Cacophony Forums
Unofficial Mackie User Forums => DL1608/DL806/DL32R/ProDX Mixers => Topic started by: yigba on July 12, 2014, 03:04:15 PM
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Played an outdoor gig last night and the DL1608 worked perfectly. I mix from stage as I am the lead singer and guitarist. Here's my setup.
1) Pan L and R for poor man's Aux Fed Subs. I use Bill Fitzmaurice OmniTop 12's and T39 subs and with their efficiency I can use smaller and lighter amps.
2) Aux 1 and 2 outs for monitors.
3) Aux 6 out to a little digital recorder. I set the levels off this to get a nice even recording.
This thing is so small and light and eliminates so much crap I had in the past. I also amazed my drummer when I walked out in front to do a preliminary mix from the audience section with my Iphone.
Never got more complements on the sound as last night. When we were soundchecking even I was amazed at the clarity of this mixer. I had an Allen & Heath MixWiz and IMHO this sounds better.
Anyway, with some of the negativity here just thought I'd share a positive experience.
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Mine has performed flawlessly since I bought it, did another gig last night, Lisa Mills and Ian Jennings in Macclesfield, great gig, many complements about the sound. I am concerned that others are having problems though, perhaps I should stop reading the forum :-[
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^ LOL
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I am concerned that others are having problems though, perhaps I should stop reading the forum :-[
Tell me about it!! I also was perusing a QU16 because I was paranoid about the DL1608 from reading this board!!! :)
But if it ain't broke....
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Except for the slightly annoying disconnect issue I've been real pleased with it myself. I've not had the "white noise" issue but I do have an iPad 2 dedicated to being docked with minimal apps on it and no MP3s above 128Kbps.
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Yigba choose your words wisely. The only Naysayer in this picture is Mackie. We all hope that they resolve their technical issues before their reputation goes by the way of the Dodo bird. We are all hoping for additional features and a reliable board. I'm certain that the "negativity" you speak about had an influence on your configuration. No iPad recording and no mention of iPad playback. I'm not sure what you mean by "1) Pan L and R for poor man's Aux Fed Subs.". I'm certain that if you have some unique way to use the DL we'd all like to hear about it. Being new I would suggest you check the history of this Forum and why it came about.
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You are correct that I setup my equipment based on issues discussed here. Though I did have my Ipad docked throughout the gig with no issues.
No Ipad playback? Correct. Why bother when I have an Iphone - actually a few Iphones between band members that I can simply connect into one of the channels? I simply use a 1/8" plug into a mono 1/4" plug into channel 16.
Now I can definitely see the point of fixing it so it would work as it should. But even without the white noise wasn't the issue also that the input was too hot? I also don't want to flip through apps to choose songs to play. Having a separate playback source is much easier.
No Ipad recording? Correct. I much prefer the ability to use a separate mix out of Aux 6 than record using the live mix. I find that the vocals are way too out front when using the live mix out of the board as a recording source.
Now, will there be users that use every channel and every Aux out? I'm sure there are. But not me. And the simple workaround that I have incorporated makes this board perfect - at its price point - for my bar band needs.
P.S. - aux fed subs - i use the right channel out for my mains and the left channel out for my subs and pan channels accordingly so i can control the mix with the master fader.
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P.S. - aux fed subs - i use the right channel out for my mains and the left channel out for my subs and pan channels accordingly so i can control the mix with the master fader.
Yup, that's an old trick that works fine as long as your speakers have built-in crossovers or you use an external crossover. If you want to use the DL's built-in "crossovers" and/or want to run stereo mains you have to burn an aux for the subs. Oh, and there are details here on this board about using the main outs just to record on the iPad and using an aux for the PA so that they can be different mixes - I've done that with acceptable results.
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But even without the white noise wasn't the issue also that the input was too hot?
Here is what I found with actual tests.
http://cacophony.aspinock.com/index.php?topic=483.msg3667#msg3667
Yes Mackie got it right!
