Mackie ProFX6v3chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Multiple users found the distinction between USB 1-2 and USB 3-4 outputs unintuitive, especially for hearing Zoom or call participants without looping their own audio back to them, requiring extensive trial and error.

@pekuja

You were using USB output 3-4 on the PC in order to use the volume control, but I had been assuming that the USB output 3-4 acts as a loopback, so that you can record your PC output, which is not what you'd want on a Zoom call, right? Am I misunderstanding how it works? I had actually been thinking this would be great so I could have my voice call go to USB output 1-2 so it doesn't loop back, but then I could have a backing track play on USB output 3-4 and loop back to my voice call so I could sing over a backing track and have the call hear it without hearing their own voices as an echo. Is that not how it works?launch

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May 13, 2021

@SolomonDouglas

Greg - very useful video! I have one question for you. You've got USB 3-4 coming through (on mixer channels 5-6) so that you can hear the other participants in your Zoom call, but that source will also be mixed into what's being sent to the computer as well, right? (Because, as far as I can tell, the main mix that you're hearing in your headphones is also the very same mix that is being sent via USB to the \"Line (proFX)\" input on your computer.\n\nIs that the reason that in your Zoom audio settings you left the echo cancellation enabled?\n\nBut what if I don't want the other Zoom participants to hear the various other alert sounds from my computer? There's no way to make sure that I can hear them in my headphones while preventing them from being sent out on my stream, is there? (Short of adding a second mixer just for the headphone mix...)launch

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May 13, 2021

@montymay

Thanks for the very helpful presentation. Without it I would still be lost because I haven't found a manual specifically for this device. One comment. While you do point out the distinction between USB 1-2 and USB 3-4, there is a very confusing layout in the third column on the face of the device: the on/off button for USB 3-4 is situated within the boundaries of a volume controller labelled 5/6. I guess the controller of that section controls the line-in audio that is two boxes above it. The volume control for USB 3/4 is in the section between the sections labelled \"line-8\" and \"5/6.\" Shouldn't the on/off switch for USB 3/4 be within that section? I don't understand the thinking behind that choice for the layout.launch

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February 13, 2021

@davidallan2244

Great video with some clear explanations on how the audio mixer works. Is there a particular way to set up the 3/4 USB option for receiving audio from your computer into the mixer to hear through headphones without causing others to hear themselves on social media applications? I am currently experiencing the issue of my friends being able to hear themselves speak due to the mixer outputting their microphones to them!launch

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February 2, 2021

Several users could get sound through headphones but not through the main outs when trying to play computer or PC audio, unable to resolve the issue even after adjusting settings.

@stuttersoundpost

Hey thanks for the video, I got this mixer as it was recommended by my dad who had one. I use maschine software and couldn't get the audio interface to work how I wanted. Basically, I wanted to use the Profx's built in audio interface, record through channels one and two and use the main outs for my studio monitors. Using the 3-4 usb button will route your PC audio into back into channel 3 and 4 and out the mains, but when I tried to record through just channel 1, it picks up the 3/4 PC audio as well and my audio that was just supposed to be guitar also had the rest of the beat and drums at the same time. Lame. I guess just using this as a mixer and putting the outs into the input of the Maschine Mk3's mixer will work fine, but it's not what I understood was possible with this. I don't think a mixer with a built-in audio interface can ever be a true replacement for a standalone audio interface for this reason. But boy, these preamps are seriously amazing! And the effects are nice to have as well.launch

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November 12, 2021

@bobbyferkovich8522

I just picked one of these up, to use as a recording interface and I was also expecting to be able to use it for general audio playback from my pc. The phones out works fine, but I have a pair of studio monitors plugged into the main outs and I can't get any sound through those at all. Any advice I can get would be appreciated.launch

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November 6, 2021

@angelocast

Great video thank you! I have a question, \nWhen I connected this mixer via USB to my laptop, I cannot listen MY DAW sound or computer sound through the MAIN OUTS, only sound in my headphones.\nBut, if I connect a mic or instrument in channel 1 or 2, they sound in the MAIN OUTS, but still not sound from pc.\n\nAny idea what can I do?\nIs possible to listen PC sounds back through main out?launch

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August 11, 2021

@ganaregadhav

Great video - works fine with Windows 10 but I cannot get the main output sent to MacBook Pro via a USB cable. Any ideas why? MacBook shows it as ProFx and I can also play a note on a keyboard I have connected to the mixer and the Garageband tuner identifies the note. But when I start recording, and play the keyboard, no signal is going to the MacBook.launch

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September 7, 2020

Users recording multitrack found the mixer only sends a stereo mix over USB rather than separate channels, limiting its use as a full multitrack interface and pushing some to buy a separate interface instead.

