I am trying to run a monitor using the Aux Send on a Mackie Board but even with the Master Aux Send turned up there is barely any sound coming out when I try to use my microphones. Also, I noticed that when I turn the Aux Send up, the music gets louder in the monitor and takes away volume from the house speaker. I am using Active speakers so the cord is directly from the speaker to the board. Do I have to run the speaker through a processer first in order for the Aux Send to work? Is there a special cord I need to be using so I can control the vocals in the monitor?

Hi,
What you need to do is connect (for example" Aux 1 send from the desk to the Left Input of the alesis. Then connect the Left and right output form the Alesis to Auxilery return 1 and 2. You can just use the left ouput and use aux return 1 if having mono effects is ok.

Plug either a powered monitor or amp and then speaker into one of the aux sends. Now adjust the monitor mix using the appropriate aux send pot on each of the channel strips you want to send to the monitor. Think of the aux send pots as faders for the monitor mix the same as the main fader for the ain mix.

It sounds like you're new to 'professional' mixers. You would NEVER normally use an aux for effects. Any effects will normally be inserted in the sound chain using an insert. You have a pair of group inserts if you are wanting to apply an effect to the output (these are after the mix) and would typically be used for master de-essers or possibly compressor limiters or maybe even an equaliser, it would not be sensible to use an effect like a delay/reverb here.

I would have expected you to be using the group outs for the monitor mixes and am not sure what you may be using them for otherwise. If you used these you would free up 4 of the Aux outs for a 'multi channel' reverb/echos which you could take back into other channels and back into the main mix.

What is it you are tyring to achieve?

If you're trying to get a monitor feed from this unit, use the "aux" send. Connect the "aux send" to your monitor amp. The main Aux fader provides "master" level and the "aux" knob for each channel allow you to "mix" your monitor signal.

That's basically normal actually...however it depends on which aux send you're using. If you use aux 1 for the effects, you can use the pre/post switch on the master aux 1 send to switch it to pst fader....now your mute switch should kill the effects as well. Aux 2 is good to use for monitors where you don't need to return them to the mixer.

Without more information of your speakers and amps we can't really help you. The Mackie board puts out line-level signals and that should drive any connected amp or powered speaker to the full capability. Make sure you are using BALANCED interconnect lines either XLR or TRS cables. Use of TS unbalanced cables costs you 6 DB and also noise pickup. Make sure ALL your gear, amps, speakers etc are powered from a SINGLE receptacle or power conditioning module. Normally you will use the AUX outputs of the mixer by way of TRS cables or balanced lines in a snake to power amplifiers onstage which then connect to the stage monitors. If you have powered monitors the returns of the aux to the stage go to the powered monitors. A heavy duty extension cord brings power back from thee stage power to the mixer.

You would connect at Aux outs of Mackie to inputs of Peavey

one CAN join two soundboards BUT at the expense of a higher noise level. You would come out of mains of the slave one and into inputs of the second (master) board. There are many configurations one could do I would suggest bringing these inouts from the slave board into the "AUX RETURNS" jacks.
Use TRS cables (balanced) for the interconnects.

ok, first thing will be the effects processor. look for the "aux sends" output jacks near the bottom center of the rear panel. run a 1/4 inch instrument cable from "aux send" 3 out into the input on the vocal processor, and run another from aux 4, if the effects processor has 2 inputs. then, from the vocal processors output, run 1/4 inch cables back into the "stereo returns" on the mixer, (located on the rear panel on the bottom, extreme left) 2 outputs per input, since its making stereo effects. so, if you ran just send 3 into the processor, you should have a left and right return instrument cables into the mixer for "stereo return" 3 (left and right). if your processor has 2 imputs, and you are using both "aux send" 3 and 4, then you will have to have a pair of cables going to each "stereo return" for 3 & 4. -to apply effects to a microphone(s), you would adjust the individual aux send levels for each channel you want to have effects, and you would have to ensure that the master aux sends and returns are also turned up..

ok, the snake is simple, each xlr (3 prong mic) connector on the snake is labeled, so, just plug each xlr jack into the corresponding channel on the board, and plug the first 2 1/4 inch ends of the snake into the "C/R out balanced" outputs on the board, located on the rear panel, up and to the left a bit.

at the stage end of the snake, ues a 1/4 inch instrument cable to copnnect the first 2 1/4 inch jacks on the snake to the left and right inputs of the crossover. then, from the crossover, connect the sub power amp to the "low" stereo outputs of the crossover with instrument cables, and connect the main speakers amp to the "high" stereo outputs of the crossover with instrument cables. if its an adjustable corssover, you will want to have it crossed over somewhere about 80-120 hz to allow only the lowest frequencies to the subs.

now, from the amps to the speakers, we ane going to have to use heavier 12-14 gague SPEAKER CABLES, instead of light gague instrument cables. hook the subs up to the stereo speaker outs of the sub amp with speaker cables, and do the same for the main speakers.

Decide if you want to use the AUX's or the SUB's for your monitors. (usually use the AUX).

Connect TRS cables from the appropriate AUX sends to thee amplifiers you use for your monitors or your powered monitors whichever you have.

Adjust the level using the AUX level controls for each channel to set your minitor mix.

Normally use the PreFader AUX's so monitor levels are set independent of the slide fader positions.

Here is a big hint for you: Search YouTube.com for "Soundboard" or "Soundboard setup". There are good videos there that might be different than your particular board, but there is enough commonality that you will soon be an expert!