A lot can be done to make the process useful and convenient. Assignment of any stereo pair (L&R and aux pairs) to the iPad channel would be a start. Using the meters for both recording and playback seems logical since only one can be active at one time. Faders for record and not just playback would be useful. All of these mods are software only no hardware mods required.
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Mine has performed flawlessly since I bought it, did another gig last night, Lisa Mills and Ian Jennings in Macclesfield, great gig, many complements about the sound.[
Sam,
Lisa Mills is a good friend of mine from this side of the pond. I was surprised to see her name pop up in this forum. Glad to know everything went great with her show. She is a hell of a singer. Can't wait for her to return from the UK tour.
Keep on rockin' the DL.
GT
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Well sure, your board works! If you had the problems I've had with mine, some of them quite embarrassing, your tune would change in a hurry. Mackie admitted to me the problems existed and they had no answers. I also sent them videos of the board malfunctioning. If you choose to call that nay-saying, I suppose that's your right, albeit an ignorant view, IMO. I prefer to call it what it is..... the truth, as confirmed by Mackie.
I loved the board for what it's supposed to be. It just wasn't living up to it. After having it on CL for 2 months, it finally sold. I didn't feel bad about the bugs because that's how they are selling them new, and aren't repairing them because it's a software issue somewhere that they've yet to identify. I think it has as much or more to do with the ipad than anything else. The person that I sold it to emailed me and said he loves it.
FWIW, I'm diggin' my Qu-16. I really missed multi-track recording, which I had with my Presonus previous to the Mackie. Recently A&H gave the green light for compatibility with recording directly to select thumb drives. That's going to be very cool.
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abzurd, I purchased a QU24 and absolutely love it..
it is in a league of it's own!
Still use the DL1608 for lot's of small gigs like wedding receptions
Dan
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Mine has performed flawlessly since I bought it, did another gig last night, Lisa Mills and Ian Jennings in Macclesfield, great gig, many complements about the sound.[
Sam,
Lisa Mills is a good friend of mine from this side of the pond. I was surprised to see her name pop up in this forum. Glad to know everything went great with her show. She is a hell of a singer. Can't wait for her to return from the UK tour.
Keep on rockin' the DL.
GT
It is, indeed, a small world. Yes she's great.
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abzurd, I purchased a QU24 and absolutely love it..
it is in a league of it's own!
Still use the DL1608 for lot's of small gigs like wedding receptions
Dan
At the end of the day I wanted more features than the DL1608 could offer so buying the Qu-16 was the right decision. That said, I wasn't hurting for dough when I bought the Qu-16 and would have kept the DL1608 in a heartbeat had it been a viable board. Even if I could get it to connect eventually, I simply didn't want to show up to the gig 15 minutes earlier to troubleshoot the mixer every time I wanted to use it.
]I tried for months to remedy the issues. A 50% "first try"success connection percentage is not good. Russian roulette pink noise blasts, not good. Random connection drops, even when docked, not good. Even if it's something specific to my ipads, those are the ipads I have so they become the mixer's problem. We do around 30 "high profile" gigs per year (weddings, corporate, private) where technical issues simply aren't tolerated. We're under enough stress to be "perfect" as it is without purposely introducing problems. I love the idea of the board, but the mixer is a mission critical piece and it would have been irresponsible to have continued to use it.
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Played an outdoor gig last night and the DL1608 worked perfectly. I mix from stage as I am the lead singer and guitarist. Here's my setup.
1) Pan L and R for poor man's Aux Fed Subs. I use Bill Fitzmaurice OmniTop 12's and T39 subs and with their efficiency I can use smaller and lighter amps.
2) Aux 1 and 2 outs for monitors.
3) Aux 6 out to a little digital recorder. I set the levels off this to get a nice even recording.
This thing is so small and light and eliminates so much crap I had in the past. I also amazed my drummer when I walked out in front to do a preliminary mix from the audience section with my Iphone.
