Consola Mackie 8 Bus

7/1/95

RELATED PRODUCTS

MORE INFORMATION

FEATURES

8BUS MIDI AUTOMATIONMETER BRIDGES

FLOOR STANDS & SIDE CAR

8BUS ARCHITECTS ANDENGINEERS SPECIFICATIONS

8BUS COLORTABLOID BROCHURE

RECORDING AND PA CONSOLES

Since itsintroduction, MackieDesigns 8Bus Series con-soles have proven thatexcellent sonic quality,practical features and ex-treme durability needn'tmandate a premium price.In hundreds of SR andrecording installations, the328, 248 and 168 deliverperformance previouslyonly found in consolescosting far more.

Instead of offeringdozens of mix-and-matchinput and output moduleoptions, we have put moreof what most users needinto a single console de-sign enabling us to makethem in quantities whichcan bring costs down.

All three 8Bus consolesand the 24E expander offerextensive monitoring, 4-bandEQ, accurate, logarithmictaper faders and expansive,forgiving headroom. Equallyas important, they are builtto withstand the rigors of theenvironment and the casual,untrained user. 8Bus con-soles have withstoodhundreds of thousands of

Each channel includesMackies famous micpreamp and a 10/+4switchable tape return

Eight assignable sub-masters and a L/R mixmaster

4-band EQ with trueparamatric (3-control)HI MID, LO CUT filter

Extensive routingcapabilities

Available in 16, 24 and32 channel versions

Optional Meter Bridgesavailable

Optional 24E Expanderconsole available(for 248 and 328 only)

Rugged all-metalchassis

In-line monitoringeffectively doubles yourinput channels

miles oftouring,

topplingmonitors

during majorearthquakes, and everypossible liquid that ever gotnear a mixing board.

A complete systemThe 8Bus console lineconsists of three in-lineconsoles, the 32x8x2 328,the 24x8x2 248 and the16x8x2 168.

The 248 and 328 areexpandable with Mackie's24E Expander console. The24E consists of 24 inputchannels and tape returns.It connects to the 328 or248 via a proprietary cable.Multiple 24E expandersmay be daisy chained toprovide 128 or more totalinput channels. The 24E'soutputs are pre-mixed inthe expander to reduce linenoise, thermal noise and tomaintain sonic quality atthe main console.

All three consoles andthe 24E are shipped withMackie's rugged 220-watttriple-regulated powersupply. Meter bridges and

steel stands are available foreach console.

In addition, a side carstand is available. The SideCarhas 11 rack spaces for patchbays, external processors orconsole power supplies.

Mackie Designs also offersan external MIDI automationsystem consisting of a 34-channel VCA gain cell thatconnects to the 8Bus con-sole via insert points, a faderpack and Macintosh auto-mation software.

Quality constructionthroughout

Mackie Designs mixers havea well-established reputationfor reliability. The road-rugged8Bus console series is noexception.

The console chassis em-ploys a monocoque designwith seamless main frontand bottom panels. Besideseliminating the bulky framethat holds modules in aconventional console, the8Bus's design resists twist-ing forces that can plaguemany consoles. The lesstwisting, the less potentialservice problems.

Channel strip circuitry islocated on 8-channel,fiberglass, double-sidedthrough-hole-platedcircuit boards. Thecircuit boards arefirmly attached

to the control surface sheetmetal via brass standoffs. Aspecial impact-absorbing knobdesign limits downward travelin the event of impact. Any fur-ther stress is spread across thecircuit board. The result is adesign that is virtually impervi-ous to the kind of damage thatis common with vertical chan-nel module circuit boards.During the 1994 Los Angelesearthquake, scores of Mackie8Bus consoles received thefull force of falling monitors.Most survived with little morethan a few shattered knobs.

All rotary potentiometers aresealed to prevent liquid andparticle contamination. Internalinterconnects are gold-plated.All 1/4" input jack sleeves aresolid metal and create a firmelectrical contact with the mainchassis. In combination with aninternal shunting capacitor, thisconfiguration keeps RFI awayfrom the console's main circuitboards where it can add noise.XLR inputs use ferrite beads toachieve the same purpose.

