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Unofficial Mackie User Forums => DL1608/DL806/DL32R/ProDX Mixers => Topic started by: ChiroVette on May 19, 2013, 10:29:09 PM

Title: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ChiroVette on May 19, 2013, 10:29:09 PM
Okay, yesterday was my second show with the DL1608, and I am really starting to wonder if there is something wrong with the mixer, so maybe one of you folks can tell me if you have seen or heard of a problem like this:

We set up all the equipment and were ready to start playing, but for some reason there was NOTHING going to any of the monitors, except for the two wedges daisychained together fed by Aux 6 and an old Crown Powerbase. The other wedge monitor (Aux 1, an EV ELX112p) had nothing going to it at all. The four IEM's (Auxes 2 through 5) also had zilch!

I tried everything. I switched to auxes on the iPad and sure enough the input channels on those auxes (we use all 16 channels) were jumping around indicating signal. The FOH was fine and receiving signal, but none of the auxes from 1 trough 5. I tried everything. I even turned the Aux 1 output to the ELX wedge to full, slowly in case it started to feedback, but nothing. Finally, I just threw my hands up and we played the first set without monitors.

On the break between sets, I decided to try something. I shut off the mixer and turned it right back on. After that, voila, we had monitors from all sends. But that isn't the whole story. For reasons passing understanding, I COULD NOT get any drums into my IEM, only vocals and other instruments. The female vocalist seemed to be able to get everything into her IEM and she had an iPad with My Fader, which I gave her control over her Aux Send only. The rhythm guitarist had to take his IEMs out and work without monitors, because all he was able to get was drums and vocals, but no lead guitar or keys! I double checked his monitor feed on my iPad and sure enough, he had the lead guitar all the way up and the corresponding channel in his aux was jumping around showing around every time I hit a note or chord, but no matter what I did, he could not get anything close to all the channels in his aux.

Is this something ANYONE here has ever even heard of? Because it was so bizarre!

(Oh and I tried switching the aux sends from pre fade to post then back to pre again, and that helped not at all)
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: RoadRanger on May 20, 2013, 02:06:31 AM
Maybe try to force a firmware update?
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: dpdan on May 20, 2013, 04:26:07 AM
something I don't like about the meter level behavior is the fact that the levels show input gain.

It would have been nice to leave the red clip where it is that indicates input clipping, but it would have been nicer (at least to me)
for the levels to be post fader. It can look like the 1608 is hopping right a along then I realize... oh crap! the lead vocal isn't going
into her monitor... brain fart.   :)



   
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: sam.spoons on May 20, 2013, 10:03:28 AM
It isn't something like the gates being enabled? I got caught out that way when I first used the DL 1608.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ChiroVette on May 20, 2013, 10:53:10 AM
It isn't something like the gates being enabled? I got caught out that way when I first used the DL 1608.

No gates enabled at this show at all. The only thing I am probably likely to gate anyway would be the three Tom's, if and only if, they make noise after the initial hit from the drummer.

something I don't like about the meter level behavior is the fact that the levels show input gain.

It would have been nice to leave the red clip where it is that indicates input clipping, but it would have been nicer (at least to me)
for the levels to be post fader. It can look like the 1608 is hopping right a along then I realize... oh crap! the lead vocal isn't going
into her monitor... brain fart.   :)

Not quite sure if this pertains to me or not, but I can tell you that when the monitors weren't working I tried switching from pre-fade to post then back to pre again. I also made absolutely certain that the main (master) volume for that aux was up as were all the respective channel volumes within each of the non-working monitor auxes.
Maybe try to force a firmware update?

Worth considering, but I forced a firmware update when I first bought the mixer a few weeks ago. I think I need to put in a call to Mackie tech support when I have some free time today. See if this is a documented problem of some sort.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: WK154 on May 20, 2013, 01:56:37 PM
At first I thought that you might have been the victim of mute for the aux's but since restarting corrected some of the problems the only conclusion I can come to is that you have "el Limon" .
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: dpdan on May 20, 2013, 04:47:44 PM
yep, I would exchange it
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ChiroVette on May 20, 2013, 05:23:39 PM
yep, I would exchange it

Yeah, lol easier said than done. I am working today and called Mackie tech support and they couldn't really help with anything but letting me explain the situation to them. I really need to have my mixer in front of me before they can walk through certain troubleshooting steps with me. I am quite sure that I can't simply say, "Hey send me a new mixer, asshat. I want an exchange!"

lol I can't (and honestly shouldn't) work that way, right? :)
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: Topsøe on May 20, 2013, 07:30:15 PM
Hi ChiroVette
Could the aux master mute have been on , unlike L&R auxes have a master mute.
The meters you see on aux pages is channel input meters and has no corelation with what you send to that particular aux.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ChiroVette on May 20, 2013, 07:42:46 PM
No, Topsøe, definitely not. That was the first thing I checked. I mean, lol it is a big, red, in-your-face button right on top of the master fader for that aux page. :)
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: Topsøe on May 20, 2013, 08:05:24 PM
Just asking , no offence ment  :) , but most problems have an eksplanation (and often aprox. 40 cm from the front panel)
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ChiroVette on May 20, 2013, 08:22:16 PM
Just asking , no offence ment  :) , but most problems have an eksplanation (and often aprox. 40 cm from the front panel)

