Mackie Digital Mixers

(Originally written by bassprodukt/translated from Audiofanzine FR) No comments about the well-known features. UTILIZATION Extremely easy to use: my user's manual is rotting somewhere. Pros: Scene editing Display Effects Cons: Perhaps the preamps SOUNDS This mixing desk sounds good. I bought it secondhand and I had heard some negative comments before buying it, but its sound surprised me. I find it punchy and very versatile. The mixer is reliable and sturdy considering its price (please spare me the comparisons with an SSL or a Neve, which are totally different products). I use it with a HDR24/96 and it's a breeze! OVERALL OPINION I've been using it for several months in my home studio. I also have two Yamaha 02-R to compare it to. The mixer seems to be less sturdy than the Yamahas. The sound is very different but pleasant. I don't use the converters because my Motu converters sound better. I use this mixer only to mix. I manage all recordings with my PC and a control surface. The value for money is unbeatable and if the mixer ever gets broken I'll run to the shop to buy a second one. A small turnoff is that the OS upgrades are not free, which I find unacceptable. Mackie has an awful sales policy regarding this.

The (DL Series) DL1608 is a digital mixer made by Mackie; it has 16 Onyx preamps and 24 bit converters. You can even sync it up with 1 to 10 different iPad through a wireless connection. We have used plenty of different mixers from Studio Live mixers to other Mackie and Allen and Heath mixers. But they preamps on the DL1608 are some of the best that I have ever owned. UTILIZATION The built in DSP on the DL1608 will give you compression and some really good reverb to work with. Using your iPad with the DL1608 (wirelessly) is a great option because it will allow you to control your mixes effortlessly. The DL1608 has 6 different auxiliary sends and you can also use audio from any Apple App that you may use. SOUNDS The DL1608 is easy to use and even easier to set up. One the reason why we chose to use this mixer recently is because how portable and easy it is to work with. It was a huge plus that the preamps where going to be that quiet and good. The sound quality is clean and clear and I have not heard any other mixers sound as good as this one does that has similar specs. OVERALL OPINION You can rack the DL1608 because they make a rack kit for it, but we do are not worried about racking it (at least for now anyways). The DL1608 has 2 main outputs and there is switchable phantom power for each channel. The DL1608 is well made, the knobs have a very nice feel to them and they seem to be of the quality on some really good expensive mixing boards. If you are not looking to use your iPad with this mixer than I would not buy it. You almost have to have an iPad and do a lot of work from your iPad with this mixer so if you don’t have one it is pointless to get the DL1608.