Mic preamps that canhandle any input

The latest version of our verylow impedance preamplifierdesign provides high head-room with a verifiable E.I.N.spec of 129dBm and 10Hz to

300kHz bandwidth.

In-line FLIP reverses tape and mic/lineinputs between channel strip and Mix-B/Monitor section.

AUX SENDS 1-2 PRE button selectspre-fader/post EQ or post- fader/post EQ.

AUX 3-4 / 5-6 SHIFT changes 3-4 to5-6. SOURCE selects signal source of AUX3-4/5-6 from channel strip or channelsMix B/Monitor send so you can build aneffects mix (pre or post-MIX-B level) toassign to phones during tracking.

True parametric, 3-control HI MID EQ thathas seasoned engineers swooning(quotes and raves on filewere notkidding). Ultra-wide 500-18k frequencysweep range; bandwidth can be adjustedfrom a very wide 3-octave width to a verynarrow 1/12-octave width. 15dB boost/cut.

LO MID EQ with ultra-wide 45Hz-3K sweep,15dB boost/cut.

15dB shelving HI (12kHz) & LO (80Hz) EQ.

Multipurpose 18dB/oct. LO CUT filter@75Hz. Cleans up mix mud, cuts PArumble, creates a neo-peaking basscontrol when used with LO shelving boost.

Independent MIX-B (Monitor) section withpan, level & source. During mixdown, use asextra pre-fader stereo AUX send or doubleyour inputs.

Mix-B SPLIT EQ assigns HI & LO EQ to Mix-B.

MIX-B SOURCE selects from flip switch orchannel strip (pre-fader) for in-linemonitoring while recording or provides anextra stereo aux bus.

Constant power, buffered PAN pot for rock-solid panning.

Overload LED and Hyperactive 20dB SignalPresent LED

Selectable SOLO with CHANNEL METER-ING allows soloing in full stereo perspec-tive; displays soloed channel operatinglevel on master L/R meters so input trimscan be adjusted for optimum levels.

24E 8Bus Expander

7/1/95

All 8Bus preamps useconjugate-pair, large-emitter-geometry transistors instead ofoff-the-shelf integrated circuits.At any gain setting, you get theadditional headroom and ultra-low noise previously only foundin far more expensive consoles.They can handle virtually anylive source including scream-ing singers and loud drum kits without overload.

The 8Bus channel stripThe 8Bus input channels'physical layout and features aredetailed on the next pages of thisproduct information sheet. Notethat, although each channel stripis relatively dense, all controls areeasily accessible. Knobs are largeenough and sufficiently farapart for even the largest fin-gers. Markings are legible, evenin low-light situations.

The four-band EQ section isplaced lower on the strip thanthe AUX sends for easy accessduring sessions. Within the EQsection, the high and low shelv-ing controls have been placednext to MIX-B, since their op-eration can be transferred tothe monitor section. A sharp Hipass filter is included for PAapplications.

Within the MIX-B monitorsection, is a Source switch. Inthe Channel (down) position,MIX-B is connected to thesame point in the circuit as thechannel fader input. It providesa second, independent stereomix from the main channelsignal that is handy for broad-cast feeds, 2-track recording,routing to another zone in achurch or club, or an extra setof aux sends.

8Bus channel and bus fad-ers are a special design thatprovides true logarithmic taper.These smooth, 100mm fadersuse a complex network of addi-tive resistive elements thatcombine at various points

6 STEREO AUX RETURNS. All have 20dBgain, Solo and can be used in stereo &mono. 1 & 2 are pannable & bussable.

3 & 4 are assignable to the phones forwet monitoring.

6 AUX SENDS with Solo and Solo LED.

TALKBACK assigns to all submasters,main mix, AUX 1, AUX 2 or Phones 1 & 2.

SOLO level adjust and ultra-rude LED.