None taken! Believe me, no idea is too weird! I just wanted to let you know that I checked those things, but in no way was I offended. ;)
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: prosoundco guy on May 20, 2013, 10:37:15 PM
Okay, yesterday was my second show with the DL1608, and I am really starting to wonder if there is something wrong with the mixer, so maybe one of you folks can tell me if you have seen or heard of a problem like this:

We set up all the equipment and were ready to start playing, but for some reason there was NOTHING going to any of the monitors, except for the two wedges daisychained together fed by Aux 6 and an old Crown Powerbase. The other wedge monitor (Aux 1, an EV ELX112p) had nothing going to it at all. The four IEM's (Auxes 2 through 5) also had zilch!

I tried everything. I switched to auxes on the iPad and sure enough the input channels on those auxes (we use all 16 channels) were jumping around indicating signal. The FOH was fine and receiving signal, but none of the auxes from 1 trough 5. I tried everything. I even turned the Aux 1 output to the ELX wedge to full, slowly in case it started to feedback, but nothing. Finally, I just threw my hands up and we played the first set without monitors.

On the break between sets, I decided to try something. I shut off the mixer and turned it right back on. After that, voila, we had monitors from all sends. But that isn't the whole story. For reasons passing understanding, I COULD NOT get any drums into my IEM, only vocals and other instruments. The female vocalist seemed to be able to get everything into her IEM and she had an iPad with My Fader, which I gave her control over her Aux Send only. The rhythm guitarist had to take his IEMs out and work without monitors, because all he was able to get was drums and vocals, but no lead guitar or keys! I double checked his monitor feed on my iPad and sure enough, he had the lead guitar all the way up and the corresponding channel in his aux was jumping around showing around every time I hit a note or chord, but no matter what I did, he could not get anything close to all the channels in his aux.

Is this something ANYONE here has ever even heard of? Because it was so bizarre!

(Oh and I tried switching the aux sends from pre fade to post then back to pre again, and that helped not at all)
I had a similar thing happen on my second gig with the DL. None of the monitors were getting signal, all had their masters up, and sends to them up, not muted. eXCEPT aux 1, which had nothing sending to it, but had the vocal mic for that wedge screaming with feedback...with no send from that input even when muted. I closed the iPad app, powered off router and mixer and restarted everything. That fixed it. Worked fine after that.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: dpdan on May 21, 2013, 01:24:56 AM
that's scary
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ChiroVette on May 21, 2013, 01:33:10 AM
I had a similar thing happen on my second gig with the DL. None of the monitors were getting signal, all had their masters up, and sends to them up, not muted. eXCEPT aux 1, which had nothing sending to it, but had the vocal mic for that wedge screaming with feedback...with no send from that input even when muted. I closed the iPad app, powered off router and mixer and restarted everything. That fixed it. Worked fine after that.

You know it is VERY FUNNY that you posted this, because you jogged my memory on something I had forgotten. While this was going on, I noticed something very odd: One of the monitor wedges that was getting signal was getting vocals NO MATTER WHAT! Meaning that I turned the main aux fader (this was aux 6) all the way down and nothing I could do even stopped the monitors from getting some vocals, including muting the respective vocal channels in that aux. This is odd, and I really am not sure what the hell to make of it. Worse, when I rebooted the mixer, it only partially fixed the problem. So I am basically clueless and not sure how in the hell to get Mackie to send me another one, which I assume at this point is what I need.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: prosoundco guy on May 21, 2013, 01:39:01 AM
that's scary
Can be. Luckily, my experience with my Presonus SL24's digital idiosyncrocies told me when they do things that can't be explained, close everything down, power off and restart. Sometimes the SL would not output any signal anywhere. System menu, change FireWire ID, fixed. But it's a little unnerving on the stage, in front of the wedge with 20 minutes to show time.....
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: prosoundco guy on May 21, 2013, 01:43:49 AM
I had a similar thing happen on my second gig with the DL. None of the monitors were getting signal, all had their masters up, and sends to them up, not muted. eXCEPT aux 1, which had nothing sending to it, but had the vocal mic for that wedge screaming with feedback...with no send from that input even when muted. I closed the iPad app, powered off router and mixer and restarted everything. That fixed it. Worked fine after that.

You know it is VERY FUNNY that you posted this, because you jogged my memory on something I had forgotten. While this was going on, I noticed something very odd: One of the monitor wedges that was getting signal was getting vocals NO MATTER WHAT! Meaning that I turned the main aux fader (this was aux 6) all the way down and nothing I could do even stopped the monitors from getting some vocals, including muting the respective vocal channels in that aux. This is odd, and I really am not sure what the hell to make of it. Worse, when I rebooted the mixer, it only partially fixed the problem. So I am basically clueless and not sure how in the hell to get Mackie to send me another one, which I assume at this point is what I need.
Did you try reloading a show or snapshot? That usually jogs its memory so to speak.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ChiroVette on May 21, 2013, 02:05:41 AM
Did you try reloading a show or snapshot? That usually jogs its memory so to speak.

I was honestly afraid to reload a snapshot! Because (and I forgot to mention this before) when I sync'd the mixer with the iPad, even though I was very clear and told the mixer to sync FROM the iPad show not the Mackie stored show, it reverted back to what was on the Mackie, specifically, I lost all the pictures that I used from my stored iPad pics. Things like the pics of the members for their vocal channels as well as pics of the IEMs for the various IEM channes, wedges for the wedge channels, and FOH speaker pics. I didn't lose any channel names or "icons" that Mackie gives you for various instruments and stuff, though. Very weird! Twice, I had to go into all the channel settings and reload the pics from my iPad.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: dpdan on May 22, 2013, 02:28:13 AM
if you did not (update) replace the show's current snapshot after taking pics for various channels, that would explain losing them.
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: audiosoul on August 24, 2015, 04:11:51 PM
I was searching the web for an incident with the DL1608 like this, and it brought me here. Sorry if I'm putting it up again, I just thought that maybe there's already a fix for this at this time.

I'm using the 1608 as a monitor mixer by using an ART S16 XLR splitter. One goes to the FOH and the other to my Mackie Mixer.
Using Aux 1 & 2 for the IEM (In Ear Monitor) and aux 3 to 6 for the stage wedges. After setting up everything, did sound check and calibrating the speakers, everything was working fine. But after about three hours when the band is about to go up the stage to play, for some odd reasons, aux 3 is not receiving any signal. I checked the post/pre fader button, made sure that nothing's muted, checked the four wedges which is linked together as mix 3, pushed up the faders slowly, but still nothing's coming out. The aux 3 master volume is NOT getting any signal even though every channel is receiving constant signals. I even tried to connect the mix 3 monitors to the main L/R output of the Mackie, but still there was no signal coming out. To fix the trouble quickly, I connected the mix 3 to the FOH mixer so the FOH engineer can have control over the mix 3, and it worked.

After the gig, when I got home, I checked the auxes one by one and they were all working fine.

Prior to this about 3 weeks ago, I also had the same problem with auxes 3 to 6. Tried to connect using the L/R output but it still didn't fix the issue.


Does anyone here have any idea why is this happening and what should I do to prevent it from happening again in the future?


Thank you. :)
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: RoadRanger on August 24, 2015, 06:39:39 PM
Did you try turning it off and on again?
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: Topsøe on August 24, 2015, 07:39:30 PM
Check if your aux sends are pre or post



I was searching the web for an incident with the DL1608 like this, and it brought me here. Sorry if I'm putting it up again, I just thought that maybe there's already a fix for this at this time.

I'm using the 1608 as a monitor mixer by using an ART S16 XLR splitter. One goes to the FOH and the other to my Mackie Mixer.
Using Aux 1 & 2 for the IEM (In Ear Monitor) and aux 3 to 6 for the stage wedges. After setting up everything, did sound check and calibrating the speakers, everything was working fine. But after about three hours when the band is about to go up the stage to play, for some odd reasons, aux 3 is not receiving any signal. I checked the post/pre fader button, made sure that nothing's muted, checked the four wedges which is linked together as mix 3, pushed up the faders slowly, but still nothing's coming out. The aux 3 master volume is NOT getting any signal even though every channel is receiving constant signals. I even tried to connect the mix 3 monitors to the main L/R output of the Mackie, but still there was no signal coming out. To fix the trouble quickly, I connected the mix 3 to the FOH mixer so the FOH engineer can have control over the mix 3, and it worked.

After the gig, when I got home, I checked the auxes one by one and they were all working fine.

Prior to this about 3 weeks ago, I also had the same problem with auxes 3 to 6. Tried to connect using the L/R output but it still didn't fix the issue.


Does anyone here have any idea why is this happening and what should I do to prevent it from happening again in the future?


Thank you. :)
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: ijpengelly on August 25, 2015, 12:17:54 PM
I had an odd situation like this in the past and it came down to the mute groups in the end. It was very frustrating until it dawned on me, that one of my wedges was in a mute group and I couldn't immediately see how to remove it. I am pretty sure that in one of the builds the Auxes were on the main mute group assign page  :o
Title: Re: Strange Problem With DL1608?
Post by: Topsøe on August 25, 2015, 01:50:00 PM
Auxes can be a member of both mute and vca groups