@OnlineMD

Happened to see this video on my feed so here I am. You spent way too much time with the reverb settings, I'm sorry to say. I have owned this mixer, the ProFX6v3 for a couple of years. The reverbs are Meh, with most of them sounding just as variations on a theme so to speak. The Mic preamps are much better than with earlier mixers, with Mackie now using Onyx preamps. I missed the Bluetooth, and just this week purchased from Amazon a 1Mii B06+ HD Bluetooth receiver and connected it using a high quality 3.5 mm cable to inputs 5/6 of the mixer. I use inputs 3/4 for direct cable connection from my phone or tablet. A few months ago I purchased a Yamaha AG06 Mk2, which is USB powered and the various settings tweaked by an app. (So I have the ProFX6v3 and the Yamaha; yes, I'll admit to being a gadget freak; but hey, I'm retired but not retarded!!!) I can connect the Yamaha to my laptop without AC power so it is so handy to set it on a desk to record. Have to use a regular microphone and not a USB microphone though. \n\nLastly, about the USB in the Mackie. Uses Channel 1-2 USB channels. So if you record on a laptop, the entire mix goes on just one Stereo track in the computer DAW. (I use Cakewalk) Mackie needs to move on up to USB 4/4 instead of USB 2/4 which the ProFX6 series use. And ditch the USB-B as USB-C is now state of the art.launch

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November 10, 2022

@OnlineMD

I am a happy owner of this mixer, the Mackie ProFX6v3; I love to sing karaoke and used to record songs connecting this mixer to my laptop. However, it only sends out 2 USB channels. So I now do my recording with an EVO 8 which allows 4 USB channels. I use Cakewalk to record. But that said, unless I'm doing any recording, I continue to enjoy using the Mackie; I love the sound quality of its Mic preamps. The reverb though needs quite some experimentation to get right. Lastly, this Mackie now has fierce competition from a new Yamaha Mixer/Interface, the AG06 Mk 2, just released. It also has 2 USB channels and not 4.launch

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June 21, 2022

@stuttersoundpost

Hey thanks for the video, I got this mixer as it was recommended by my dad who had one. I use maschine software and couldn't get the audio interface to work how I wanted. Basically, I wanted to use the Profx's built in audio interface, record through channels one and two and use the main outs for my studio monitors. Using the 3-4 usb button will route your PC audio into back into channel 3 and 4 and out the mains, but when I tried to record through just channel 1, it picks up the 3/4 PC audio as well and my audio that was just supposed to be guitar also had the rest of the beat and drums at the same time. Lame. I guess just using this as a mixer and putting the outs into the input of the Maschine Mk3's mixer will work fine, but it's not what I understood was possible with this. I don't think a mixer with a built-in audio interface can ever be a true replacement for a standalone audio interface for this reason. But boy, these preamps are seriously amazing! And the effects are nice to have as well.launch

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November 12, 2021

Commenters describe Mackie's official manual as confusing, contradictory, or simply inapplicable to this model, leaving new users reliant on third-party YouTube tutorials instead.

@Mzteresam

Thank you for this! My ProFX6v3 arrived today, and the Mackie documentation wasn't very helpful to me. Your video walked me through step by step and answered all my questions. I\"m going to check out your other videos too. Liked and subscribed, and SO grateful. (Mackie should hire you, because your explanations are way better than theirs. And, you are such a good musician too.)launch

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January 24, 2021

@nevillecarter4385

Brilliant video Greg.\nI bought one of these and was communicating with a chap called Cramer at Mackie because I couldn't make head nor tail of it.\nFloundering around I stumbled on your clear and concise explanation. I wrote to Cramer that Mackie should sponsor you to make them an instructional video because their manual is dire. Almost every section of their manual says 'does not apply to the ProFX6v3', or words to that effect. Also the section on input says to NOT enable the device as the default, which caused me no end of trouble as you HAVE to enable the device as default to get any signals back and forth.\nAnyway, thank you so much for preserving my sanity, especially the perverse 'USB 1/2 for headphones but USB 3/4 for speakers, controlled by knob 5/6'. You couldn't make it up.\n\nLove the parrot, who 'is' a pretty boy, lol.launch

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June 19, 2020

One user reported significant bleed between channels during recording that they couldn't resolve, ultimately switching to a different mixer brand; another noted panning didn't fully isolate left/right signals.