MONITOR section with separate ControlRoom & Studio levels. Source selection

between L/R mix, Mix-B, Tape & External.Can be switched to Mono.

TWO SEPARATE HEADPHONESECTIONS can be used totally indepen-

dent of each other. Each features sourceselection between Control Room & any

combination of AUX 3/4, AUX 5/6, Mix-Bor External source. Solo allows control

room to hear what musicians arehearing in their headphones.

MIX B/MONITOR section can be used asan independent stereo out for PA

monitor mix, 2-track recording,video/broadcast feed or assigned to L/R mix.

40 to +10 bar graph LED DISPLAYS foreach sub-master & Solo/Main (with

main L/R +22dB CLIP LEDs).

EXPANSION CONSOLES let you addchannels in banks of 24 to either the

248 or 328. Expanders have their owninternal mix amps so the main board

only sees one extra channel perexpansion console.

Trick BUS SOLO switches send odd-numbered buses to the left speaker and

even-numbered buses to the rightspeaker unless youve pressed the

respective MONO L&R button. When abus has been mono-ed, SOLO sends the

bus to both speakers.

L MIX/R MIX & MONO L& R buttons assignbuses to main L/R stereo bus.

Built-in talkback MIC.

7/1/95

The SideCarFor fixed installations,you can add theMackie SideCar.It is designedto fit oneitherside of an8Bus consoleor Expander andprovides 11 standardrack spaces with in-tegral tapped railsfor outboard proces-sors, patch bays orpower supplies.

Horizontal circuitboards versusvertical circuit

modulesBy avoiding individual,vertical circuit modules,we increase parts densitywhich means fewer wir-ing harnesses and ribboncables, shorter signalpaths and less assemblytime. Yet our 8-channels-per-card circuit boardscan be repaired easilyand are far less prone todamage in the first place,thanks to a special knobdesign and mountingmethod that withstandsall but the most brutalimpacts.

along the faders' travel toachieve an absolutelyeven, predictable faderate, from the very top allthe way to the bottom(where you get absoluteattenuation, just like onmore expensive consoles).

The 8Bus output sectionWe have provided excep-tional monitoring flexibilityby providing two separateheadphone sections. Eachlets you build a custom mixusing any combination ofMonitor, Mix-B, AUX 3 & 4,AUX 5 & 6 and External(cue/click track) inputs.

Control room and stu-dio/stage monitor levelsare controlled via individualstereo level controls. Selectany combination of L/RMix, Mix-B, 2-Tk. andExternal inputs.

An additional Talkbacksection can be routed to anycombination of AUX 1, AUX2, Tape/Submasters (L/Rmix) and Phones/Studio.

The 8Bus power supplyOur 220-Watt Triple-Regu-lated Power Supply is

designed to withstand highenvironmental tempera-tures and direct sunlight. Itcan produce rated outputfrom as little as 100 volts(a serious considerationwhen running SR at theend of a long extensioncable). The power supplyhas sufficient output to runboth the console and ameter bridge. Compare itto what you get with otherconsoles in the same pricerange. You'll see one moreexample of just how over-engineered the 8Busseries is.

The 8Bus meter bridgeMB32, MB24 and MB16meter bridges provide12-segment LED laddersfor each input channeland quality, lighted VUmeters for master Left/Right output (the MBEMeter bridge for the 24EExpander console doesnot include VU meters).Input buttons allow you toglobally switch betweenTape Return input andChannel Strip Post Faderoutput. Each meter as-sembly attaches inminutes and can be tiltedas desired. The meterbridges also tilt down fullyto save road case depth.

All channels have Mackies renowned discrete, wide-bandwidth MIC PREAMP circuit for ultrahighheadroom & low noise. All mic inputs have RFI choking, ferrite beads and +48V phantom power(switchable in banks of 8 channels).

8Bus SideCar(not included)

Three TAPE OUTPUT jacks perbus (total of 24). Balancedoutputs, switchable from+4/10.

