MACKIE DL1608 FAQ
Posted on Thu 19 April 2012 in General News
The Mackie DL1608 is a live mixer that harnesses the power of the iPad, allowing you control your levels, effects, pans, etc. wirelessly, from anywhere in a room! Here are answers to 5 frequently asked questions about the DL1608, compiled by Mackie themselves:
1. What does the DL1608 Mixer do? What does the iPad do?
It's simple. The mixer itself does all the heavy lifting. Analog mic pres amplify the signal. High-end AD converters convert this to a digital signal. The powerful DSP chip processes and mixes this through the low latency mix engine. What’s missing? Control. And that’s where the iPad comes in. It is the control surface, controlling the DSP and mixer parameters but no audio processing occurs in the iPad at all. All the magic happens in the mixr itself which is powerful and able to produce undeniably professional sound quality.
2. Is the DL1608 Compatible with all Versions of the iPad? Even the New One?
Yes, yes and… yes. The DL1608 is compatible with all generations of the iPad right out of the box. Our patent pending tray design is built to accommodate changing form factors via tray inserts and a modular design. The included tray insert fits the new iPad and iPad 2 like a glove and the original iPad fits into the mixer without the tray insert. We’re in the best possible position to solve this issue when Apple comes out with the next generation.
3. How Does the Wireless Setup Work?
Wireless setup is easy. Simply connect a Wi-Fi access point to the Ethernet connection on the back of the DL1608. The iPad will connect wirelessly to this network. Almost any off-the-shelf access point will work, but we recommend either the Apple AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme, as these allow easy setup from the iPad and can be configured in detail using the free AirPort Utility app. We plan to list other officially approved and tested access points on the DL1608 website soon.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Mackie DL1608"]
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4. What Apps can be used for Playback or Recording?
iPad applications can playback stereo audio to the DL1608 over the dock connector via a dedicated channel labeled "iPad" in the Mackie Master Fader control application. The main L/R signal is also sent from the mixer hardware for recording. While you can use the built-in Music app for playback and the Master Fader app itself for recording, many users would like to use 3rd party applications for these purposes. This works great but the application must support background audio playback/recording in order for the user to switch back to the Master Fader app for mixing. Many great apps already support this and we will provide a continuous update of tested and approved apps.
5. Is the DL1608 Rack-Mountable?
Yes, there is an optional DL1608 Rackmount Kit accessory available through Mackie dealers. A Phillips screw driver is all that is required for installation and the finished hardware takes up nine spaces in a standard 19" rack. Plus, leaving extra room for cabling, a racked up DL1608 fits perfectly into most of the flip-top racks on the market.
For more information on the Mackie DL1608, give us a call on 01202 597180 or click the link below: