Mackie 402-VLZ3 Ultra Compact Stereo Mixer

The 4-channel 402VLZ3 delivers pure VLZ3 quality in Mackie’s smallest form factor ever, making it ideal when your input counts are low, or when space is at a premium. This sleek mixer features two XDR2 preamps that give you higher headroom and lower noise. The 402VLZ3 also includes a premium EQ and a modern mix bus architecture giving you the best sounding mini mixer on the planet. Now you no longer have to buy a large mixer just to get the quality you deserve.

Mackie 402VLZ3 Features

• Ultra-compact 4-channel mixer featuring Mackie VLZ3’s signature low noise, high-headroom design
• 2 studio-grade XDR2 Extended Dynamic Range mic preamps
• 4 high-headroom line inputs
• 2 selectable Instrument inputs – no DI box needed
• 2-Band Active EQ (80Hz, 12kHz) and Lo-Cut filter on mic channels
• Phantom power for studio condenser mics
• Dedicated Stereo Line Input and Tape Input channels
• High-resolution 8-segment stereo meters
• Sealed rotary controls to resist dust and grime
• Sleek, rugged steel chassis
• Includes Tracktion 3 Music Production Software for Mac or PC

XDR2 preamps
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 402VLZ3 can handle inputs ranging from a whisper to a scream. With the superior sound of the 402VLZ3’s two XDR2 preamps, rest assured you will always get optimum performance out of your professional ribbon, dynamic, and condenser mics.

Musical EQ
The 402VLZ3’s ultra-musical 2-band Active EQ provides just the right amount of sound shaping flexibility. Mackie invested tremendous resources into optimizing the center frequencies of their EQs, and improved the interaction of the separate EQ bands, so your tracks can be molded and tweaked for the perfect result. The 402VLZ3’s low shelving at 80Hz and high shelving at 12kHz mean you can quickly and effectively sculpt your tone for the ultimate in punch and brilliance—and with up to 15dB boost/cut capability per band, you get loads of latitude. There’s also a 100Hz low cut/high pass switch for each mic input, so you can keep the ultra-low frequency muddiness out of your sound—and give your bass that extra punch if used in conjunction with the Low EQ.

Small Yet Powerfully Flexible
Though small in stature, the 402VLZ3 provides an incredible abundance of professional features and mission-critical tools to enhance your mixing experience—and your creativity. In addition to essential features like phantom power for your condenser mics, you get a variety of user options that make the 402VLZ3 a surprisingly versatile mixing machine. Two switchable Hi-Z instrument inputs allow you to plug instruments like electric guitar or bass in direct—no external gear required—or, disengage the switch to connect line level sources such as keyboards, or CD or mp3 players. Use the high pass filters on channels 1 and 2 to cut the rumble with the touch of a button. Connect line level stereo gear like DJ decks using the assignable stereo RCA input, and either route to your phones for queuing up, or to your main mix for overdubbing while monitoring back from your computer on phones. Flexibly monitor and record mono and stereo sources using the stereo pan function—when the switch is out, a mono source will be split between the left and right of the main mix equally, and when the switch is in, channels 1 and 2 are hard-panned left and right (perfect for recording stereo mics). Keep an eye on your levels with the bright 8-segment stereo meters, as well as the responsive overload LEDs that warn you when you’re overdoing it with the gain and/or EQ. No matter how you use it, the 402VLZ3 supplies everything you need to get the job done.

Ultra-compact, sleek, rugged chassis
Now you can have your pro mixer, and take it with you, too. The 402VLZ3 features a tight, low-profile design that fits the most modest—or congested—areas perfectly, including your backpack or laptop case. Like all VLZ3 mixers, the 402VLZ3 is built like a tank, too. Mackie's legendary solid-steel chassis can take the kind of abuse that would turn their competitors’ flimsy boxes into twisted chunks of debris. Instead of cheap, unsealed potentiometers, they use co-molded pots, which offer substantial strain and impact relief. By design, their 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, Mackie uses 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 402VLZ3 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 402VLZ3 to a mic stand, and you can adjust its height and angle to suit your unique—or weird—work style.

Applications A-Plenty
With its professional features and ultra-compact footprint, the 402VLZ3 is ideal for a variety of applications, including home studio and on-the-go recording, multimedia projects, field mixing, broadcast use, and post-production work. And the included Tracktion 3 Basic Bundle music production software makes it that much easier to get right to work, and get inspired. Boot up T3, connect the 402VLZ3 to your computer’s sound card, and start recording your masterpiece.

Less Really Is More
The best-sounding, most professional ultra-compact in its class, the 402VLZ3 gives new meaning to the old adage, less is more. While there are other ultra-compact mixers out in the world these days, none provide the performance or sound quality of the 402VLZ3. Thanks to its ultra-flexible, super-versatile, professional 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 402VLZ3 is the go-anywhere, fit-anywhere professional mixer, delivering superior sound quality—and unbeatable value.