ProAudio Review - May 2008 - (Page 41) There are 17 stereo mixer “layers,” one for each output pair, with 30 input channels and a DAW return pair for each mixer. Mixers controls are limited to level faders, pan sliders, and mute, and solo (to the control room outputs) buttons. The faders have a comfortable working range, though the pan sliders are rather small and touchy. Each input channel has a bar graph level meter adjacent to its fader. The meters are skinny and it takes a sharp eye to read them, but they’re accurate and have a useful ballistic response as well as a “sticky” overload indicator. There’s no provision for copying one mix to another mixer, so each output mix must be created from scratch. Initial setup for a tracking session with several headphone mixes can be time-consuming. Closing the Console program saves all current settings (both setup and mixes) in the 1200F’s flash memory. When the 1200F is powered up without the computer connected, those settings will be in place. This can be convenient or a nuisance, depending on what you were doing when you shut down and what you’ll be doing when you power up. The intent is to be able to use the 1200F as a KEY FEATURES 12 excellent-sounding mic preamps (and four more than the average multi-pre box); expandable up to 18 additional I/O channels via ADAT Optical and AES/EBU or S/PDIF digital I/O; two MIDI inputs and outputs; four independent headphone outputs; eight analog outputs with a common volume control for surround monitoring; low latency monitor mixing; dual, switchable control room monitor outputs; talkback to headphones; clock synchronization to word clock, ADAT, S/PDIF, or AES/EBU data stream; BNC word clock input and output PRICE $2,049 list CONTACT Mackie | ☎ 800-898-3211 ➲ www.mackie.com standalone mixer, but without the on-screen console, relative levels, panning, and mute status are as-remembered, with mixing control limited to adjustment of the input gains. Setups can be named, saved as a computer file, and recalled from the software console, making it quick to reset the 1200F if you have several work-in-progress projects or standalone mix configurations. The mic preamp is identical both in sound and circuitry to that of the well-respected Onyx mixers, so there are no surprises here. Quiescent noise at maximum gain with the input terminated with a 150-ohm resistor peaks at around 68 dBFS, typical for this sort of preamp. Wideband EIN measured at the insert output is –128 dBu, which is pretty close to the theoretical maximum. THD+N is below 0.01 percent (my measurement limit) at 35 dB gain. There’s no audible power line frequency hum or buzz. Frequency response from mic input to monitor out is essentially flat up to half the sample rate, with the low end being about 1.5 dB down at 20 Hz at maximum gain, though it’s only about 0.1 dB down at 20 Hz when running at 30 dB gain. Mic input impedance is 2.4 kiloMACKIE continues on page 42 ➤ Pure Inspiration • • • www.proaudioreview.com May 2008 | ProAudio Review | 41 http://www.mackie.com http://www.fairlightau.com http://www.fairlightau.com http://www.proaudioreview.com
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