I have an MX1602 (pulled out of the closet and dusted off)
I want to see the LED monitors show left and right output, but the only thing that even gives me stereo in the headphones is plugging into 2 channels, leaving the main "pfl/solo" button in the up (pfl) position and pressing the channel "solo" buttons. Even then only the right LED strip lights up.
If I press the main "pfl/solo" to the down (solo) position and leave the channels with pfl/solo on, I get only left side in the headphones, and the left meter lights up with multiple segments.
If I leave channel "pfl/solo" off, and main "pfl/solo" up, I get only right side in the headphones, and the right meter lights up, but only the first segment.
It seems like all parts are working (channel inputs, channel inputs/faders/pfl-solo buttons, main faders and pfl-solo button, headphones), but I can't get the meters to work in stereo mode.
Each input is plugged into the "mono" input jack, and each plug is mono (TS).
What am I missing ?
MX1602 LED monitors
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
MX1602 has fewer controls to the current family, but if you can't find a manual, some hints:
PFL is prefader, and the level will typically be higher; this is used for "gain staging" where you set the input gain level so that it is hitting 0 on the meters.
SOLO is typically to cut off the main mix main mix to phones/control room, and hear ONLY the channels selected, at the gain level set on the faders
If you have both of these off, then phones/control room presumably get a copy of the main mix. If you have a "larger" and newer version, you pick whether you want any/all of MAIN, SUBmixes, and TapeIn/USBin to control room.
PS - have you set PAN to center on most of the channels? Even though the INPUT is mono, you can direct each input where you want in the overall mix; so if all panned hard right, that's where the signal is gonna be. PFL does show up only one side, as it's "pre-fader" and pretty much Pre-anything, purpose is mainly to set input gain.
PFL is prefader, and the level will typically be higher; this is used for "gain staging" where you set the input gain level so that it is hitting 0 on the meters.
SOLO is typically to cut off the main mix main mix to phones/control room, and hear ONLY the channels selected, at the gain level set on the faders
If you have both of these off, then phones/control room presumably get a copy of the main mix. If you have a "larger" and newer version, you pick whether you want any/all of MAIN, SUBmixes, and TapeIn/USBin to control room.
PS - have you set PAN to center on most of the channels? Even though the INPUT is mono, you can direct each input where you want in the overall mix; so if all panned hard right, that's where the signal is gonna be. PFL does show up only one side, as it's "pre-fader" and pretty much Pre-anything, purpose is mainly to set input gain.
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
Thank you for the reply.
All of the pan knobs are set to center.
I understand what PFL and Solo functions are.
What I was expecting to see with gain up, PFL/SOLO off, pan center and faders at 0 was both LED ladders tracking left and right stereo out / main mix, but that is not happening.
What I did notice is that the channels with 1/4" jacks have pairs marked "left/mono" and "right", which seems to imply that you are assigning the incoming signal to the left or right stereo output. That doesn't make any sense. I have Mackie and Tascam boards where you plug in, and the signal travels through the gain and EQ stages before you come to buttons which allow you to assign the channel to left and/or right stereo out.
I also noticed that the two jacks for headphones/control room are also marked "left" and "right", as though you have to choose which side of the main mix you want to hear, but that can't be right.
Can it ?
All of the pan knobs are set to center.
I understand what PFL and Solo functions are.
What I was expecting to see with gain up, PFL/SOLO off, pan center and faders at 0 was both LED ladders tracking left and right stereo out / main mix, but that is not happening.
What I did notice is that the channels with 1/4" jacks have pairs marked "left/mono" and "right", which seems to imply that you are assigning the incoming signal to the left or right stereo output. That doesn't make any sense. I have Mackie and Tascam boards where you plug in, and the signal travels through the gain and EQ stages before you come to buttons which allow you to assign the channel to left and/or right stereo out.
I also noticed that the two jacks for headphones/control room are also marked "left" and "right", as though you have to choose which side of the main mix you want to hear, but that can't be right.
Can it ?
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
This is an old mixer, and not as "normal" as the newer ones, but...
1. Evidently the LEFT control room doubles as a headphone jack ONLY if the right jack isn't used - otherwise the jacks are left and right. Don't know how they wire the jacks internally for that ?? Actually, in the older mixers, you can see the schematic online, and there's a levered bar inside that DISCONNECTS one of the outputs on the Left side jack when right is inserted. Fun, eh ?
2. Inputs 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 are mono jacks in pairs; however if you only use LEFT, it gets assigned to Left and Right.
I have a Mackie ProFX12, and it does the same thing.
So, try having a pair of speakers hooked up to MAIN, and see if it behaves in stereo as expected; Control room is a little funky - and don't try to use headphones and a set of control room speakers at the same time !
1. Evidently the LEFT control room doubles as a headphone jack ONLY if the right jack isn't used - otherwise the jacks are left and right. Don't know how they wire the jacks internally for that ?? Actually, in the older mixers, you can see the schematic online, and there's a levered bar inside that DISCONNECTS one of the outputs on the Left side jack when right is inserted. Fun, eh ?
2. Inputs 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 are mono jacks in pairs; however if you only use LEFT, it gets assigned to Left and Right.
I have a Mackie ProFX12, and it does the same thing.
So, try having a pair of speakers hooked up to MAIN, and see if it behaves in stereo as expected; Control room is a little funky - and don't try to use headphones and a set of control room speakers at the same time !
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
Thank you so much for that update.
So the LED ladders never show left and right main output ? Is that true ?
So the LED ladders never show left and right main output ? Is that true ?
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
Can't find a decent manual online that states explicly, but it's implied the primmary function of the meters is to monitor main. Now, if you tend to run the mixer with the main faders near the bottom because your amp is that powerful, you may never actually see the meters in action. Turn down output amp, turn UP the faders, and disable PFL and SOLO; see if that makes a difference.
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
Thank you.
I spent a bunch of time staring at the "manual", which includes a block diagram (p.4). I gained some clarity from that, but it left me with these questions:
1) in the "CTRL ROOM & PHONES" section of the diagram (lower left) there is a switch (upper left corner of that section) labeled "2TK TO CTRL R". It chooses either the post-fader main outs or the '2TK/Stereo Aux Ret 2' signal.
Where is that physical switch ?
2) If you choose the 'mains' that switch sends the signal on to a DPST switch that chooses between the 'mains' and 'PFL/SOLO'.
Where is that physical switch ?
3) There is another switch above the DPST which sends signal to the 'RIGHT METER' or disconnects it.
Where is that physical switch ?
I spent a bunch of time staring at the "manual", which includes a block diagram (p.4). I gained some clarity from that, but it left me with these questions:
1) in the "CTRL ROOM & PHONES" section of the diagram (lower left) there is a switch (upper left corner of that section) labeled "2TK TO CTRL R". It chooses either the post-fader main outs or the '2TK/Stereo Aux Ret 2' signal.
Where is that physical switch ?
2) If you choose the 'mains' that switch sends the signal on to a DPST switch that chooses between the 'mains' and 'PFL/SOLO'.
Where is that physical switch ?
3) There is another switch above the DPST which sends signal to the 'RIGHT METER' or disconnects it.
Where is that physical switch ?
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
My guess is that if ANY of the PFL buttons on ANY track are pressed, then that takes precedence over the MAIN mix monitoring; and the button under the meters allows selection of PFL or SOLO if channels are selected. If either PFL or solo LED under the meters is on, then you will NOT get main mix in the meters.
Re: MX1602 LED monitors
That is what I thought too.
The problem is that I don't get both meters tracking left and right mains UNLESS you press the "PFL/Solo" button below the meters, which puts it into Solo mode.
So here is the result of some trial and (mostly) error:
Shure SM58 plugged into channel 1
gain: 3 o'clock
eq hi/lo: 12 o'clock
pan: 12 o'clock
pfl/solo: off
fader: 0 dB
main L/R faders: 0 dB
main channel mode: up(pfl)
ctl room & phones:
headphones plugged into left jack:
LED right ladder lights up all the way
LED left ladder does not light up
sound in right headphone speaker
no sound in left headphone speaker
headphones plugged into right jack:
LED right ladder lights up all the way
LED left ladder does not light up
sound in left headphone speaker
no sound in right headphone speaker
place a channel into pfl/solo mode with the headphones plugged into the left jack,
and you get stereo headphone output.
place the same channel into pfl/solo mode with the headphones plugged into the right jack,
and you get only the left headphone speaker.
either way, you only get the left LED ladder, going all the way up.
that is with the main channel mode up(pfl)
with the main channel mode down(solo), and you get this:
both main LED ladders go all the way up
sound in both headphone speakers
clearly, all of the buttons, sliders and speakers are working. what doesn't make any sense
is the result of setting them in a way you would expect to produce different results.
The problem is that I don't get both meters tracking left and right mains UNLESS you press the "PFL/Solo" button below the meters, which puts it into Solo mode.
So here is the result of some trial and (mostly) error:
Shure SM58 plugged into channel 1
gain: 3 o'clock
eq hi/lo: 12 o'clock
pan: 12 o'clock
pfl/solo: off
fader: 0 dB
main L/R faders: 0 dB
main channel mode: up(pfl)
ctl room & phones:
headphones plugged into left jack:
LED right ladder lights up all the way
LED left ladder does not light up
sound in right headphone speaker
no sound in left headphone speaker
headphones plugged into right jack:
LED right ladder lights up all the way
LED left ladder does not light up
sound in left headphone speaker
no sound in right headphone speaker
place a channel into pfl/solo mode with the headphones plugged into the left jack,
and you get stereo headphone output.
place the same channel into pfl/solo mode with the headphones plugged into the right jack,
and you get only the left headphone speaker.
either way, you only get the left LED ladder, going all the way up.
that is with the main channel mode up(pfl)
with the main channel mode down(solo), and you get this:
both main LED ladders go all the way up
sound in both headphone speakers
clearly, all of the buttons, sliders and speakers are working. what doesn't make any sense
is the result of setting them in a way you would expect to produce different results.