+4dBu balanced TAPE RETURNS,switchable to 10dBV in banksof 8 returns.

Balanced MIC, bal./unbal.LINE IN, MIC/LINE switch ,DIRECT OUT & CH. INSERT onevery channel.

Mackie Designs 8Bus ConsoleBlock Diagram 6/95

GAI

N

HI

BUS 1 BUS 2BUS 3

BUS 4BUS 5BUS 6

BUS 7BUS 8

L-BUSR-BUS

L-SOLOR-SOLO

AUX 1 AUX 2AUX 3

AUX 4AUX 5

AUX 6L-MIX-B

R-MIX-B

L/R

MIX

MIX-

B

2-TK

EXTE

RNAL

SUB

MAS

TER

1 & 2

AUX S

END

1

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CONT

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PHAN

TOM

POW

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MIC

IN

LINE

IN

TAPE IN

FLIP

POST

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AUX 3

AUX 5

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AUX 6

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TRIM

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PAN

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L

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1-2 3-4 5-6

7-8

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(24)

(32)

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AUX 5

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AUX 3

/4

27.17"29.17"

1.00"

1.00"

4.78

"0.

54"

28.7

4"

V. 1.5 6/9516x8x2 8-BUS MIXING CONSOLE

1995 MACKIE DESIGNS INC.*exclusive

ofmeter bridge

168 console

WEIGHT*50 lbs.

6.00

"3.38

"

29.20"

MB168 Optional Meter Bridge

5.50

"

35.02"37.02"

1.00"

1.00"

4.78

"

6.00

"3.38

"

37.00"

0.54

"28

.74"


24x8x2 8-BUS MIXING CONSOLE 1995 MACKIE DESIGNS INC.

*exclusive of

meter bridge

248 console

WEIGHT*64 lbs.

V. 1.4 4/4/94

5.50

"

2.65"

28.58"

2.50

"

Note: add 3.75" to depth for power supply cable clearance

0.69"

4.25

"

6.00

" 9.0

0"

4.78

"

25.24"

28.74"

2.70

"

5.50

"3.

67"

26.80"

28.40"

22.50"

29.00"

V. 1.0 4/4/94STAND FOR 248 & 328 CONSOLES

1995 MACKIE DESIGNS INC.

StandWEIGHT44 lbs.

7/1/95

27.17"29.17"

1.00"

1.00"

4.78

"0.

54"

28.7

4"

V. 1.0 4/4/9424-CH. EXPANSION CONSOLE FOR 248 & 328


ofmeter bridge

24E console

WEIGHT*50 lbs.

6.00

"3.20

"

29.15"

MBE Optional Meter Bridge

5.50

"

43.82"45.82"

1.00"

1.00"

4.77

"0.

54"

28.7

4"

V. 1.4 4/4/9432x8x2 8-BUS MIXING CONSOLE


ofmeter bridge

328 console

WEIGHT*78 lbs.

6.00

"3.38

"

45.80"


5.50

"

level up +20level up +15 level up +15

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

max out +22

max out +22

max out +22

+14 max in

-10 trim dn

MIC INPUT AUX RETURN CH. LEVEL MIX O/P LEVEL OUTPUT

OUTPUT

OUTPUT

MIX

MIX O/P LEVEL

-50 trim up

+22 max in

trim dn

-40 trim up

+22 max in

switch @+4

-12.3 @-10

LINE INPUT

TAPE INPUT

to point (B)

gain up +15fader up +10

(A) (B)pan center -3

gain dn -15(C)

INSERT EQ FADER PAN SUB INSERT

-6 -6

gain up +15 level up +15 level up +15

gain dn -15

SPLIT EQ CH. LEVEL

MIX B

1-8 from point (C)L/R from point (d)

-4to meters

METER FEED (+4 @ O/P = 0 @ METERS)

SUBMASTER or MAIN MIXCHANNELFADER CONTROL ROOM

(D)level up

fader up +10

L/R bal max out +28

max out +221-8 bal/unbal

L/R unbal

from point (A)

AUX SEND

3.50

"(2

rack

spa

ces)

19.00"

V. 1.2 4/4/94

220-WATT POWER SUPPLY FOR8BUS CONSOLES & EXPANDER

1995 MACKIE DESIGNS INC.

19.00"

10.10

"

220-W Power Supply

WEIGHT24 lbs.

SPECIFICATIONSCHANNEL STRIPMic InElectronically balanced;discrete input configurationNoise, Mic E.I.N. (20Hz20kHz)129.0 dBm, 150 source136.0 dBV, input shortedMic Preamp Distortion0.001% 20Hz20kHzMic Preamp Bandwidth10Hz to 300kHz 3dBMic Gain Range+10dB to +50dBMic Max Input+14dBuLine InElectronically balancedLine in Gain RangeUnity to +40dBLine in Max Input+22dBuNoise (Ch. @ Unity Gain)94dBuChannel Faderlog taper using 100mmprecision network designChannel Fader Rangeoff to Unity to +10dBAux Send Gain Rangeoff to Unity to +15dBMix B Gain Rangeoff to Unity to +15dBHi Mid EQfull parametric, 15dB freq.sweep from 500Hz18kHzbandwidth variable from1/12 octave to 3 octavesLo Mid EQsweep from 45Hz3kHz15dBHi Shelving EQ12kHz 15dBLo Shelving EQ80Hz 15dBLo Cut EQ (HPF)75Hz 18dB/octave(Tchebechev)Channel Direct OutMax Output +22dBuOutput Impedance120 (60 @ XLR out)

HI MID2 oct. bandwidthboost/cut

20Hz 100Hz 1kHz 10kHz 20kHz15

10

5

0

+5

+10

+15


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

HI MID3 oct. bandwidth boost/cut


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

LO MIDboost/cut


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

LO SHELF


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

LO CUT (HI PASS)

HI MID1/12 oct. bandwidthboost/cut


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

Interaction of LO CUT withLO SHELF boost


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

HI SHELF

LO MIDsweeps20Hz 100Hz 1kHz 10kHz 20kHz

15

10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

HI MID3 oct. sweeps20Hz 100Hz 1kHz 10kHz 20kHz

15

10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

HI MID2 oct. sweeps


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15


10

5

0

+5

+10

+15

HI MID1/12 oct. sweeps

Tape ReturnsBal./unbal. 1/4 jacks,globally switchable from+4dBu to 10dBVCh. Insert Max In/Out+22dBuCh.-to-Ch. Crosstalk85dBSUBMASTER SECTIONNoise90dB re +4dBu 16 chs.assigned & set @ UnityGainSubmaster OutputMax Out+22dBuSubmaster InsertMax In/Out+22dBuSubmaster Faderlog taper using 100mmprecision network designFader Rangeoff to Unity to +10dBMAIN SECTIONWorking S/N ratio90 dBu (ref: +4 dBu), allchannels assigned, allfaders @ Unity Gain.Max Output+28dBu balanced XLR,+22dBu unbalanced 1/4"Aux Returns Gain Rangeoff to Unity to +20dBAux Sends Max Out+22dBuGENERALDistortionBetter than 0.01%, anyinput to any outputFrequency Response20Hz-40kHz 1dB anyinput to any output;10Hz-120kHz 3dBMax Gain mic in to bal.main out+76dBAC Power Consumption200 watts typical 300watts max (328 w/Meter Bridge)

MACKIE DESIGNS INC. 16220 WOOD-RED RD. N.E.WOODINVILLE WA USA PHONE TOLLFREE 800/258-6883FAX 425/487-4337 OUTSIDE THE U.S., PHONE 425/487-4333

Mackie Designs Inc. is engaged in a continuous program ofproduct evaluation and improvement and reserves the right tochange product specifications at any time without notice.1995 Mackie Designs Inc. All rights reserved. Mackie. is aregistered trademark of Mackie Designs Inc. Printed in USA.12022951.2

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Consola Mackie 8 Bus