There is a constant battle waging in my home studio, as I’m sure it does in yours, and it involves the need for more space. As you can imagine, I am always searching for equipment that offers the best balance between quality, cost, and size. Among my most difficult dilemmas in this conflict has been the search for the perfect mixer.

Until now, what I want has been almost impossible to find. I have been looking for a compact mixer with 8-12 inputs for home studio recording. I also had an as yet unfulfilled need for a 4-6 input mixer to serve the sound interface for my PA system for speaking engagements and seminars. Even when not including cost in as a decision factor, most of the compact solutions I have examined have limited features, limited sound quality, or limited construction quality.

Mackie recently released their new VLZ3 series of professional level mixers. This series raises the bar over competitive offerings with XDR2 preamps, flexible routing options, steel construction, and high-grade controls. The 802 and 402 represent Mackie’s most recent introductions in the VLZ3 line and are squarely aimed at the compact mixer market, matching uncompromised VLZ3 quality with an incredible price point. As such, I was really happy when the folks at Mackie elected to send me these two units to review, and promptly put them through the paces. Read on for the details!