Mackie 1604-VLZ Pro Specifications

Introduction

The 1604-VLZ PRO is the latest update of our
CR1604-VLZ, incorporating our new ultra-high quality
XDR™ (Extended Dynamic Range) mic preamps with
the best RFI rejection of any compact mixer design on
the market and maximum freedom from ground loops.

Like all Mackie mixers, the 1604-VLZ PRO is
designed for rugged, 24-hour-a-day use. It is a
supremely fl exible mixer, not just because of its mul­tiple input/output confi gurations, but because of its
true 4-bus architecture, 6 aux sends (with 3-4/5-6 shift
switch), and extensive routing capabilities.

No matter what the application, the 1604-VLZ
PRO can be confi gured for optimal use. As a table­top mixer, input/output jacks can be positioned at
the rear of the unit, or with the optional RotoPod Kit
(RP1604-VLZ), positioned on the same plane as the
controls. Placed in a rack system, the 1604-VLZ PRO
can be set so that jacks are facing front (using the
RotoPod kit) or facing the rear to keep wandering
hands from playing with cords. Whether used in a
permanent installation, or as a portable mixer, the
1604-VLZ PRO is completely at home.

Built like a tank, the 1604-VLZ PRO is a team
player that can stand up to vigorous use, day in
and day out, any place it is installed. Its sturdy-yet­light steel monocoque construction houses rugged,
double-sided through-hole-plated fi berglass circuit
boards, and 60mm faders with ultra-tight lip seals
for keeping out dust and other contaminants.
Impact-resistant knobs are mounted so they "ride"
just above the steel chassis — they absorb impact
without trouble. They’re designed to last, too,
thanks to co-molded potentiometers that don’t get
brittle and crack up. Then, we use metal stand-offs

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16-Channel Mic/Line Mixer

Features

16 low noise/high headroom XDR™ (Extended

Dynamic Range) XLR mic inputs with the best
RFI rejection of any compact mixer design and

maximum freedom from ground loops.
16 balanced/unbalanced mono line inputs
True 4-bus design
Multi-way physical confi guration via rotatable

I/O pod, or optional RotoPod Kit (RP1604-VLZ)
Inserts on all channels
Direct outs on channels 1–8
3-band EQ with sweepable mids
75Hz, 18dB/oct. Low Cut fi lter on each channel
PFL/AFL (Solo In-Place) on all channels (global)
Very Low Impedance (VLZ) architecture
Control Room/Phones source matrix
6 aux sends, 2 with master level controls
Wide input gain range with “virtual pad”
Stereo main outputs plus mono main output

with separate level control
Balanced inputs and outputs (except RCAs,

phones & inserts)
Level set LED and marker

RP1604-VLZ RotoPod bracket kit, 1604-VLZ Dirt Avert™
Ballistic Nylon Dust Cover, 1604-VLZ Fabric Mixer Bag and
1604-VLZ Suede Mixer Bag for 1604-VLZ PRO. 12-inch
and 18-inch Running Light Gooseneck lamps. 1202-VLZ
PRO 12-Channel Mic/Line Mixer, 1402-VLZ PRO 14-Chan­nel Mic/Line Mixer, 1642-VLZ PRO 16-Channel Mic/Line
Mixer, SRM350/SRM450 Active 2-Way SR Loudspeakers,
M•800/M•1400i/M•1400 Power Amplifi ers, C200/
C300z passive 2-way SR Loudspeakers

Applications

Live sound mixing for churches, clubs,

schools, conference centers, board-

rooms, tradeshows, presentations

Keyboard, drum machine and DJ
Multitrack studio and fi eld recording
A/V presentations, video post produc-

tion, CD authoring, multimedia
Live broadcast remotes, ENG, ad production

Specifi cations

Mic Preamp

Equivalent Input Noise (20Hz–20kHz):

150Ω –129.5dBu
50Ω –131.0dBu
0Ω –134.5dBu

Frequency Response:

–1dB 5Hz–100kHz

–3dB 3Hz–192kHz
IM Distortion (4:1 SMPTE),35dB gain 0.0008%
Harmonic Distortion (20Hz–20kHz), 35dB gain 0.0007%
Gain: Max +60dB

