Directly below the main LCD display are eight sets of channel strip controls. You can use these to control Logic Pro channel strip parameters, plug-in parameters, and other Logic Pro functions. Each channel strip of both the Mackie Control and XT units includes the following controls, which are described in the following sections:
V-Pot rotary encoder with button. See Mackie Control: V-Pot.
REC/RDY button and LED. See Mackie Control: REC/RDY Button.
Signal LED. See Mackie Control: Signal LED.
SOLO button and LED. See Mackie Control: Solo LED.
MUTE button and LED. See Mackie Control: MUTE Button.
SELECT button and LED. See Mackie Control: SELECT Button.
Touch-sensitive motorized fader. See Mackie Control: Touch-Sensitive Motorized Faders.
The V-Pot is a rotary encoder, with an integrated button (accessed by pressing down on the top of the encoder). You can use the V-Pot to adjust the channel’s send level and pan/balance (in Channel view), or to adjust effect or instrument plug-in parameters. The V-Pot can also be used to scroll through and choose items such as plug-ins, software instruments, and more from menus, and to determine send destinations. The faster you turn the V-Pot, the quicker it changes values, scrolls through menus, and so on.
The top of each V-Pot has an integrated push button, which typically sets a default parameter value (if a parameter has more than two possible values) or switches between two parameter values (on/off). The button can also be used to activate a function you have selected with the V-Pot. For example, you can turn the V-Pot to scroll through a list of effect plug-ins for one of the channel Insert slots. Once the effect you want is displayed in the main LCD, press the top of the V-Pot to select and insert the effect, and open the plug-in window. The button is also sometimes used to switch to a special assignment mode.
When a value or name (such as a plug-in) has been preselected, but not confirmed or instantiated, the value (or name) flashes on the main LCD until you press the V-Pot button.
The current value of the parameter you are adjusting with the V-Pot is displayed on the main LCD (depending on the Name/Value setting), and is also indicated by the ring of LEDs encircling the V-Pot. The way that parameter values are displayed on the LED ring varies depending on the type of parameter being displayed.
Holding down the CMD/ALT button sets the V-Pots to high-resolution (fine) mode, for parameters where this mode applies.
Holding down the OPTION button and turning the V-Pot switches between the minimum, default, and maximum values for the parameter.
Pressing the REC/RDY button arms the channel strip for recording. If the channel is currently armed, pressing the REC/RDY button disarms it. Each REC/RDY button features a red LED, which is illuminated when the channel is armed for recording.
Holding down the OPTION button while pressing the REC/RDY button of any channel disarms all channel strips.
The Signal LED indicates the presence of an outgoing MIDI or audio signal. During recording, it indicates the presence of an incoming signal.
Pressing the SOLO button solos the channel strip, which equates to muting all unsoloed channels. Each SOLO button features an amber LED which is illuminated when the channel strip is soloed. The Rude Solo LED (on the right edge of the display zone) is also lit whenever any channel is soloed.
Holding down the OPTION button while pressing any channel SOLO button disables solo for all channel strips.
In the Send Destination/Level view (see Mackie Control: SEND Button), the SOLO button controls the Pre/Post mode selection for both Mixer view and Channel view.
Pressing the MUTE button silences the channel. Each MUTE button features a red LED which is lit when the channel is muted.
Holding down the OPTION button while pressing any channel strip MUTE button unmutes all muted channel strips.
In the EQ Frequency/Gain and Send Destination/Level views, the MUTE button controls the EQ bypass or Send Mute function. This affects both Mixer and Channel views.
Pressing the SELECT button chooses (activates) the channel for channel-based editing or assignment commands. Each SELECT button features a green LED which is lit when the channel is selected.
Holding down the SHIFT button while pressing a channel’s SELECT button sets the channel volume to unity level (0 dB).
Note: While holding down the SHIFT button, the SELECT button LED indicates if the channel volume is set to 0 dB.
Holding down the OPTION button while pressing the SELECT button of any channel creates a new track—assigned to the same channel strip as the selected track—and switches to Arrange view.
Holding down the SHIFT and OPTION buttons while pressing a channel’s SELECT button creates a new track with the next channel strip (the one following the selected track), and switches to Arrange view.
The motorized fader of each channel strip is generally used to control the channel level, just like a volume fader on a mixing console. You can, however, also assign the fader to control other parameters by using “Flip” mode.
Flip mode is activated by pressing the FLIP button, just above the MASTER fader. When Flip mode is activated, you can control the parameter which is currently assigned to the channel’s V-Pot with the fader. This allows more precise control of pans, aux returns, MIDI track parameters, EQs, effects, software instrument, or other channel parameters.
You can switch between channels being controlled with the eight faders, by pressing one of the CHANNEL or FADER BANK buttons. See Mackie Control: CHANNEL LEFT and CHANNEL RIGHT Buttons and Mackie Control: BANK LEFT and BANK RIGHT Buttons.
The behavior of the faders changes in different modes, as outlined below:
The Master fader controls the level of the primary master channel strip in the Logic Pro Mixer. This raises or lowers the level of all output channel strips, without changing their relative levels.
When no master channel strip exists in the project, the Mackie Control Master fader is mapped to output channel strip 1–2.
If you use multiple audio systems simultaneously, the Master fader only controls the master channel strip of the first device (matching the order shown in the Audio Preferences window).