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Monitor Mixes and Effects Conundrum

Landyachtz

Landyachtz

Sep 5, 2005
88
0
42
Tempe, AZ
#1
Ok, I am admittedly less than knowledgeable at running sound, but I am the most knowledgeable (or rather best researcher/quickest learner) in my band so I am the one who does it.

I am working with a Mackie VLZ3 1604 mixer, and my question is: Is it possible to have 4 separate/independent monitor mixes AND run an outboard reverb/delay unit for 3 vocalists without additional equipment?

I've done quite a bit of flipping through the manual and I *think* that I could use Aux 1-3 to individual IEMs for me (bass), our lead singer, and our guitar player. Then use Aux 4 for the vocal effects. Then assign every channel except the drum channels to Sub 1-2 (but not assign Sub 1-2 to the main mix, or do I?), and use sub out 1 to our drummers IEMs thus giving him the main mix minus drums (which is basically what he wants).

So does the above sound reasonable, or would I be going about it all wrong? Or is it just not possible with this board? Is there a way that I'm not seeing to give everyone an individual mix and still use an outboard effects unit for vocals?

Help is much appreciated.

For reference, here is the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]for the mixer.
 
#3
Use 1-4 pre fader for mon mixes.
Route vocals to main and 1/2 sub group.
Turn off 1/2 sub routing so it's not going to main out. Run line out of 1/2 sub to effects input. Effects out to line in on open channel. Now route that channel to Main out only. Now sub 1/2 faders are send level. Channel fader is return level. Eq can now be applied to effects and effects can be sent to mon mixes as well. Use ch fader to blend. This is nice because rolling off some bass and treble can tame ring and rumble and make effects sound better
 
#4
thwap.gif
i've been using this very board with one band (it's not mine, but i run it when we play), and to create more than two monitor mixes i've been rigging up mic splitter cables with a behringer mini-mixer!
bonk.gif


(i guess i'm too many years on my own vintage mixwizard, which is superior but doesn't have subgroups, so i just don't think about using them that much).

all the vocals are gonna have the same level of delay, so getting them into the delay unit by way of a group out is just fine, and frees up an aux.

same with reverb on certain instruments; i hard-pan vocals and instruments opposite and then insert compression on the main insert for vocals, so i can use panned group outs for delay and verb, freeing up the other aux.

awesome!
 
#5
uhdinator said:
Use 1-4 pre fader for mon mixes.
Route vocals to main and 1/2 sub group.
Turn off 1/2 sub routing so it's not going to main out. Run line out of 1/2 sub to effects input. Effects out to line in on open channel. Now route that channel to Main out only. Now sub 1/2 faders are send level. Channel fader is return level. Eq can now be applied to effects and effects can be sent to mon mixes as well. Use ch fader to blend. This is nice because rolling off some bass and treble can tame ring and rumble and make effects sound better
Click to expand...

Ok, this seems like a workable solution, I have a few questions though.

1) Since sub 1 and sub 2 have separate outputs, will I only be getting one side of the sound to the effects unit and in the main mix? Would I have to get a Y-cable to combine sub 1 and sub 2 for a stereo signal? Keep in mind I don't pan any of the vocals so I really only need a mono signal.

2) By not using an Aux output and stereo return for the effects, aren't I giving up having wet and dry signal in the main mix for the vocals?
 
#6
Landyachtz said:
2) By not using an Aux output and stereo return for the effects, aren't I giving up having wet and dry signal in the main mix for the vocals?
Click to expand...

Remember, the channels are feeding straight to the output... that's your dry mix. Then, you're adding delay on that subgroup, and routing it to an open channel, which then feeds the mains... that's your wet mix.
 
#7
Ok, that makes sense, so here's how I'd set it up (if I'm understanding everyone correctly)

Aux 1-4 are monitor mixes.

All Vox channels route to Sub 1-2 for wet and assigned to main mix for dry signal.

Sub 1-2 not assigned to main mix

Route Sub 1 out to outboard efx. Return efx to open channel assigned to L/R main mix, which is my wet signal.


Edit: I reworked it a bit to simplify after re-reading your post.
 
#11
uhdinator said:
depends if your PA is set up Mono or Stereo.

If mono, just use sub 1 out to ch1 on effects/only use one side/ch of effects.

you'll figure it out.
Click to expand...

Well, I use main out R and L to the mains, but I don't pan anything left or right if that's what you mean. If I do it like I said above am I only going to get the wet signal out of the left speaker? I assumed that the efx unit would probably take Sub 1 out as a mono input (even though it's just the left audio) and output L and R to the open channel on the board that I'm reinserting the wet signal to.

Did I assume wrong?
 
#13
Landyachtz said:
I assumed that the efx unit would probably take Sub 1 out as a mono input (even though it's just the left audio) and output L and R to the open channel on the board that I'm reinserting the wet signal to.

Did I assume wrong?
Click to expand...
how would it send L and R into one channel on the board?

anyway, if you're not in stereo (and even if you are, and don't want to bother with stereo FX) then one signal out to the FX unit and one signal back into a channel would be fine; once it's back into that channel, the channel's own L-R pan knob would send the FX sound wherever you wanted.
 
#15
walterw said:
how would it send L and R into one channel on the board?

anyway, if you're not in stereo (and even if you are, and don't want to bother with stereo FX) then one signal out to the FX unit and one signal back into a channel would be fine; once it's back into that channel, the channel's own L-R pan knob would send the FX sound wherever you wanted.
Click to expand...

Ok, that's what I figured. Thanks for you help. Much appreciated.
 

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