud?
For what it’s worth, I’ve noticed this on several Mackie mixers, throughout the range. I think it’s just an anomaly of their circuitry. I’ve always expected that it has something to do with the normalization that they’ve baked into the design: i.e. if you use the stereo channels for mono signals, for instance, they’re supposed to automatically balance the input signal across the left and right channels equally; but I don’t think that works quite as well as it could, and therefore creates problems in both use cases, stereo and mono.
It has never really bothered me, to be honest. It’s easy enough to compensate for, and they’re cheap mixers that I typically only use for submixing signals in a live show. Anyway…
Cheers!
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I wrote to Mackie in May 20 when I bought a new VLZ 1202
The technical support replied saying it is normal see their answer below:
Hi Maurizio,
Thanks for writing!
I’ve also noticed this on all the VLZ4 mixers and have previously looked into it. By design, all of these mixers tend to favor the left channel over the right in terms of metering. It shouldn’t be an audible difference and only has to do with the meters’ approximation of the output signal.
Thanks,
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Thanks for the replies! Sounds like it is to be expected then. Although, it is definitely an audible thing, it is pretty clear from recorded waveforms too.
Here’s where my balance knob needs to be at for things to sound centered:
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My channels are set like yours
I plan to sell the mackie, I think it sounds very bad and the unbalanced signal is also a very bad point.
What happens if you change the left and right input? Does it still have to be in the same position?
I dont have that mackie mixer, but i havent noticed this big difference in the left and right input on an analog mixer. Not that i have used alot of mixers though.
Yes, if I change left and right input the knob still has to be set like that.
I bought this new so I could still return it, not quite sure yet.
It seems like a pretty big difference in left and right levels. How big is the difference in db on the master meter?
It’s a 2 db difference on the meter, recordings of the mixer with the balance knob in the center confirm this.
Ok, thats not that bad. Would still be a little annoyed by this, but it is a cheap mixer. So maybe thats just how they are.
I guess so! Apart from this, I really like it, so I’ll try working with it for a while and see how things pan out 
hehe yeah. I wouldnt want to work without a mixer again. Mixers can be addictive though, so be prepared to want bigger and more expensive ones.
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Got rid of my Mackie 1642 VLZ4 and purchased a Yamaha 01v96i couldn’t be happier 
I hear that… I’ve been eyeing up a SSL Six for ages, but it feels a bit too rich for my blood.
Spent the last few hours playing the mixer and my new Alesis Nanoverb. After putting on headphones, it became clear that the stereo effects return also favours the right channel by a noticeable amount. So the reverb is more present on the right side. There’s no balance knob for that unfortunately. Think I’m gonna have to send this one back…
Ssl six seems like a fine mixer if you dont need that many channels. But I like the older bigger mixers. 
Send it back. Things are just gonna annoy you more after a while.
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I have had this same issue on my Mackie 842VLZ4, definitely seems endemic of the VLZ4 series. It’s pretty audible and the recording meters of any recorder I’ve used have shown the same, tried a Zoom H4n Pro, an Analog Heat after the master out from the mixer, etc.
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