@bobbyferkovich8522

Follow up on my comment over a year ago. I tried to use this for recording, got a ton of bleed between the channels and couldn't figure out how to fix it. I gave up on it and bought a PreSonus Studio Live mixer, and haven't had a single issue since. I don't have anything nice to say about the Mackie.launch

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May 14, 2023

@travishanson166

Any idea how to solve latency issues with monitoring the I/O of the USB? I just started getting familiar with the profx12v3 and was doing some test recording and the analog signals have some serious latency, the vocal sounds robotic to severely delayed, the digital audio track playing seems to be just fine (setting buffer down to 8 samples cleans up most of it) I am just wondering if maybe I missed a knob or a button somewhere to clean it up. ( recording using waveform, haven't tried to monitor a live stream test yet) also does your mackie have a problem with the pan bleeding through or not panning fully? when i pan left for one track to record, and the other track right, they seem to still send a small amount of signal to the other side, enough to be seen on the meters and heard on the recording. \n\nother than those 2 issues, I am thoroughly impressed with the sound quality of the mixer, really looking forward to running the pa with it and recording/live stream. would have been really cool if they would have split up the assignments of 1-2 for each channel to eliminate the need to pan. I have been using an old spirit fx8 and while it worked well, not having the option to properly monitor the signal the PC sees made it tough to set up. It would sound great on the mix to the headphones or FOH, but the playback would be crap. The price was right for the mackie vs getting a multichannel sound card (s) for the pci slots and a second mixer to handle and monitor the direct outputs to each channel.launch

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March 29, 2022

Some users wished for a 3-band EQ instead of 2-band, and noted the mixer forgets the last-used effect setting on power-off, requiring manual reselection each time for live use.

@djwinger2003

Great walkthrough video! It's just what I was looking for a few days ago. What's your overall impression of this mixer? Obviously it's not going to compete with a full sized mixer but in this small form factor, I couldn't find many that matched the feature set. Personally, I would have preferred a 3-band EQ, layered FX and controllable compression, but the fact it even has compression is a bonus since it's missing in most small mixers. I'm still waiting for delivery of mine but looking forward to getting my hands on it. Any annoyances I should look out for?launch

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May 16, 2024

@davegarciaofficial

One thing I wish it had would be an FX memory for the last setting. If you turn the unit off and then back on it defaults back to the first effect. Kind of annoying when using this for live mixer and you have to always remember to pull up the effect you want for your live sound.launch

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January 24, 2023

One gigging musician reported having to replace the power cord three times, with it failing right before gigs, leading them to keep a backup mixer and hesitate to recommend it as a primary workhorse unit.

@jeffhilliardmusic1767

I like the mixer, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a busy gigging musician. Why? The power cord is terrible. I’ve replaced it THREE times. And I carefully wrap my cords, especially after the first cord stopped working. Twice the cord wasn’t working as I was setting up for a gig. Thankfully I keep an old mixer in my truck for backup. If they replaced the power supply to something more common, I would recommend it. But having replaced it multiple times, I wouldn’t recommend it as your “workhorse” mixer. Great videos though and I agree on every other point you have on thislaunch

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April 3, 2024

The on/off switch placement for USB 3-4 within the 5/6 volume section on the control panel struck at least one user as poorly thought-out and hard to follow.

@montymay

Thanks for the very helpful presentation. Without it I would still be lost because I haven't found a manual specifically for this device. One comment. While you do point out the distinction between USB 1-2 and USB 3-4, there is a very confusing layout in the third column on the face of the device: the on/off button for USB 3-4 is situated within the boundaries of a volume controller labelled 5/6. I guess the controller of that section controls the line-in audio that is two boxes above it. The volume control for USB 3/4 is in the section between the sections labelled \"line-8\" and \"5/6.\" Shouldn't the on/off switch for USB 3/4 be within that section? I don't understand the thinking behind that choice for the layout.launch

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February 13, 2021