Never got more complements on the sound as last night. When we were soundchecking even I was amazed at the clarity of this mixer. I had an Allen & Heath MixWiz and IMHO this sounds better.
Anyway, with some of the negativity here just thought I'd share a positive experience.
My sentiment exactly! I went from a MixWiz as well, and I also use L/R for aux fed sub's. Nothing poor man about that. Almost all newer powered boxes will sound great using this method (I've mixed and matched several different boxes). I also enjoy just letting an iPod play through 1 channel on the board.
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At the end of the day I wanted more features than the DL1608 could offer so buying the Qu-16 was the right decision. That said, I wasn't hurting for dough when I bought the Qu-16 and would have kept the DL1608 in a heartbeat had it been a viable board. Even if I could get it to connect eventually, I simply didn't want to show up to the gig 15 minutes earlier to troubleshoot the mixer every time I wanted to use it.
]I tried for months to remedy the issues. A 50% "first try"success connection percentage is not good. Russian roulette pink noise blasts, not good. Random connection drops, even when docked, not good. Even if it's something specific to my ipads, those are the ipads I have so they become the mixer's problem. We do around 30 "high profile" gigs per year (weddings, corporate, private) where technical issues simply aren't tolerated. We're under enough stress to be "perfect" as it is without purposely introducing problems. I love the idea of the board, but the mixer is a mission critical piece and it would have been irresponsible to have continued to use it.
To use a less than $1,000 board for high profile gigs to me is a bit "absurd" - pun intended of course. :) Use it and like it for what it is - a run your own sound mixer.
For high profile/sound company stuff I would not be penny wise and pound foolish. I'd go AH QU-16 or Soundcraft boards for that type of stuff.
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At the end of the day I wanted more features than the DL1608 could offer so buying the Qu-16 was the right decision. That said, I wasn't hurting for dough when I bought the Qu-16 and would have kept the DL1608 in a heartbeat had it been a viable board. Even if I could get it to connect eventually, I simply didn't want to show up to the gig 15 minutes earlier to troubleshoot the mixer every time I wanted to use it.
]I tried for months to remedy the issues. A 50% "first try"success connection percentage is not good. Russian roulette pink noise blasts, not good. Random connection drops, even when docked, not good. Even if it's something specific to my ipads, those are the ipads I have so they become the mixer's problem. We do around 30 "high profile" gigs per year (weddings, corporate, private) where technical issues simply aren't tolerated. We're under enough stress to be "perfect" as it is without purposely introducing problems. I love the idea of the board, but the mixer is a mission critical piece and it would have been irresponsible to have continued to use it.
To use a less than $1,000 board for high profile gigs to me is a bit "absurd" - pun intended of course. :) Use it and like it for what it is - a run your own sound mixer.
For high profile/sound company stuff I would not be penny wise and pound foolish. I'd go AH QU-16 or Soundcraft boards for that type of stuff.
So you're saying that the DL is expected to be reliable only to a certain price point of a paid gig? We do run our own sound. What's that have to do with a reliable mixer? It should work regardless of whether I'm doing a $500 bar gig or a $5000 wedding. The mixer doesn't know what we're being paid.
Besides that, my Qu-16 cost me a little under $1500. The MAP price of my DL1608 was $999 when I bought it. An ipad is $400 - $800. I can use an ipad with the Qu, but I MUST use an ipad with a DL so I'll count that as part of the cost of the board as there are no controls otherwise. So chances are the DL board you are using costs as much or more than the Qu I'm using. So what's your point exactly?
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Yigba your not getting this. You're a Guitarist and lead singer, would you play your guitar with broken stings or sing flat and try to blame it on the mic? Off course not. Most of us here take pride in our work product and anything that takes away from it will be removed when possible. I have been one step ahead of DL problems mostly by dumb luck and have no desire to let it affect my work now that I know its limitations. Will you and others also stop calling your L or R sub/tops setup "aux", it has nothing to do with aux.
