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#1
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
The desk I normally use for my Halloween stuff seems to have been
taken out by one of my cats. [Long uninteresting story] Anyway, I pulled out my old Mackie CR 1604 vlz to fill in. Seems that board suffers from that ribbon cable oxidation problem that I seem to recall was common to them. Two questions: [1] Can I still get replacement ribbon cables for that board? ( ...and if so , where? ) [2] I'm thinking about getting a Mackie ProFX16v2 to fill in for the dead desk and the sick CR 1604... Has Mackie solved the ribbon cable problem in the new board? ~~ Note: I'm mostly retired from sound stuff, and just do simple hobby level holiday stuff. -- == Later... Ron Capik -- |
#2
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 3/11/2018 4:16 PM, Ron C wrote:
The desk I normally use for my Halloween stuff seems to have been taken out by one of my cats. [Long uninteresting story] Anyway, I pulled out my old Mackie CR 1604 vlz to fill in. Seems that board suffers from that ribbon cable oxidation problem that I seem to recall was common to them. Two questions: [1] Can I still get replacement ribbon cables for that board? ( ...and if so , where? ) [2] I'm thinking about getting a Mackie ProFX16v2 to fill in for the dead desk and the sick CR 1604... Has Mackie solved the ribbon cable problem in the new board? ~~ Note: I'm mostly retired from sound stuff, and just do simple hobby level holiday stuff. If the problem is tarnishing of header plugs/sockets, a squirt of Caig Deoxit and a few in-out insertions should fix it. geoff |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 11/2/2018 11:16 PM, Ron C wrote:
Seems that board suffers from that ribbon cable oxidation problem that I seem to recall was common to them. Mackie did have a ribbon cable problem at one time and they were sending out replacement cables, but I don't believe the problem was with the smaller mixers, only on the larger SR series and the d8b digital console. Still, connectors can get cruddy with age and non-use, but they usually respond to a shot of contact cleaner and a little exercise (disconnect and re-connect the connection a few times). Don't forget that ribbon cables have connectors on both ends. One end is usually easy to get to, the other end sometimes is buried. Can I still get replacement ribbon cables for that board? Not from Mackie, but the connectors and cable are standard parts, so it would be possible to have new ones made if you really wanted to rescue the console. But ribbon cables aren't the only thing that can go wrong. Has Mackie solved the ribbon cable problem in the new board? The Mackie of today is very different from the Mackie that built your 1604 VLZ. The new mixers are completely made in China, so if there's a chronic problem (and I haven't heard of one, but then I don't keep close tabs on them) it's surely not the same problem that they had 20 years ago. -- For a good time, call http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com |
#4
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
Mike Rivers wrote:
Mackie did have a ribbon cable problem at one time and they were sending out replacement cables, but I don't believe the problem was with the smaller mixers, only on the larger SR series and the d8b digital console. ** I saw a few CR1604s that were affected by the bad ribbon cable issue. A new set of cables was the only reliable cure - one could use spray cleaner and reseat the plugs ( using bench vise) but that never proved permanent. ..... Phil |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
Phil Allison wrote:
Mike Rivers wrote: Mackie did have a ribbon cable problem at one time and they were sending out replacement cables, but I don't believe the problem was with the smaller mixers, only on the larger SR series and the d8b digital console. ** I saw a few CR1604s that were affected by the bad ribbon cable issue. A new set of cables was the only reliable cure - one could use spray cleaner and reseat the plugs ( using bench vise) but that never proved permanent. The problem is that the headers were made by one manufacturer and the cable sockets were made by another and the profiles on the two weren't quite the same, so the contact surface area was minimal. But after all this time I don't remember who made each. If it were me, I would just buy AMP sockets and crimp them on the existing cable. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 11/3/2018 7:15 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
Phil Allison wrote: Mike Rivers wrote: Mackie did have a ribbon cable problem at one time and they were sending out replacement cables, but I don't believe the problem was with the smaller mixers, only on the larger SR series and the d8b digital console. ** I saw a few CR1604s that were affected by the bad ribbon cable issue. A new set of cables was the only reliable cure - one could use spray cleaner and reseat the plugs ( using bench vise) but that never proved permanent. The problem is that the headers were made by one manufacturer and the cable sockets were made by another and the profiles on the two weren't quite the same, so the contact surface area was minimal. But after all this time I don't remember who made each. If it were me, I would just buy AMP sockets and crimp them on the existing cable. --scott Thanks Scott, that sounds like something worth trying. I got a lot of years out of the unit, so believe I've gotten my money's worth .. but not ready to toss it in the trash yet. Looks like I'll probably get the ProFX16v2 to fill in. ~~ Enough for now. ~~ Thanks to all the folks in the thread for your input. -- == Later... Ron Capik -- |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 11/3/2018 5:39 AM, Mike Rivers wrote:
