Mackie Blend 6 Quickstart Guide

TAPCO Blend 16 Quick-Start Guide

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Before you begin, please make sure that you read the

safety instructions on page 2 of the owner’s manual (on the

supplied CD-ROM).

The Blend 16 mixer is perfect for small to medium-sized live
sound reinforcement applications, keyboards and synths,
video, and project studio applications.

The USB port on the Blend 16 makes it easy to get audio
from your mixer to your computer-based DAW. And we’ve
included a CD-ROM with the full version of Tracktion, our
easy-to-use multitrack recording and sequencing software
(for the PC or Mac). Refer to the installation instructions on the
software CD-ROM to install Tracktion on your computer.

This quick-start guide includes a list of features, a getting-started guide on the inside pages, and a typically
lovely hookup diagram for a stereo PA system.

Here’s a quick glance at all the features packed into this mixer:

8 mono mic/line channels, with:

• XLR microphone input jack

• 1/4" TRS instrument input jack

• 1/4" TRS insert jack

• Variable input gain with Level Set indicator LED

• Low Cut switch

• Phantom power (globally switched to all XLR)

• 3-band EQ with variable mid frequency

• Pre-fader aux (monitor) send

• Post-fader aux (effects) send

• Pan control

• Mute

• Overload LED

• Assign to subgroup 1-2, 3-4, and main mix bus

• Solo

• 60 mm level fader control

4 stereo line channel pairs, with:

• Left and right 1/4" TRS line input jacks

• Variable input gain with Level Set indicator LED

• 3-band EQ

• Pre-fader aux (monitor) send

• Post-fader aux (effects) send

• Pan (balance) control

• Mute

• Overload LED

• Assign to subgroup 1-2, 3-4, and main mix bus

• Solo

• 60 mm level fader control

• Ch 13/14 has a switchable internal phono
preamp for converting phono-level signals from
turntables into line-level and adding it to the
main mix.

• Ch 15/16 can route the USB stereo output from
a computer’s DAW output to the main mix. For
example, you can add the audio output from
Tracktion onto the main mix.

Part No. SW0427 Rev. A 08/2006
©2006 LOUD Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Master section, with:

• 1/4" TRS Aux 1/Mon and Aux 2/Effects send
outputs and controls

• RCA tape in and tape out

• Power LED and Phantom power LED indicator

• BNC Lamp connector

• 1/4" Stereo Headphones jack

• Stereo Graphic EQ with bypass, assignable to
main mix or monitors

• 16 Internal effects (each with 16 variations) with
bypass, bypass LED, input level and overload
LED

• USB Output Level control with overload LED,
and assign from main mix or Subs1-2

• Control room and Headphones select from:
main mix, CD/Tape, Sub 1-2, or Sub 3-4

• FX Return to Aux 1 control (monitor)

• FX Return to main mix control

• CD/Tape to main mix control

• 8-segment stereo LED VU metering

• Solo LED

• Each subgroup can be assigned to Left and/or
Right of main mix

• 60 mm fader for each subgroup and main mix

Rear Panel section, with:

• AC Power Switch and Phantom Power Switch

• IEC AC Power Cord Socket

• Universal power supply accepts AC mains
voltages from 100 to 240 VAC

• Balanced 1/4" TRS and XLR stereo main outputs

• 1/4" TRS main inserts

• 1/4" TRS control room outputs

• Four 1/4" TRS subgroup outputs

• USB connection

• Internal antique steam-powered calliope for
authentic circus/carnival atmosphere

• OK, we made that last one up

1

2

Getting Started

The following steps will help you set up your mixer, and get the levels and adjustments just
right. Please follow the instructions in the order they are presented, rather like following the
instructions for mixing a Lemon Bundt cake, or running a nuclear power station, for example.

ZERO THE CONSOLE:

1. Turn everything off, including the mixer’s rear panel

POWER switch and PHANTOM POWER switch.

2. Turn down all channel strip GAIN, AUX SEND 1, and

AUX SEND 2 knobs.

3. Center the channel strip EQ and PAN knobs.

4. Turn down the MASTER FX RETURNs and AUX SENDs,

CONTROL ROOM, PHONES and other level knobs.

5. Move all FADERs fully down.

6. Center the Stereo Graphic EQ sliders.

7. Make sure all push buttons are in the up position.

CONNECTIONS:

1. Connect speakers to your amplifier’s outputs

(unless you have powered speakers with built-in
amplifiers).

2. Plug all the sound system components into suitable

AC outlets, properly grounded and capable of
delivering correct voltage and adequate current.

3. Make connections from your mixer’s MAIN MIX

outputs to your amplification system’s line inputs.