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I'm getting it fine, thank you. The unit works fine for me and I posted accordingly. If I ruffled feathers because I like the DL1608 then so be it.
And while we're being cute with our words the two of you may want to check how to utilize "your" and "you're" when typing something.
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Will you and others also stop calling your L or R sub/tops setup "aux", it has nothing to do with aux.
FYI - the "aux" you refer to refers to aux fed subs. It has everything to do with "aux".
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So you're not running for example subs off L and tops off R?
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I'm getting it fine, thank you. The unit works fine for me and I posted accordingly. If I ruffled feathers because I like the DL1608 then so be it.
And while we're being cute with our words the two of you may want to check how to utilize "your" and "you're" when typing something.
Yes, I caught that before reading your post. I was writing hastily as I couldn't believe you're... I mean.. your post ;) I not meaning to argue with you, but you simply don't get it. If your board behaved like my board did then you'd feel like I do. You are having no issues so OF COURSE you are happy with the board. I hold nothing against you, wish you the best, and am very happy that it is working for you. Why can't you understand that those of us with problems have an ax to grind? We aren't making these things up. I have videos of the thing blowing up and Mackie has admitted the problems. Why are you acting like our gripes are unfounded?
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So you're not running for example subs off L and tops off R?
Yes we are. It is similar to an aux fed sub routine, only easier because it does not require flipping to another page.
This method works surprisingly well and I will continue to recommend it - whatever you want to call it.
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And you control both highs and lows with the main fader.
I do understand the gripes and the negative views by those who experienced that. If that happened to me I would have returned the unit and bought the one that had better features, brand name, etc, and of course cost more, like many of you have done.
Again, I simply posted that I love the unit, that's all.
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You mean like this?
http://cacophony.aspinock.com/index.php?topic=659.msg6212#msg6212
Which I've used for quite some time even in the analog world.
In my moneymaking world IT a "sub routine" is something completely different. Never heard it in pro audio unless your talking software. I'm curious as to where these terms came from or are you just plying your artistic license? You are correct about aux fed subs apparently a Peavey concoction implemented with mains and aux. Aux being used for the subs in the analog world. This is a mains fed sub as implemented and yes it avoids layer changes on the iPad.
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Hey guys using LR sub/mains split - don't you find it hard to get a precise setting with such a small slider with limited travel?
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Yup strictly by ear, analog was much easier with dual main faders instead of pan.
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Hey guys using LR sub/mains split - don't you find it hard to get a precise setting with such a small slider with limited travel?
This is actually the first time I used this method based on th einfo from this board. On my MixWiz I used the "normal" aux fed sub routine - not based on panning but based on the aux out.
I haven't run into an issue as I balance the sound with the amp attenuators. I actually much prefer having the ability to control the volume with the master fader.
My entire setup is the DL1608, a BSS FDS-336, 2 Crown XLS1500's and an Ashly KLR-2000. I used to have comp's, eq's, etc. And as I said with BFM speakers I was probably at not even half way volume on my amps at the outdoor festival we played. An amazingly light system that sounds great and is loud as he!!.
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You mean like this?
http://cacophony.aspinock.com/index.php?topic=659.msg6212#msg6212
Which I've used for quite some time even in the analog world.
In my moneymaking world IT a "sub routine" is something completely different. Never heard it in pro audio unless your talking software. I'm curious as to where these terms came from or are you just plying your artistic license? You are correct about aux fed subs apparently a Peavey concoction implemented with mains and aux. Aux being used for the subs in the analog world. This is a mains fed sub as implemented and yes it avoids layer changes on the iPad.
Now you're getting the picture!
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Hey guys using LR sub/mains split - don't you find it hard to get a precise setting with such a small slider with limited travel?
No problem at all. I have the kick drum, keys & bass guitar centered, and all others panned hard right. it's very easy.
