Mackie 802-VLZ3 8-Ch. Compact Recording/SR Mixer Review
Mackie 802-VLZ3 8-Ch. Compact Recording/SR Mixer Feature
- 8-channel mixer featuring Mackie VLZ3's signature low noise, high-headroom design
- 3 studio-grade XDR2 Extended Dynamic Range mic preamps
- 3-Band Active EQ
- Aux send, level, pan and PFL solo on each channel
- Stereo Return for connecting effects processor or other stereo source
XDR2 Among the features that have earned the VLZ3 mixers their stellar reputation are the XDR2 "Extended Dynamic Range" mic preamps. That’s because serious amounts of time and energy went into their design, and the result is phenomenal. You simply won’t find preamps this good on any other mixer in this price range. The XDR2 preamps deliver pure, clean studio-grade sound—the kind of quality you’d expect to find in pricey boutique mic pres. They have an incredibly wide frequency range, especially in the low end, and even at extremely high gain settings. They offer incredibly low noise, amazing RFI rejection, and with 60dB of available gain per channel, the 802-VLZ3 can handle inputs ranging from a whisper to a scream. With the superior sound of the 802-VLZ3’s three XDR2 preamps, rest assured you will always get optimum performance out of your professional ribbon, dynamic, and condenser mics. Read more.
Super-Musical EQ for Super Tweaking Latitude
EQ KnobsThe 802-VLZ3’s ultra-musical 3-band Active EQ provides precise control over the full frequency spectrum, giving you ultimate sound shaping latitude. We invested tremendous resources into optimizing the center frequencies of our EQs, and improved the interaction of the separate EQ bands, so your tracks can be molded and tweaked for just the right result. Low shelving at 80Hz, mid peaking at 2.5kHz and high shelving at 12kHz mean you can quickly and effectively sculpt your tone for the ultimate in punch, fullness, and brilliance—and with up to 15dB boost/cut capability per band, you get loads of room to move…and experiment. There’s also a 100Hz low cut/high pass switch for each mic input, so you can keep the muddiness out of your sound—and give lows that extra punch if used in conjunction with the Low EQ. Read more
Fully pro, fully featured
A completely pro mini-desk, the 802-VLZ3 delivers a comprehensive set of mission-critical mixing tools. Five full channel strips let you easily get your hands on your mix, while bright 12-segment stereo meters allow for ultra-accurate metering. The dedicated Stereo Return channel lets you connect external components, such as effects units or mp3 players, so you can incorporate your favorite sounds or prerecorded material into your tracks. You also get Hi Z inputs on channels 1 and 2 for recording instruments such as electric guitar and basses direct—no external gear required—and phantom power is provided for your studio condenser mics. The PFL solo function lets you easily set your gain to perfect levels, and high pass filters allow you to cut low frequency rumble—100Hz and below—on channels 1 to 3. The 802-VLZ3 also gives you essential engineering features including separate control room volume and phones knobs. And thanks to our clever engineers, the "mute" button actually serves a dual purpose— signals from muted channels are secretly routed to the Alt 3-4 outputs and also into the Control Room section, ideal for creating submixes, previewing channels, or creating a "mix minus" for broadcast applications.
Ultra-compact, sleek, rugged chassis
802VLZ3 ProfileNow you can have your pro mixer, and fit it in your workspace, too. The 802-VLZ3 features a tight, low-profile design that fits the most modest—or congested—of areas perfectly. Like all VLZ3 mixers, the 802-VLZ3 is built like a tank, too. Our legendary solid-steel chassis can take the kind of abuse that would turn our competitors’ flimsy boxes into twisted chunks of debris. Instead of cheap, unsealed potentiometers, we use co-molded pots, which offer substantial strain and impact relief. By design, our control knobs ‘ride’ just above the surface of the chassis, so if something falls onto the mixer, the impact is transferred from the knobs to the chassis—not to the potentiometers or circuit board. Finally, we use thick, horizontally mounted fiberglass PC boards to eliminate the potential for damage and brace them with a shock-absorbing support structure. And not only is the 802-VLZ3 tough, but it can be flexibly positioned, thanks to a bottom panel that lets you easily mount an optional mic stand adapter with just a few screws. Attach your 802-VLZ3 to a mic stand, and you can adjust its height and angle to suit your unique—or weird—work style.
The "V" stands for Versatility
Okay, not really, but the 802-VLZ3 is just that—versatile. With its pro features and small footprint, it’s ideal for a variety of applications, including home and project studio recording, sound reinforcement, multimedia projects, field mixing, broadcast use, and post-production work. (Wanna see how you can put it all together? Check out our hookup guide.) And the included Tracktion 3 Project Bundle music production software makes it that much easier to get right to work, and get inspired. Boot up T3, connect the VLZ3 to your computer’s sound card, and start recording straight away with a host of creativity-inducing loops, samples, and plug-ins.
Less Really Is More
The 802-VLZ3 gives new meaning to the old adage, less is more. While there are other under-12-channel mixers out in the world these days, none provide the performance or sound quality of the 802-VLZ3. Thanks to its ultra-compact, pro design, you get the low input count you want, the extra space you need, and the quality you deserve—all at an unbelievably low price. Put simply, the 802-VLZ3 is the go-anywhere, fit-anywhere professional mixer, delivering superior sound quality—and unbeatable value.
Features
- Ultra-compact 8-channel mixer featuring Mackie VLZ3’s signature low noise, high-headroom design
- 3 studio-grade XDR2™ Extended Dynamic Range mic preamps with:
- Ultra-wide 60dB gain range
- 130dB dynamic range
- +22dBu line input handling
- Extended low frequency response
- Distortion under 0.0007% (20Hz - 20kHz)
- Phantom power for studio condenser mics
- 8 high-headroom line inputs
- Advanced DC pulse transformer RF rejection
- Aux send, level, pan and PFL solo on each channel
- Selectable Instrument inputs on first two channels – no DI box needed
- Stereo Return for connecting effects processor or other stereo source
- 3-Band Active EQ (80Hz, 2.5kHz, 12kHz)
- 18dB/oct. 100Hz Lo-Cut filter on Mic input channels
- ALT 3/4 stereo bus for added versatility
- Control Room/Phones source matrix
- High-resolution 12-segment stereo meters
- Sealed rotary controls to resist dust and grime
- Sleek, rugged steel chassis
- Includes Tracktion 3 Project Bundle, music production software for Mac/PC