Max Input +22dB
Input Impedance 1.3kΩ
Common Mode Rejection > 90dB
Common Mode Rejection Ratio > 140dB

Main Mix Noise1

Main Mix fader @ unity, ch. faders down: –90.5dB
Main Mix fader @ unity, ch. faders @ unity: –88.0dB

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

Attenuation (Crosstalk)

Channel Mute switch engaged: –84dBu
Channel Fader down: –84dBu

Frequency Response

20Hz to 60kHz: +0dB/–1dB
20Hz to 100kHz: +0dB/–3dB

Other Maximum Levels

All other inputs: +22dBu
Main Mix 1⁄4” TRS outputs: +28dBu
All other outputs: +22dBu

Other Impedances

Channel Insert return: 2.5kΩ
All other inputs: > 10kΩ
Tape out: 1.1kΩ
All other outputs: 120Ω

EQ

High Shelving: ±15db @ 12kHz
Mid Peaking: ±15dB, sweep 100Hz–8kHz
Low Shelving: ±15db @ 80Hz
Low Cut Filter: 18dB/octave, –3dB @ 75Hz

Power Consumption

120VA.C., 50/60Hz, 50 watts

Physical

Dimensions see drawings on page 4 & 5
Weight 20 lbs. (9.1kg)

Min 0dB or Unity

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0.005%

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at regular intervals to mount thick fi berglass
circuit boards inside the mixer.

Radio frequency interference from TV/radio
stations and cellular phone users is virtually
eliminated, thanks to Mackie’s new XDR mic
preamp design.

The mixer’s built-in power supply is beefy
enough to handle major power consumption
without breaking up. And there’s no bulky “wall
wart” to be kicked out of place or to cover up
extra outlets.

All of this adds up to an extremely durable
mixer that can withstand major use and
misuse. Multi-user applications like churches,
night clubs, A/V rooms and schools are perfect
homes for the 1604-VLZ PRO.

Sixteen XDR mic preamps deliver the fi nest
quality sound ever offered in a compact mixer.
They cannot be damaged by hot patching. And
they are impedance-independent: frequency
response remains the same whether the mic
preamp is presented with an extremely high or
low-impedance load. Additionally, each chan­nel has its own switchable low cut fi lter
(18dB/octave @ 75Hz), so mic thumps, room
rumble and stage mishaps are left out of the
mix without diminishing the audible bass fre­quency range.

Four buses add mixing fl exibility. Channels
can be assigned to buses 1-2, 3-4 and/or Main
Mix L/R, and the 4 subs can be assigned to
left and/or right main mix. A Control Room/
Phones source matrix lets you route any com­bination of tape, subs 1-2, 3-4, main mix or
Aux Return 4 to headphones, control room out­puts, and meters. This enables you to monitor
2-track tape output or route a click/cue track
to phones, create special phones or broadcast
mixes via the subs, or create an extra stereo mix
(with its own gain control) for another zone, like

Specifi cations footnotes:

1) 20Hz–20kHz bandwidth, 1/4" Main out, Channel Trims @ unity gain, channel EQs fl at, all

channels assigned to Main Mix, odd channels Pan left, even channels Pan right. Reference
+4dBu.

2) 1kHz @ +14dBu, 20Hz–20kHz.

3) 1kHz relative to 0dBu, 20Hz–20kHz bandwidth, Line in, 1⁄4" Main Out, Trim @ unity.

4) Any input to any output.

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a cry room, lobby, or other such place.

For that matter, the 1604-VLZ PRO’s Mono Main Out
has its own level control, so a mono mix can be sent to
another zone and adjusted accordingly.

The 1604-VLZ PRO has six aux sends, in a four­knob per channel strip format with Aux Sends 1 & 2
switchable pre- or post-fader, and the next two knobs

switchable between Aux Sends 3 & 4 or 5 & 6 (all four
are post-fader).

Solo has its own volume control and is switchable
from AFL (In-Place) to PFL. Level setting is easy in PFL,
especially when used in conjunction with the mixer’s
level set LED and marker (near the 12-segment stereo
LED ladder). Check a channel’s stereo placement

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