4. Connect your microphones and instruments to the

mixer: Connect microphones to the mono channel
MIC jacks. (For condenser microphones, you may
have to turn on the PHANTOM POWER switch,
so read your Mic’s documentation.) Connect
instruments directly to the INST 1/4" inputs, and line­level sources (synthesizers, guitar effects, preamps)
to the stereo channel LINE IN 1/4" inputs.

5. Connect the USB port to an open USB port on

your computer, using the cable provided. Two
channels of audio can be sent to your computer
for recording, and two channels can return onto
the main mix from your Tracktion or other DAW
software. See “USB and the Blend 16” on page 19
of the owner’s manual for more details about using
the mixer with a computer.

6. Zero the console, as described above.

7. Turn on your components’ power switches, leaving

the amplifier (or powered speakers) until last.

8. Now you are ready to set the levels.

SET THE LEVELS:

1. You can set the levels without hearing the sounds,

but if you prefer, connect a set of headphones to
the PHONES jack.

2. Choose one of the microphones or instruments

connected to the mono MIC or INST inputs.

3. Press that channel’s SOLO switch in.

4. Have a wandering musician make some noise. If

it’s a microphone connected to that channel, sing
sweetly at the normal volume. If it’s a synthesizer,
play it at its normal output level.

5. While making music, turn up that channel’s GAIN

knob until the nearby LEVEL SET LED starts blinking.

6. With SOLO pushed in, you should see the meters

grooving along with the music (and the RUDE
SOLO light blinking).

7. If the GAIN is set correctly, the sound levels should

be nicely hovering around the 0 dB LEDs. If the
average seems to be higher, turn down the GAIN.
If it seems too low, turn it up.

8. Carefully turn up the PHONES knob and listen.

9. If necessary, apply channel EQ changes.

10. Turn down the PHONES knob.

11. Release the SOLO switch for that channel.

12. Repeat steps 2 through 11 for all other active

channels, until all the GAINs are set correctly. You
can repeat this procedure later, if needed. Once
you get going, you will be surprised how quickly
you can set up all the levels.

MAKING THE MIX:

1. Make sure all levels are set correctly, as described in

the previous section.

2. Set the SOURCE SELECT switch to MAIN MIX, so your

meters (and headphones) will receive the main mix.

3. Add an active channel to the main mix by pressing

the L-R switch near the bottom of that channel strip.

4. Turn that channel’s FADER up to the U mark (0 dB).

5. Carefully turn up the MAIN MIX FADER and listen to

the glorious sounds in your main speakers.

6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all active channels are

added to the main mix. As you add each instrument,
shout out its name loudly like this: “Introducing Billy­Bob Beauregarde-Baker on Big Bass Banjo.”

7. Carefully adjust the channel FADERs and the Graphic

EQ to suit the main mix to your delicate audio senses.

8. To use the internal processor, adjust each channel’s

AUX SEND 2 FX control to send signals to the
processor. Adjust the FX INPUT LEVEL knob so the
internal processor is not overloaded (FX OL LED off).
Add the processed signal to the main mix using the
FX RETURN TO MAIN MIX knob.

9. Now that you have a rough mix going, you

MIC

1

INST

INSERT

1

GAIN

1

MUTE

EQ

PAN

1

2

AUX

HIGH

MID

LOW

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

U

AUX

LINE

( )

1

2

15

13

16

MUTE

GAIN

14

CD/TAPE

15
16

MUTE

13
14

11

12

MUTE

11
12

9

( ) ( ) ( )

GAIN

10

MUTE

9

10

PANPANPAN

LINE LINE LINE

GAIN GAIN

PAN

EQ

MID

EQ

EQ EQ

L

FX

R

1

2

AUX

1

2

AUX

1

2

AUX

1

2

AUX

HIGH

LOW

MID

HIGH

LOW

MID

HIGH

LOW

MID

HIGH

LOW

( )

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

UUUU

U

U

MAX

PHONESLAMP

BYPASS

EQ IN

FX OL

MAIN MIX
AUX1(MON)

