MacKie Compact Mixers: Basic Operations, Mixing Tips, Creative Applications

I've operated audio systems, both live and for recording, for over 30 years, and have had an audio consultation business since 1994. One of the hardest things about getting new people involved in audio is the learning curve, which can be pretty intimidating. (There are some things you just have to learn to keep from getting into trouble.) If you're new to audio, or just want to learn more about audio mixers (one of the major parts of that learning curve), this is one of the books that most audio pros would recommend - me included! It uses the mixers from one company (Mackie Electronics) as examples, and walks you through everything you need to know to operate small (and many large) mixers. And there's ALOT of humor (and zaniness) along the way! Greg Mackie, the owner of Mackie Electronics, has been engineering quality audio products since the 1960s. Today, they manufacture products that are among the best in the audio industry, world-wide. Their manuals and instruction books are at the same level of quality. I'd like to recommend another book along with this one - "Live Sound For Musicians", also written by Rudy Trubitt. (He guarantees it to be "math free"!)

Trubitt is a master in writing this "how to" book on learning to operate a Mackie mixer. Even though the author acknowledges that the information in the book applies to other brands of mixers, he gears his information around specific types of Mackie models. For the beginner, this book is a must. For others, it is a great refresher course on how to operate various mixer models. Trubitt's ability to write in easily understandable everyday language (with some humor added-in) makes this the best "how to" book that I have ever read -- regardless of subject matter. Simply put: Do not hesitate to purchase this book!

I've never understood why the manufacturers of electronic gear published such incomprehensible owners manuals. But thanks to Rudy Trubitt I can now operate my Mackie Board with intelligent results. I would think this book would be good for owners of other manufacturer's mixers as well. It made so much sense to me I bought a second copy and sent it to my brother who also owns a Mackie Board. He really liked it too.

Provides details way beyond what the Mackie Manual serves up. Without this I would not have used my CFX12 MkII to it's potential. In short - a Great investment!

and not just for Mackie owners, either. I owned a Behringer board and I found the Behringer manual to be largely incomprehensible. After reading Rudy's book, my board finally made sense. I also went out and got a Mackie, because I could see how much superior it would be for my style of music. Trubitt writes simply, and the diagrams and visual aids are first rate. I would recommend this book as a beginner's guide to mixing no matter what board the person owns, because almost all of what Trubitt teaches is relevant to any mixing board. (By the way, the Mackie manuals are also excellent -- the best in the business).