Well...I agree it's a good sounding mixer for the price. But when I got my new 1202vlz3 home I put some mixer tape below the volume knobs (like probably most people do) and marked up my input sources. Next project comes along so I pull the tape off...and with the tape comes about 1/2 the paint from the scribble strip area!

You'd think Mackie would expect people to use it this way and make the finish a bit more robust. The downfall in Mackie quality over the last few years is distressing. The faders on my Mackie Control developed problems really fast too.

For years, i have, like most of us, been working on my demo. I'm easily frustrated, and when the sound quality doesnt sound even close to "right", it brings up all kinds of emotions such as doubt, hopelessness, you get the idea. My biggest problem was capturing that big hard rock/heavy metal guitar sound. the analogy i use is this: imagine sound quality being relative to the size of the cable connected to the mic. if studio albums were recorded through cables the size of wind tunnels, then the sound i was getting was being captured through a coffee stirrer. I tried everything that my starving artist budget would allow. a cheap pre amp, a cheap compressor, lower end recording units and software, and of course a cheap mixer. No matter what combination of different setups i could imagine, nothing gave me "that" sound. Until yesterday. I bought this mixer and so far all i've had to do was plug two mics in it, send it to the recorder and it sounds almost as good as a professionally recorded distorted guitar. I'm not looking for "appetite for destruction" quality here, just something a shade better than respectable, so when this demo is placed in the hands of someone who can get me somewhere, they dont write me off as some hack in a garage with a microphone going to a boombox. This thing is way more than worth it. Almost no noise, a big "alive" sound, tons of routing options, great e.q., the best pre-amps, and a simple construction, the price tag is FAR lower than its actual worth. If you're like me, and banging your head against the wall trying to get "that" sound, this piece of gear will stop the abuse and let you get back to why you play music in the first place. You'd be stupid not to at least try it.

First purchsed the DFX12 and Bzzzzzzz. Took it back for another one and Bzzzzzz. And, the effects were not good at all. Took it back and got the 1202-VLZ3 and SUPER! This little board is far better than my Behrenger-6 or Peavey-14 and they both do fine. But, this 1202-VLZ3 is quiet with no noise, full great sound, no Bzzz, Solo button on each channell is great, great features, The quality of the bigger Mackie boards, compact and really tough. If you're looking for a great little mixer, do your self a favor and get this one. My VocalistLive 4 sounds great through it into the house system, more than I can say for the DFX12. My Ovation long neck guitar sounds Super with full robust sound. Lots of headroom! Mackie got this one right!

You would think I work for Greg Mackie, but I don't. I do however own three of his mixers and must simply tell you that you get more then you pay for when you buy a Mackie. The 1202 is the workhorse of one of my smaller karaoke rig. It has endured everything I've ever thrown at it providing some of the cleanest sound you'll find anywhere for any price. It accepts all your mics, outboard processors and amps with ease and gives flexability where you need it most. It gives you a ton of headroom and dependability.

I use this as my middle man in anything that involves my mic, As a Low-Cut, and Eq. Alot of Great options. No self noise it seems. And Pleny of Xlr and 1/4 Inputs for live jam recordings.