On 11/2/2018 11:16 PM, Ron C wrote: Seems that board suffers from that ribbon cable oxidation problem that I seem to recall was common to them. Mackie did have a ribbon cable problem at one time and they were sending out replacement cables, but I don't believe the problem was with the smaller mixers, only on the larger SR series and the d8b digital console. Still, connectors can get cruddy with age and non-use, but they usually respond to a shot of contact cleaner and a little exercise (disconnect and re-connect the connection a few times). Don't forget that ribbon cables have connectors on both ends. One end is usually easy to get to, the other end sometimes is buried. Can I still get replacement ribbon cables for that board? Not from Mackie, but the connectors and cable are standard parts, so it would be possible to have new ones made if you really wanted to rescue the console. But ribbon cables aren't the only thing that can go wrong. Has Mackie solved the ribbon cable problem in the new board? The Mackie of today is very different from the Mackie that built your 1604 VLZ. The new mixers are completely made in China, so if there's a chronic problem (and I haven't heard of one, but then I don't keep close tabs on them) it's surely not the same problem that they had 20 years ago. I picked up a ProFX8v2 .. wow, this thing is a toy at best. When you said: "the Mackie of today is very different from the Mackie that built your 1604 VLZ" I had no idea they had slipped this much. Seems all of their "Pro" series is junk but they have a " ...VLZ4" series that may not be junk. I may skip Mackie and go with a Soundcraft LX7ii 16 as a replacement for my old CR 1604. -- == Later... Ron Capik -- |
#8
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 11/10/2018 10:00 PM, Ron C wrote:
I picked up a ProFX8v2 .. wow, this thing is a toy at best. When you said: "the Mackie of today is very different from the Mackie that built your 1604 VLZ" I had no idea they had slipped this much. The ProFX series is the new version of the CFX series, which dates back to the time when I was working for Mackie. It was the low priced "do everything" mixer for the small band that just needed a mixer. It was functional but not up to the audio or technical quality of the VLZ Pro series of the time. But there were always customers for an inexpensive mixer with built-in effects, so they continued that design. A VLZ4 is probably still OK. There's no good reason for them to monkey much with a decent design. Half a dozen or so years ago, Mackie started using some custom designed ICs rather than standard parts, and came along after that, so the VLZ4 might use them. It's probably not a bad thing other than that you don't really know what's under the hood. I don't know anything about the current Soundcraft line, but as far as I know, they've maintained a decent reputation, and the LX7 looks like a decent design. -- For a good time, call http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 11/11/2018 4:00 PM, Ron C wrote:
I picked up a ProFX8v2 .. wow, this thing is a toy at best. When you said: "the Mackie of today is very different from the Mackie that built your 1604 VLZ" I had no idea they had slipped this much. Seems all of their "Pro" series is junk but they have a " ...VLZ4" series that may not be junk. I may skip Mackie and go with a Soundcraft LX7ii 16 as a replacement for my old CR 1604. I have an Allen & Heath ZED something-or-other that is very well built. geoff |
#10
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 11/11/2018 12:40 AM, geoff wrote:
On 11/11/2018 4:00 PM, Ron C wrote: I picked up a ProFX8v2 .. wow, this thing is a toy at best. When you said: "the Mackie of today is very different from the Mackie that built your 1604 VLZ" I had no idea they had slipped this much. Seems all of their "Pro" series is junk but they have a " ...VLZ4" series that may not be junk. I may skip Mackie and go with a Soundcraft LX7ii 16 as a replacement for my old CR 1604. I have an Allen & Heath ZED something-or-other that is very well built. geoff Still getting the hang of this new-fangled newsgroup reader thingy. I think I may have private emailed one or two of you while making some mistakes...sorry. Let's see if this one gets posted in the right place.. I haven't even looked at Rec.Audio.Pro in over a decade..but trying to get back in the habit....even though it's not what it used to be. I used to be involved way back when we did our first RAP CD compilation. If I had a small gig like what you're discussing (being just a hobbyist these days)... I don't think I'd take that kind of gear anymore. Too much weight, and oh-so-many things to go wrong. Cables/connectors getting corroded just sitting around, etc. I'd grab a USB audio interface with 8 mic-inputs (like a Presonus AudioBox or a Focusrite Scarlet) and a laptop and go do the gig with the included software mixer. These days, the first generation interfaces like those are nearly give-aways. Either you already have one sitting in a closet or know someone who does. Granted, you still have to haul amps and speakers, but basic software plugins would handle the mixing console, compressors on every channel, EQs, effects, monitor mixes, etc... I know a few guys in town that do the small gigs this way, and they love it. Plus, so many of them have the ability to mix on their ipads or phones, it's all changed. |
#11
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Old Mackie CR 1604 vlz .... ribbon cable problems?
On 11/11/2018 3:33 AM, Dr2 wrote:
I'd grab a USB audio interface with 8 mic-inputs (like a Presonus AudioBox or a Focusrite Scarlet) and a laptop and go do the gig with the included software mixer.**** These days, the first generation interfaces like those are nearly give-aways. Whether this will work for you depends a lot on the kind of gigs you do, and also what your generation is. Ron has been around for a long time, and while I know he keeps up with digital things, I know that his work at least used to be primarily with acoustic acts. That's what I do and I find it next to impossible to work with one of today's digital consoles, and would never consider mixing a live show with a mouse. A modern digital console works really well for bands that are reasonably well rehearsed, can keep fairly constant levels on stage, and are playing the kind of music that doesn't change too much during a song. You can have a preset for every song in your set list to accommodate different singers, instrument changes, and effects, but with the acts that I work with, if I'm not constantly making small changes, things fall apart pretty quickly. Someone who grew up playing computer games might have the ability to handle that pretty well, but that's not me. Somehow, I think that Ron is a hands-on kind of guy. -- For a good time, call http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com |
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