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Hey guys using LR sub/mains split - don't you find it hard to get a precise setting with such a small slider with limited travel?
No problem at all. I have the kick drum, keys & bass guitar centered, and all others panned hard right. it's very easy.
Just some food for thought. Typically you'd not want all things going to the subs to be centered. Part of the benefit of feeding the subs separately is that you can "season to taste" each instrument.
At "center" you're getting equal amounts of signal going to the tops and subs and it should sound reasonably good if your gain structure is correct, but you can fine tune by panning off center. It would be no different than using Aux fed subs and having each channels aux set differently. What you're doing now is like setting them all the same.
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Using l/r to set subs is rediculous. I doubt you are using all of your auxes.
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Hey guys using LR sub/mains split - don't you find it hard to get a precise setting with such a small slider with limited travel?
No problem at all. I have the kick drum, keys & bass guitar centered, and all others panned hard right. it's very easy.
Just some food for thought. Typically you'd not want all things going to the subs to be centered. Part of the benefit of feeding the subs separately is that you can "season to taste" each instrument.
At "center" you're getting equal amounts of signal going to the tops and subs and it should sound reasonably good if your gain structure is correct, but you can fine tune by panning off center. It would be no different than using Aux fed subs and having each channels aux set differently. What you're doing now is like setting them all the same.
My main purpose for doing this is to keep unwanted things out of the sub's. Yes, if I want I can move the pan control for more or less bass response, but with the amazing EQ controls on this board that is not really necessary. In addition, I'm using a matched system of PRX tops and sub's, so the balance is very good. I set my top & sub volumes at the speaker backs in each room by ear.
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Using l/r to set subs is rediculous. I doubt you are using all of your auxes.
Maybe to you it is, but for me it works perfectly and sounds great.
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Using l/r to set subs is rediculous. I doubt you are using all of your auxes.
What's ridiculous about it? It's perfectly fine if you're running mono anyway. I used to do it all the time with my Mixwizard. I was using all of my auxes on EFX and monitor sends. If I had a free aux though I'd certainly use it for aux feeding versus panning, especially on the DL where the pan controls are quite small. But there's nothing inherently wrong with doing it that way.
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Hey guys using LR sub/mains split - don't you find it hard to get a precise setting with such a small slider with limited travel?
No problem at all. I have the kick drum, keys & bass guitar centered, and all others panned hard right. it's very easy.
I got it long time ago but now it's your turn. You are feeding the low frequency (kick, keys, bass) into the tops and subs and the balance into the tops. Not exactly what was originally intended which was to keep the lows out of the tops and only into the subs as well as the main mix out of the subs. Hence the ability to balance the two to your liking. Lots of opinions here. Dave Rat (RHCP) adjusts for the song type so for him it needs to be readily available not fixed at setup certainly not by changing amp attenuation. Here's Peavey's take on this.
http://peavey.com/support/technotes/concepts/AUX_SUBs.pdf
We all keep learning and have opinions.
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Hey guys using LR sub/mains split - don't you find it hard to get a precise setting with such a small slider with limited travel?
No problem at all. I have the kick drum, keys & bass guitar centered, and all others panned hard right. it's very easy.
I got it long time ago but now it's your turn. You are feeding the low frequency (kick, keys, bass) into the tops and subs and the balance into the tops. Not exactly what was originally intended which was to keep the lows out of the tops and only into the subs as well as the main mix out of the subs. Hence the ability to balance the two to your liking. Lots of opinions here. Dave Rat (RHCP) adjusts for the song type so for him it needs to be readily available not fixed at setup certainly not by changing amp attenuation. Here's Peavey's take on this.
http://peavey.com/support/technotes/concepts/AUX_SUBs.pdf
We all keep learning and have opinions.
Correct again!
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Using l/r to set subs is rediculous. I doubt you are using all of your auxes.
I prefer having the fader on one screen. To each his own.
