Mackie 402VLZ4, 4-channel Ultra Compact Mixer with High Quality Onyx Preamps

This is my third Mackie mixer, and I've always been a fan of Mackie's sound and quality. With those expectations in mind, this mixer was a bit of a letdown. Yes, it still sounds good, which is the most important thing, but the quality is poor when compared to previous 1202 models. The problems are as follows:br>1. The power cable connection is loose and could come loose during a performance if it is moved slightly. br>2. Because the knobs have no grip and are made of hard plastic, they lack the precision and feel of previous modelsbr>3. Many of the knobs lack a unity detent, so you must rely on your intuition.
4. You are not provided with a manual; instead, you must obtain one from their website. site. br>br>br>br>br>br>b Unlike previous models, this one was not manufactured in the United States. Has Mackie lost their quality that they were known for? br>br>Has Mackie lost their quality that they were known for before? They have, at least in this model.

Louis Hamilton

| Mar 19, 2021

To begin with, the power supply in the image is NOT the more durable one! It's a very low-cost wall wart, and it's not even a very good one! The 3 pin transformer in the middle of the power cable is no longer the better transformer. It's just a cheap power adapter with two wires. Second, this isn't the same build that propelled Mackie to fame. I used to own their classic 16 and 32 channel 4 buss VLZ mixers, but they are no longer available. br>br>The knobs are the same new rubbery small ones used on the less expensive "mix" series (of which I had one and returned). br>br>When nothing was plugged in, this thing was registering noise on the meters (see video). br>br>Third, the EQ isn't nearly as good as it could be. I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who is using it to make music (rather than recording or EQing vocals). The low frequency is listed as 80hz, but it sounds muddy, like 100-200hz. The width on 110hz is too wide, and it boosts the frequency too much. br>br>I returned it because the meters were making a lot of noise. br>br>I'm sticking with my low-cost Behringer 802, which has a better "British EQ" clone. This did not impress me in the least; it appears to be a more flexible version of their entry-level mix 8" rather than the traditional VLZ pro mixer.

Kamiyah Harvey

| Aug 08, 2021

For a working drummer, this is the ideal solution. This mixer is what I use for an in-home recording studio. At gigs, I use a click unit and an ear monitor feed. On the first channel, I put the club's ear feed in, and on the second, I put my Tama Rhythm Watch in. The level button has been pressed. On both channels, I'm able to achieve incredible levels. You never know when things will get loud enough that you'll need that extra headroom, and the Mackie has plenty of noise-free GAIN, which is a joy to use, especially when plugging in- Your gord's ears are right in your face. Here's an example of how they compare: I'd bought a Behringer Xenyx 1002 for the same purpose about a week before: In terms of layout, it's similar. When comparing the first and second channels of that unit, I immediately noticed that the gain amounts were not consistent. When they were tested with the same signal, they were completely different! No matter how hard I tried, I could never get the click loud enough, and without the extra headroom required, the Behringer proved to be useless quickly. Also, any kind of louder gain on the Behringer resulted in a TON of white noise and distortion, which simply CANNOT happen when the unit's point is in-use. Use of earphones That colossal amount of noise only serves to distract you from your goal. This line of Mackie mixers is simply the best choice for professionals who need everything to work flawlessly every time. br>I also enjoy using an RCA-in connection. To practice music on my iPhone, I used a 5mm cable with the Mackie. It was very clear and loud. br>Get a Mackie instead of wasting your time like I did.

Frank Brennan

| Dec 01, 2021

I can't recall when I first purchased a Mackie Mixer. It's been at least two decades. I've never had the need for a large board. Despite the fact that I previously owned a 16 channel Mackie (also known as a "big board"), There are numerous input channels, features, meters, inserts, and aux busses. However, I've had a lot of success with the 1402 VLZ series in my audio work. These mixers have always impressed me with their incredible flexibility and low noise. My first one, as well as three or four others, are still in my possession. The 1402VLZ3 was my most recent purchase. Nice Board!br>br>As a result, when I needed a mixer for a small special project, I went straight to Mackie. I was not let down in any way. Mackie had a couple of smaller mixers that would have sufficed, but I believe the 802VLZ4 had the ideal combination of features for the job. It just arrived today, and even before I plug it in, I'm already impressed. br>br>I usually go with a Power Supply that is built into the unit. Connect the power cord to the outlet and turn it on. However, in this case, I wanted the board to be as small as possible, so the outboard plug-in was a must. This part of the design is removed from the mixer's internals, resulting in a smaller footprint. "Wall Warts" can also be an issue, but this one is designed to be thin so that it doesn't take up too much room on your power strip. br>br>Sliders are used to control the incoming channel levels in the 1402s and many other mixers. The 802VLZ4, on the other hand, only has "Volume Control Knobs. " A small footprint is important in the application I'm working on, and using what most people call "Volume Control Knobs" will take up less space than using sliders. (I love Mackie's Sliders, but I don't have room for them in this app, so substituting "Volume Control Knobs" makes perfect sense. ) br>br>I could say a lot more positive things about the Mackie 802VLZ4, but you can find a lot of it in their advertising information. However, I like how their knobs are color coded. It was done very well. br>br>There is one minor flaw: all of my other 1402s came with an excellent manual. Mackie's audio professionalism, which they shared with their product owners in their manuals, was greatly appreciated by me. Their "Schematic" or "Block Diagram" (Page 26 in the 802VLZ4 manual) is particularly useful. It's a fantastic tool for learning how to use your mixer and getting the most out of it. I always made a copy of that page on my 1402s and carried it around with me in a notebook. br>br>I was disappointed to receive a "Quick Start Guide" with little information when I received the new mixer. However, I had already printed out their manual, which I had downloaded in PDF format from their website. I'd suggest to Mackie that including the Block Diagram in the Quick Start Guide would be a huge help to someone setting up the new mixer, because having a flexible product adds a lot of complexity, and the Block Diagram helps figure it out quickly. Also, if a user is going to rely on the PDF format for their manual, formatting it for 8. Paper size is 5 X 11". (Note that the manual is a little bigger. ) br>br>Overall, I'm a 4 out of 5. With Mackie's gear, you can get a total of 9999 stars. br>br>I'm getting on in years, so I don't see a lot of new Mackies in my future, but if the need arises (who knows), that'll be the first place I look.

Liana Whitehead

| Dec 03, 2021