Cacophony Forums
Unofficial Mackie User Forums => DL1608/DL806/DL32R/ProDX Mixers => Topic started by: iBloke on August 18, 2014, 09:17:36 AM
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Firstly I'd like to state that I really hope jerrylee http://cacophony.aspinock.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4341 (http://cacophony.aspinock.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4341) doesn't personally attack me again in this thread using the vile language and animosity he displayed towards me in my previous threads (fingers crossed)
I purchased a DL1608 about a month ago. Had the documented noise issue playing music from the docked iPad.
I sent that DL back in exchange for a new one, which doesn't blast the white/pink/whatever noise as often as the first DL....But still does it on a not so regular basis (using 3 different ipads)
Anyway I don't play music from a docked iPad anymore due to its unreliable nature. I just waste 2 channels by plugging in an iPod.
First real gig with a band I've been working for 3+ years.
Super easy to setup with my old Allen & Heath.
Not quite so simple with the DL...but luckily the venue owner gave us plenty of time for setup and sound check.
Cut a long story short, using the DL wirelessly was a revelation!
Firstly tuning monitors with a graphic EQ in my hands at each microphone was a dream come true!
And to be able to sit on a comfy chair at the back of the venue and have wireless access to a plethora of audio tools was the cherry on the cake!
The outcome is I really dig the DL1608 even though it has some relatively serious software bugs that mackie can't seem to solve.
A pic of the guitarist (sergeant of Morwell crimes devision) and his wife in an 80's cheerleader costume
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/gronk62/598cc47081a091844dcf9d44eb5cee4c_zps04c92ef1.jpg)
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There are times I miss the physical faders. But all in all a very capable mixer. Twice the number of controls of a MixWiz. It's a lot in a small package.
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Fun! Here's my gig on Sunday: http://imgur.com/a/zhGjm
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Fun! Here's my gig on Sunday: http://imgur.com/a/zhGjm
What a fantastic venue!! :thu:
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I just did a gig without my DL1608. I was in the back of the room all night where it sounded ok but a little muddy. I would run up to the dance floor on every song to listen. I will say I missed my DL!
Regarding break music, I've always just run an iPod plugged into channel 16. No need to use 2 channels.
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Regarding break music, I've always just run an iPod plugged into channel 16. No need to use 2 channels.
How are you physically running the iPod into a signal channel?
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Fun! Here's my gig on Sunday: http://imgur.com/a/zhGjm
I'd highly recommend getting sand bags (http://www.sandbagstore.com/lighting--grip--and-display-sandbags--saddle-sandbags--black.html) for your speaker stands. They greatly reduce the chance of them falling if someone trips on them or when using them outdoors under windy conditions. I also use reflective tape on the legs in a candy stripe pattern to make them more visible. Lastly, Consider getting some sub-snakes with returns to connect to the mixer to clean up the cabling from mics and to the powered monitors. It also speeds up setup and teardown when you're not having to home run a bunch of cables to and from the mix. Short runs to the snake heads instead.
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Looks like a bluegrass set up to me..
I have done at least 40 shows with the DL and have never had a glitch until this past weekend. Even with the little quirk
The unit was still under my control so it was no big deal.
I would not want to do a show without the DL since the comfort of sitting in the audience and walking the venue is
So much better then running back and forth to the stage or running a snake. PArt of my sell is the wireless set up
Eliminating the snake or trip hazard on the dance floor.
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I do the iPod input as well and don't run music from the iPad mounted in the DL.
You can buy on eBay for about 5.00 a stereo mini plug to XLR adaptor, so I use any open channel .
I am trying a free I pod app made for DJ's this weekend to allow me to load a play list onto the iPod and
Fade in and out of songs and set tempos a bit.
I am also going to try a set of wireless headphones this weekend too.
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Hopefully this little adapter blocks phantom power, because even if you don't use or turn on phantom but you plug into any XLR input, hitting one little switch could very easily burn out the tiny headphone amp inside the iPod/iPhone.
Also good if the 1/8" to XLR doesn't short out the left and right channels.
-Rick
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Fun! Here's my gig on Sunday: http://imgur.com/a/zhGjm
I'd highly recommend getting sand bags (http://www.sandbagstore.com/lighting--grip--and-display-sandbags--saddle-sandbags--black.html) for your speaker stands. They greatly reduce the chance of them falling if someone trips on them or when using them outdoors under windy conditions. I also use reflective tape on the legs in a candy stripe pattern to make them more visible. Lastly, Consider getting some sub-snakes with returns to connect to the mixer to clean up the cabling from mics and to the powered monitors. It also speeds up setup and teardown when you're not having to home run a bunch of cables to and from the mix. Short runs to the snake heads instead.
Those are some heavy-ass speakers (Apogee ACS8 passives - 86lbs) & it was in a well protected area, so no danger. But thanks for the link, I should get some for other situations.
It was a simple setup & I don't own a sub-snake, several of the companies I work for do what you describe at shows but it wasn't worth borrowing one for just this show.
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Hopefully this little adapter blocks phantom power, because even if you don't use or turn on phantom but you plug into any XLR input, hitting one little switch could very easily burn out the tiny headphone amp inside the iPod/iPhone.
Also good if the 1/8" to XLR doesn't short out the left and right channels.
The other potential issue is that a standard mini TRS to XLR is usually wired tip to pin 2, ring to pin 3, and sleeve to pin 1. Doing it that way would mean the polarity of the right channel is being flipped in the preamp and then summed with the left causing cancellation of any signal common of both left & right of the playback device. So knowing how the adapter/cable is wired is pretty important to get proper playback. I understand now that some of these adapters are purpose built for this and do actually sum left and right from the headphone output properly with a resistor network which of course won't have that issue. But I've seen several folks who don't know better use the wrong adapter and don't know why it doesn't sound right.
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Have never had an issue with the adaptor, or even splitting the signal to 2 channels if board space permits..
Is this different on the DL from any other mixer since I have done this on my yamaha analog board and my old Carvin board?
I sure would not want to damage either the board of the iPod.
I don't currently use condensers but may want to use them for drum OH's at some time.
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Have never had an issue with the adaptor, or even splitting the signal to 2 channels if board space permits..
Is this different on the DL from any other mixer since I have done this on my yamaha analog board and my old Carvin board?
I sure would not want to damage either the board of the iPod.
I don't currently use condensers but may want to use them for drum OH's at some time.
The behavior of differential balanced mic input mixers is the same as far as how signals are treated, so you'd expect the same behavior on all mixers. I did a demo video on a small Mackie mixer a while back of what happens with a balanced line input when you plug both channels of an iPod/iPhone. The same would apply to a balanced mic input: http://youtu.be/-tt7eMddpVo
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Wow, that is really bizarre, I never encountered that before. Whenever I plug the iPod in it seems to work fine and I can pan both ways hearing everything.
I am going to test this out again tomorrow, trying the XLR adaptor and putting a 1000 hz signal in like you did.I will also try using 2 separate channels.
Thanks for the info, very insightful !
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Just don't turn on phantom power unless your sure the cable is capacitive coupled. Easy to check with meter for continuity on signal line, if continuity exists don't go near phantom power unless you want a new iPod/iPhone. Best to use TRS inputs 13-16 and not worry about it instead of XLR's.
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Welcome back iBloke. Good to hear your gig went off without a hitch. We're all hoping that the next MF version likely after iOS 8 is released will fix the problem. :)
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Wow, that is really bizarre, I never encountered that before. Whenever I plug the iPod in it seems to work fine and I can pan both ways hearing everything.
I am going to test this out again tomorrow, trying the XLR adaptor and putting a 1000 hz signal in like you did.I will also try using 2 separate channels.
Thanks for the info, very insightful !
It's likely you have the type that sums left and right properly then. The reason why you get cancellation when identical signals are fed to the hot and cold pins is the exact reason why balanced connections reject noise over long wires - any noise signal common on both hot and cold lines cancels out when it hits the preamp. Any signal that's in opposite polarity on hot and cold or only on one of the two legs gets passed. The cold signal in the preamp get's it's polarity inverted and then that signal is added to the hot. Inverting polarity on the cold line is what cancels out any "common mode" noise riding on the hot and cold line. The specs you see for balance connection noise cancellation capability is referred to as CMRR or "common mode rejection ratio." It's a pretty cool concept and has been around since the invention of telephone lines. The amount of cancellation depends on how well the impedance is matched on the source side between hot and cold as well as the receiver/preamp side. The more uneven the match, the worse the CMRR will be and the more common mode noise will get through.
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Welcome back iBloke. Good to hear your gig went off without a hitch. We're all hoping that the next MF version likely after iOS 8 is released will fix the problem. :)
G'day Mate :)
The band was really impressed too. They were amazed at how far PA technology has advanced lately.
They own their own PA and lights, but I never liked using their mixer so I've always brought my own.
We now have 2 barely used 20 channel multicores between us that will either gather dust, or get sold. Zero use for them anymore. ;D
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Best to use TRS inputs 13-16 and not worry about it instead of XLR's.
That's exactly what I do and it performs flawlessly.
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Yes :thu: and if you think you have a genuine stereo source and want to use up only one DL input channel then under General>Accessibility turn on Mono Audio in the iPad. The iPad will sum it correctly.
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Regarding break music, I've always just run an iPod plugged into channel 16. No need to use 2 channels.
How are you physically running the iPod into a signal channel?
With a 3mm stereo to 1/4" mono adapter cable. I've done this for 30 years, and it works fine with most recordings.
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Regarding break music, I've always just run an iPod plugged into channel 16. No need to use 2 channels.
How are you physically running the iPod into a signal channel?
With a 3mm stereo to 1/4" mono adapter cable. I've done this for 30 years, and it works fine with most recordings.
You mentioned "most recordings." I take it the left and right channels are shorted to the tip of the 1/4"? Could be why it doesn't work with all recordings.
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Not sure, but I do notice a very few old recordings that are off a bit. No one has ever complained to me about how the break music sounds, so I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it.
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Have never had an issue with the adaptor, or even splitting the signal to 2 channels if board space permits..
Is this different on the DL from any other mixer since I have done this on my yamaha analog board and my old Carvin board?
I sure would not want to damage either the board of the iPod.
I don't currently use condensers but may want to use them for drum OH's at some time.
The behavior of differential balanced mic input mixers is the same as far as how signals are treated, so you'd expect the same behavior on all mixers. I did a demo video on a small Mackie mixer a while back of what happens with a balanced line input when you plug both channels of an iPod/iPhone. The same would apply to a balanced mic input: http://youtu.be/-tt7eMddpVo
Greg, I've run into this as well. I use a Monster cable (stereo mini to RCA male L/R) and use 2 RCA female to 1/4" male. Plug those into channels 15/16 (linked). I don't use an iPod, but rather my Apple Express WiFi router so I can send and control house music from my remote iPad. Works really well for me. I not worried about using an extra channel. I have yet to max out the DL, even with a 5-piece band.