The Mixer Output Guide
Courtesy of Silent Way Remote Audio Recording and Audio Equipment Rental.
Audio mixer inputs are well documented, but output specifications are buried in manuals. This guide to the poor neglected output describes direct outs, inserts, hidden mods and more.
There are two ways to do a live recording: use a mic-splitter with dedicated mic preamps, or hope that the direct outputs on the house board don't suck. House direct outs are risky if they're post-fader/EQ, inaccessible, bad mic pres etc. Whether you call it a console, mixer, board or desk, plan ahead with this list. Your contributions and corrections are encouraged.
TS/RR: tip=send, ring=return. A "first click" insert is a semi-direct out: an unbalanced 1/4" TS plug inserted half-way will send signal without interrupting it to the mix bus. Plugged all the way in, it is a direct out which interrupts.
Sort the list by clicking on a header. 79 mixers matched current criteria.
| Make | Model | Direct Out |
Insert |
DO Gain Control | Notes | Price It | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen + Heath | GL2800 | 1/4" TRS (impedance balanced) | 1/4" TS/RR, post-HPF, pre-EQ | no | Use the channel recessed PRE-EQ switches (under aux send 1-2) to change... |
Price It |
Details |
| Allen + Heath | GL3800 | 1/4" TRS (impedance balanced, 0dBu) | 1/4" TS/RR, post-HPF, pre-EQ, 0dBu | no |
Direct Out has internal option jumpers for each channel. The factory... |
Price It |
Details |
| Allen + Heath | MixWizard WZ3:16:2 | 1/4" TRS, impedance balanced, 0dBu | 1/4" TSRR |
Direct Out has internal option jumper for each channel; factory default... |
Details | ||
| Allen + Heath | Zed-14 | none | 1/4" TSRR, 0 dBu, post 100Hz filter, pre EQ | no |
Insert is post-HPF, pre-EQ and operates at 0dBu. Aux sends 1 and 2 are... |
Details | |
| Crest | X 20R | 1/4" TRS, on first 12 channels, post fader (50 ohms ground compensated) | 1/4" TSRR, post-HPF, pre-eq, pre-fader, pre-mute. | no |
Complex internal soldering mod to make direct out prefader. Aux send... |
Details | |
| Mackie | Onyx 24.4 | DB25, balanced, post low-cut, post insert, pre EQ | 1/4" unbal, post low-cut, pre EQ, pre fader, pre mute, TS/RR | no |
This 24-channel mixer has twenty mono input channels/faders and two... |
Details | |
| Mackie | Onyx 32.4 | DB25, balanced, post low-cut, post insert, pre EQ | 1/4" unbal, post low-cut, pre EQ, pre fader, pre mute, TS/RR | no |
This 32-channel mixer has twenty eight mono input channels/faders and... |
Details | |
| Mackie | CR1604 | no, "first click" on (-10) insert jack | 1/4" unbal, post-EQ, post-fader, TS/RR | no |
See p. 33 of... |
Details | |
| Mackie | Onyx 1640 | DB25, Post-Gain, Pre-Insert, Pre-EQ, Pre-Mute, Pre-Fader | 1/4" unbal, post-lo-cut, pre-EQ, pre-fader, TS/RR, on ch 1-16. Tip is Lo-Z, Ring is Hi-Z. | no |
DO is also sent to FireWire if mixer has optional... |
Details | |
| Mackie | Onyx 1220 | DB25, Post-Gain, Pre-Insert, Pre-EQ, Pre-Mute, Pre-Fader | 1/4" unbal, post-lo-cut, pre-EQ, pre-fader, TS/RR, on ch 1-4 only. Tip is Lo-Z, Ring is Hi-Z. | no |
DO is also sent to FireWire if mixer has optional... |
Details | |
| Mackie | Onyx 1620 | DB25, Post-Gain, Pre-Insert, Pre-EQ, Pre-Mute, Pre-Fader | 1/4" unbal, post-lo-cut, pre-EQ, pre-fader, TS/RR, on ch 1-8 only. Tip is Lo-Z, Ring is Hi-Z. | no |
DO is also sent to FireWire if mixer has optional... |
Details | |
| Mackie | SR 24•4 | no, "first click" on (-10) insert jack | 1/4" unbal, pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-mute, TS/RR | no |
This 24-channel mixer has twenty mono input channels/faders and two... |
Details | |
| Mackie | SR 32•4 | no, "first click" on (-10) insert jack | 1/4" unbal, pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-mute, TS/RR | no |
This mixer has 28 mic/line mono, and 2 stereo line channels. The... |
Details | |
| Mackie | SR 24•4-VLZ Pro | no, "first click" on (-10) insert jack | 1/4" unbal, pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-mute, TS/RR | no |
This 24-channel mixer has twenty mono input channels/faders and two... |
Details | |
| Mackie | SR 32•4-VLZ Pro | no, "first click" on (-10) insert jack | 1/4" unbal, pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-mute, TS/RR | no |
This mixer has 28 mic/line mono, and 2 stereo line channels. The... |
Details | |
| Mackie | 2404-VLZ3 | no, "first click" on (-10) insert jack (post-gain, pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre mute) | 1/4" unbal, pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-mute, TS/RR | no |
The Mackie 2404 VLZ3 is a 24-channel mixer with twenty mono input... |
Details | |
| Mackie | 1604-VLZ Pro | 1/4" (+4?), post-EQ, post-fader, impedence balanced, only on ch 1-8. "First click" (-10) insert for ch 9-16 DO. | 1/4" unbal, pre-EQ, pre-fader, TS/RR | no |
The 4 busses have 1/4" outputs. See page 28 of... |
Details | |
| Mackie | CFX-12mkii | no, "First click" on (-10) insert jack | 1/4" unbal, pre-EQ, pre-fader, TS/RR | no |
The 4 busses have 1/4" outputs. "Utility Out" mirrors the Main out... |
Details | |
| Mackie | 8Bus Series | 1/4" unbal (+4?), post-EQ, post-fader | 1/4" unbal, pre-lo-cut, pre-EQ, pre-fader, TS/RR | no |
All busses have 1/4" inserts. Busses have 1/4" +4/-10 switchable... |
Details | |
| Soundcraft | Spirit Monitor 2 | XLR "split out" (see notes), pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-input gain | 1/4" unbalanced TS/RR, pre-EQ, pre-fader |
"Split Out" is simply a y-ed XLR jack connected directly to the XLR mic... |
Details |
