Mackie 402

Using a Mackie 402 (or similar 4 channel audio mixer) on a typical PESI gig

HOW TO USE A MACKIE 402 ON A SIMPLE PROGRAM

EVENT ROOM AUDIO SITUATION/BREAKDOWN

  1. 1x Wireless Lavalier

  2. 1x Wireless Handheld

  3. 1x Laptop Audio

  4. Audio needs to route to Camera XLRs

  5. Audio needs to route to Room Wall Patch or PA's

REQUIRED CABLES

INPUTS

  1. Wireless Lavalier receiver going into MIC 1 (Channel Strip 1) - via XLR

  2. Wireless Handheld receiver going into MIC 2 (Channel Strip 2) - via XLR

  3. Laptop Audio going into Line In 3 - via 1/4" Mono to Female XLR


OUTPUTS

  1. 1x 1/4" Male to 3- Pin XLR Male Audio Cable out of Phones to room/house sound for in-person attendees (another male-to-female xlr cable bridging distance - typically supplied by venue - varying length)

  2. 1x 1/4" Male to 3- Pin XLR Male Audio Cable out of Main Out to Camera XLRs (another male-to-female xlr cable bridging distance typically 10'-15')

MIC VS LINE LEVEL

MIXER SETTINGS MIC LEVEL (DEFAULT)

I typically default to Mic Level on camera XLR's as it offers a 20db gain on the audio signal.


  1. Camera XLR's set to Mic level - typically recommend set for 40-50% on XLR dials

  2. MAIN MIX set at Unity (U)

  3. Channel Strip 1 & 2 | GAIN (top) set to Unity (u)

  4. Channel Strip 1 & 2 | EQ (HI/Low) set Unity (u)

  5. Turn down PHONES (Room Audio)

  6. Channel Strip 1, 2 & 3 pots | LEVEL adjust levels as needed for audio levels in camera to be peaking on loud part at -6db (Self-test wearing lavalier on sternum, holding handheld w/ camera headphones on ears)

  7. Turn up PHONES so that Room Audio is at a comfortable level without feedback (or edge of feedback)


MUTING UNUSED CHANNELS
Turn down LEVEL (channel pot) for appropriate channel/microphone in order to mute. Mixers this small unfortunately do not have a mute buttons.

MIXER SETTINGS LINE LEVEL

There is a 20db drop in volume in going from Mic Level to Line Level. I typically use Line Level only when there is some audio issue I simply can't figure out

  1. Camera XLR's set to Mic level - typically recommend set for 90-100% on XLR dials

  2. MAIN MIX at Maximum

  3. Channel Strip 1 & 2 | GAIN (top) set to maximum

  4. Channel Strip 1 & 2 | EQ (HI/Low) set Unity (U)

  5. Turn down PHONES (Room Audio)

  6. Channel Strip 1, 2 & 3 pots | LEVEL adjust levels as needed for audio levels in camera to be peaking on loud part at -6db (Self-test wearing lav on sternum, holding handheld w/ camera headphones on ears)

  7. Turn up PHONES so that Room Audio is at a comfortable level without feedback (or edge of feedback)


MUTING UNUSED CHANNELS
Turn down LEVEL (channel pot) for appropriate channel/microphone in order to mute. Mixers this small unfortunately do not have a mute buttons.

SPEAKER ON MAC OS WITH VIDEO CLIPS SITUATION W/ A MACKIE 402

On the speaker's MAC OS Laptop, click on the arrow next to Unmute and select Leave Computer Audio

When this is done correctly, you should see Join Audio where Unmute was.

This improves audio in case of messing up turning down MAC OS direct box audio on the mixer fast enough so that it's not horrendous at first.

Leave Computer Audio
Done Correctly: You should see Join Audio

  • Main Out/Mix goes to your camera - typically set to Unity (u)

  • Phones goes to room audio

  • Turn down Main Out/Mix to your camera once any video clips plays. Turn Main Out/Mix back up to Unity (u) immediately upon video clip ending or pausing (your hands should be on the ready on the mixer!)

    • This means that when video or audio clips play, the audio will only play in the room and not in your camera/headphones.

    • The audio will play for remote webinar attendees as the speaker will be sharing their computer audio as ticked in the Zoom Share Screen dialog