Mackie DL1608

[steve_k]

Got one of the first these as soon as they hit the stores (had my order in at Sweetwater a couple months ago), and let me tell you......big thumbs up for this mixer and iPad control.

http://www.mackie.com/products/dl1608

All 4 of us went on IEM's recently, but wanted to be in complete control of the monitor mix ourselves. So, I made up a rack with 2-8x2 splitters and our 4 - IEM's with the Mackie. We are sending all the drum submix to the splitters, my 2 cabs (one dry/one wet), the bass players DI and the singer's TC Voice Live. Then splitting everything to the Mackie then to the FOH. Each of us has our own iPad and can control all 6 of the channel strips and aux outs to our individual mix and also control the EQ - on the fly through wireless to the motherboard.

This thing is slicker than cum on a gold tooth! Very intuitive, functional, easy to set up and has the Onyx mic pre's. With this unit, and the IEM's, there's no more relying on DJ cum FOH Engineers for the monitor mix. I am still getting used to the IEM's, but if you are in a band and haven't tried them, I can tell you that your timing and performance will get better immediately. No more struggling to hear the bass player or reading lips during a song to keep up with your timing.

I would say this will be the gadget of the year for 2012.

Steve

 

[dmriveratre]

My band and I are interested in buying this mixer. I am just curious as to how I should set my rig up. Is it better to get powered speakers or get a power amp and run passive speakers?

Also we are looking a running two sets of IEM, can I run directly out from the aux channels to the IEM's or do I need to us some type of amp?

Thanks!

 

[steve_k]

My band and I are interested in buying this mixer. I am just curious as to how I should set my rig up. Is it better to get powered speakers or get a power amp and run passive speakers?

Also we are looking a running two sets of IEM, can I run directly out from the aux channels to the IEM's or do I need to us some type of amp?

Thanks!

Active or passive PA speakers. It really doesn't matter. But, if you are setting a new rig, I would buy active PA's over passive and power amps. The onboard power in these active PA speakers are great these days. Unless, of course, you are playing a stadium.

The Mackie has its own mic-pres, so your IEM's run directly of the Aux outs without any amplification. We run 4 sets of IEM's from ours.

 

[1923ford]

My band just picked up one of these as well. We are using it in our studio for monitors only, along with some QSC K-12 wedges and it works GREAT!!! I was able to sell off an entire rack of PA gear. the stereo recording is pretty good as well, but my hope is that in future software updates they will provide a way to possibly have multi-track recording capabilities. It would also be cool if they build in a feature to allow for automatic feedback suppression on the eqs.

 

[Shizzeldizzel]

I bought one too. Got a good deal on eBay, brand new for $750. Some guy ordered one at a shop and never picked it up. Unfortunately I didn't commit to this mixer until after I spent a few hours modifying my pa rack to consolidate everything I have. Mixwiz, eqs, tc m one, double drawer, comps and gates. Gave me excuse to buy another ipad though. Only niggles I have is the LR isn't separate, sometimes it's needed to have one side of the pa slightly louder or quieter than the other side. Aux comps and gates are post fader. Have checked the verbs or delays yet but some say they are bland.

But you can't deny for most bar gigs, having this setup in a 10lb package, wireless mixing, no snake needed, no trailer needed is pretty freakin awesome.

 

[sgill72]

My band and I are interested in buying this mixer. I am just curious as to how I should set my rig up. Is it better to get powered speakers or get a power amp and run passive speakers?

Also we are looking a running two sets of IEM, can I run directly out from the aux channels to the IEM's or do I need to us some type of amp?

Thanks!

Active or passive PA speakers. It really doesn't matter. But, if you are setting a new rig, I would buy active PA's over passive and power amps. The onboard power in these active PA speakers are great these days. Unless, of course, you are playing a stadium.

The Mackie has its own mic-pres, so your IEM's run directly of the Aux outs without any amplification. We run 4 sets of IEM's from ours.

Stereo mixes?

 

[Norton666]

I am intrigued by this little board. I had heard that in order to remove the ipod from the mixer dock to mix remotely , or link anything remotely for that matter , it required a wi-fi connection. Is this true?

 

[sgill72]

Yes...you'll need a router. They can be had for $20 now so it's not that big of a deal. You can also use an iPhone to control levels with the new My Fader app.