POWER

PHANTOM 48V

1

MAIN

MIX

SUB2SUB3SUB4SUB

SUB ASSIGN
TO MAIN MIX

MASTER

AUX
SEND

CTRL RMPHONES

CD/TAPE IN

TO MAIN MIX

TO

MAIN

MIX

TO
AUX1
MON

INTERNAL EFFECTS

SUBS

1-2

SUBS

3-4

MAIN

MIX

CD/

TAPE

FX

BYPASS

SOURCE

SELECT

RUDE SOLO

0dB = 0dBu

OUTPUT LEVEL

USB

SOURCE

OL

MAX

MAX MAX

MAX

L R L R L R L R

1

MON

2

FX

+15

+15

FX

RETURN

+15

+15

15

-

15+

5

10

0

5

10

-

15

+15

5

10

0

5

10

STEREO GRAPHIC EQ

64Hz 125Hz 400Hz 1kHz 2.5kHz 8kHz 16kHz

16

LEVEL

SET

12

8

4

0

-4

-12

-24

FX
INPUT
LEVEL

SPRING

M DELAY

ST DELAY

CHORUS

REV + FLANGER

REV + CHORUS

REV + DELAY

FLANGER

TAPE REV

PLATE

SM HALL

LG ROOM

LG HALL

VOCAL 1

SM ROOM

VOCAL 2

VARIATIONS

MAIN MIX

SUBS 1-2

(PRE-FADER)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

USB OUTPUT

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

10

dB

30

20

10

40

50

5

5

60

UUUUU

may need to readjust the MAIN MIX FADER to a
comfortable listening level. The meters should
indicate by lighting most of the green LEDs when
music is playing, and occasionally light the yellow.

10. Depending on how much time you have, keep

tweaking. Walk the room to see how it sounds
away from your mixer. Keep tweaking FADERS and
EQ as needed. Watch out for any OL overload
LEDS blinking, as the band plays on.

A FEW PRECAUTIONS:

Never listen to loud music for prolonged
periods. Please see the Safety Instructions
on page 2 of the owner’s manual (on the
CD) for information on hearing protection.

• Only plug your amplifier’s speaker-level outputs
into speakers, never to the mixer.

• Never use guitar cables to connect amplifiers to
speakers. Next thing, you’ll be running with scissors.

• Before making connections to an external
amplifier, or reconfiguring an amp’s routing, turn
the amp’s level (gain) controls down, turn the
power off, make the changes, turn the power
back on, and then turn the level controls back up.

• When you shut down your equipment, turn off any
external amplifiers first. When powering up, turn on
the amplifiers last.

• Save the shipping box and packing material!
The box can also be turned into a unique hat for
attending Audio Society meetings, or stepping out
in style.

Mic Inputs

Instrument

Gain Knob

EQ Section

Aux 1 Send

Aux 2 Send

Ch Fader

Inputs

Inserts

Level Set

Low Cut

OL LED

Assign

Pan

Mute

Solo

Mono Ch 1-8 Stereo Ch. 10-16 Master Section

Stereo

Line

Inputs

Aux

Sends

FX

Returns

CD/Tape

In Out

Power

Phantom LEDs

USB

Control room/

phones

Master Aux

Sends

FX Returns

Subgroup

Assign

Subgroup

Faders

Phones

Graphic EQ

Internal
Effects

Rude Solo

Meters

CD/Tape to
Main

Main Fader

3

LEFTRIGHT 1234

SUB OUTS

MAIN INSERT

LEFT

BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL

TIP SEND / RING RETURN

RIGHT

CONTROL RM OUT

USB IN/OUT

MAIN OUT

RIGHT LEFT

AUX

SENDS

LINE

INPUT

L

R

BAL

OR

UNBAL

(MONO)

MIC

INPUT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

INST

INPUT

INSERT

1

MON

2

FX

MIC

INPUT

INST

INPUT

INSERT

MIC

INPUT

INST

INPUT

INSERT

MIC

INPUT

INST

INPUT

INSERT

MIC

INPUT

INST

INPUT

INSERT

MIC

INPUT

INST

INPUT

INSERT

MIC

INPUT

INST

INPUT

INSERT

MIC

INPUT

INST

INPUT

INSERT

BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL

PHONESLAMP

BYPASS

EQ IN

MAIN MIX

AUX1(MON)

POWER

PHANTOM 48V

CD/TAPE

INPUT/OUTPUT

L

R

BAL

OR

UNBAL

(MONO)

L

R

BAL

OR

UNBAL

(MONO)

L

R

BAL

OR

UNBAL

(MONO)

LINE

INPUT

LINE

INPUT

LINE

INPUT

STEREO GRAPHIC EQ

IN

OUT

L

R

L

R

L

FX

RETURN

R

(MON0)

Mono in/Stereo out Reverb

(optional)

Drum MicsVocal Mics

Active Stage Monitors

Tape Player/Recorder

Drum

Machine

Keyboard

Stereo Equalizer

(optional)

Stereo Gate/Compressor

Gate/Compressor

(optional)

Gate/Compressor

(optional)

Active Speakers (Mackie SRM450s)

Lead Guitar

Bass Guitar

Rhythm Guitar

Headphones

Turntable

with phono-level

output

1/4" to RCA

adapters

RCA

RCA

Mixer's Ground Screw

USB Connection

Laptop

Hookup Diagram

Stereo PA system

4