NAMM 2012: MACKIE DL1608
Posted on Fri 20 January 2012 in iOS Devices & Apps
The Mackie DL1608 is the latest product to harness the power of the iPad, combining it with the feature-set of a digital mixer for live mixing like you have never seen before! The Mackie DL1608 features 16 boutique-quality Onyx preamps, which sound absolutely excellent - something that we can confirm as they are the same ones that are featured on the Onyx range of mixing desks. Combine this with the built-in 24-bit Cirrus Logic AD/DA converters and you have yourself one hell of a great sounding product!
However, it's not the sound quality that is unique about this product - indeed, Mackie have been manufacturing excellent sounding products for a number of years now! What sets this product apart is that it has wireless integration with an iPad, meaning that you can control your mix from anywhere in the venue! This means that you can control levels, pans and even plug-ins such as EQ, compression, reverb, etc. from wherever you are stood, whether you are sat in the comfort of the mixing booth or stood on stage sorting out ringing monitors or trouble spots. The Mackie DL1608 supports up to 10 iPads, meaning that it can completely replace a system that up until recently would have required a bulky, heavy console and racks of gear!
The Mackie DL1608 has built-in DSP and is packed with a wealth of powerful plug-ins on every channel, giving you access to everything you need to create polished live mixes, without the need to spend thousands of pounds on additional hardware. From dynamic control plug-ins to EQ and effects such as reverb and delay, the DL1608 comes complete with them all!
Because the Mackie DL1608 makes use of digital circuitry, you can save mix settings with the press of a button! This allows you to store settings that are specific to individual bands, venues or songs and then instantly recall them when needed! What's more is that if you are struggling to get an instrument to sound just right in the mix, the DL1608 comes complete with a selection of presets, so you can just scroll through and find one that brings the instrument to life before making any necessary tweaks.
You can even record your mix directly to your iPad, making it easy to archive and share a performance and you can also play music directly from your iPad, which is useful for intervals or for before a show. Plus, it also features those all important locks for guarding both the mixer and your iPad against theft.
The official video DL1608 video can be viewed below and is worth a watch if not only for the random comical weirdness!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ACo3VgXijlU
For more information on the Mackie DL1608, click the link below: