Mackie 1202 users - how do you work?

[RGS]

I bought a Delta 66 Omni Studio last weekend and quite like it - unfortunatley the one I have is a piece of crap. I have to press the head phone jack towards the floor to get both channels, and also have to 'wiggle' the jack on one of the inserts to get it to work. So, the upshot is is going back to GC tomorrow.

Anyhoo, my local GC doesn't have another Omni Studio in stock and say (rather worryingly) they aren't planning to get anymore. The upshot of this is that I think I'm going to get a Mackie 1202. I just downloaded the manual from their website and it seem to have plenty of routing options.

What I'm interested in is anyone who is using a 1202, just how are you working with it? How many in/outs does your soundcard have, are you using outboard FX etc.

I don't actually need all the channels on the 1202, but I need to input a mic(NT1), my Pod, an external sound module(MU10), a drum machine(DM5) and hopefully soon a standalone PC running Gigasampler.

I have an old Darla that the Delta was supposed to replace, and I guess what I'm trying to figure out is do I need multi ins/outs, should I get a Delta 66 for instance, or should I just go for a Mia?

Any opinions, advice or experiences to share?

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Sorry to butt in here...but I would like to also ask that somebody comment on the preamps in the 1202VLZ (not the original 1202) in addition to the above topics. I can't seem to get ahold of the preamps that I want, and I heard decent enough things about the 1202VLZ.

That's all...sorry to barge in man!

Slackmaster 2000

 

[dachay2tnr]

Slackman - For what it's worth, I'm using a Mackie 1642VLZ. I think the VLZ designates that the mixer has the newer designed preamps, and I like mine a lot.

RGS - Here's how I have mine setup. I use it with a Delta 1010 (which has 8 inputs and 8 outputs). The 1642VLZ has direct outs (although you can do the same thing using channel inserts - however they aren't "balanced" connections). The 1642 is a 14 channel mixer. I run my mics into channels 1-6 on the mixer. Then I run from the direct out on each of these channels directly into my sound card (inputs 1-6). This allows me to record 6 separate sources simultaneously. I could go up to 8 simultaneous(the limit on my soundcard) but have no need to at present).

I run the outputs# 7-8 from the soundcard back to channels 13-14 on the Mackie. I assign channels 13-14 to the Main Output for playback and monitoring (Channels 1-6 are not assigned to the Main).

I have outboard FX (EQ and reverb) but I don't use them while recording. The signal goes directly from the mic to the mixer and then direct out to the soundcard from each channel.

The 1642 also has two headphone jacks. When I'm recording I turn the Main volume all the way down and monitor through the headphones. To playback, I turn the Main volume back up. My monitor speakers are connected to the Main outs on the mixer.

Sorry, this got longer than I anticipated, and I'm not sure if I answered any of your questions. Bottom line is that I like the setup very much. It gives me great flexibility and the sound has been very good. Right now my weakest link (IMHO) are the mics. I'm using Shure 57's and 58's. However, for dynamic mics they sound pretty good. I just think it could get better with a decent condenser mic or two.

 

[elbenj]

dachay2tnr pretty much nailed it. I have the 1202VLZ(Old version)and the 1642VLZ. The difference between the two that I was told my Mackie tech support is 5db dynamic range and the extra RFI shielding you get with the XDR pre,s. Is this an audible difference?
Not much if any. The problem I had with the 1202 was the fact that it didnt have the direct outs otherwise I would have gotten a second 1202VLZ with XDR pre,s.

RGS, if you know that you are gonna be tracking more than four tracks at a time, (and should probably plan to) then you need to look at an audio card and interface that can handle 6 to 8 in,s
simultaneously. This would mean finding a mixer with that many
mic pres and preferrably as many direct outs.

There may be other mixers in the 1202 price range that have direct outs but Im not sure. Ive used the inserts on the
1202 as outs but reluctantly and your only choice is thru the
mains or the alt and this would mean a 2 track submix.

 

[RGS]

Hey, thanks for the replies guys. As it turns out Guitar Center fixed me up. They didn't have another Omni Studio, but did have an Omni I/O and just swapped that part, so I won't now be getting a 1202.

The lack of direct outs on the 1202 was one of the things that made me ask this question in the first place. Now that my Omni is working OK I'm going to stick with it for a little while, then I might look at a Delta 1010 and one of the bigger Mackies. I like the sound of dachay2tnr's set-up.

elbinj, I don't see that I'll ever want to track more than one track at a time. My wife sings and I play all the instruments. The reason I like plenty of routing options is that I like to record everything dry (except for running the vocal channel thru a compressor) and use some of my outboard effects afterwards.