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Ditto to the OP subject matter of this thread. Had mine for two months now, not a single hick-up, docked or un-docked, however I do tend to use mainly un-docked attached to my mic stand in an ipad holder. This is great for me in my 4 piece band which I play bass and do the live sound. This is where I think this unit shines.
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Like I’ve mentioned before in some of my many small novels I posted in the past, I’ve used the school’s DL for a few concerts and it has run flawlessly. I am impressed to say the least after my past DL ownership fiasco. I got to use one of the good ones. I am also impressed with Mackie’s (Beno’s) interest in good customer service, trying to nail down a particularly frustrating white noise issue. I am pleasantly surprised that Beno actually created and posted here.
Here's the link just in case you are new here: http://cacophony.aspinock.com/index.php?topic=703.0
Taking a personal interest like this says something for the company in my mind. I think they are trying hard to resolve issues and make a better product in the DL series in particular. I’d keep my eye on future developments! Almost makes you want to consider Mackie for any future "Sound Investments" :P Pun intended!
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Just got home from an awesome outdoor show with a Beatles band at Google. They had us play up on a balcony overlooking the courtyard. I would have been there all day dropping a snake and setting up a sound board and processing gear. The DL worked flawlessly. It would disconnect while I went down below via an elevator, then reconnect as soon as I stepped outside. It was fantastic being able to roam the crowd while I mixed.
Also impressed with my lightweight PRX system. Covered the small crowd of about 200 -250 perfectly.
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stevegarris;
The wireless feature is the best!!! I love roaming while tuning the room! People are always blown away when they find out I'm not just playing on my iPod Touch/iPad and actually running the sound by remote! No more sitting at a desk, stuck amongst audience members crowding you out, especially at elementary school events. OIY. I can plunk myself down on a chair at the back of the venue. Ah, the "Smell of the Crowd and the Roar of the Grease Paint!" ;)
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Here's an interesting review of the DL. The reviewer had the nerve (Yeah!!!!) to call it like he saw it. Too bad he didn't get a blast of DL noise. I wonder what he would have written then. As is he wrote that he could not take it beyond practice sessions to a live performance, smart man.
http://www.harmonycentral.com/expert-reviews/mackie-dl806-digital-mixer---by-craig-vecchione
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At the risk of getting cussed out and ridiculed by a handful of unhappy users on this board, I wonder why they don't just get rid of their POS and leave this board? I would for any product/company I was that dissatisfied with. Seems any time someone has something good to say, they jump in with their individual problems with their unit. It's getting old for me, and I just got here. Seems every thread is hijacked by a few unhappy peeps. Just saying...Peace!
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You won't get cussed out etc. your entitled to your opinion, so now what do you have to contribute to a solution or any other useful hints or to better utilize the DL? If it's warm and fuzzy your looking for there's Mackie Facebook.
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Solution to what? I'm not having any issues. My first post a few above these stated what I liked about it. Just thought folks might like to know it's not all doom and gloom. From what I read, some of the problems some are having are when using it docked. I bought this so I could have the mixer controls in front of me on my mic stand while performing on stage. So for me, this is awesome. So that's my opinion and only contribution so far.
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Most of us here bought the DL because we liked it as promised. But when you buy a car and only get three wheels there's ample reason to complain. Don't confuse REALITY with doom and gloom. If you read more of what's posted you will find that we are making some progress to get this resolved. No one should be subjected to a company policy that ignores it's customers problems for over a year. You did hear about the squeaky wheel that got the grease? How's you video problem coming we never heard about your solution?
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Video working great. Using a zoom on a couple of aux's for audio, syncing with the camera in post. Camera has a bad habit with it's auto level cutting in and out, and no option to manually level. And read everything written on the problems, glad Ben is trying to sort out your issue, but the wheel still squeaking? 8)
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Squeaking yes but hopefully on another subject like new features. :)
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Video working great. Using a zoom on a couple of aux's for audio, syncing with the camera in post.
Why not just record on the docked iPad? I don't think anyone has had a problem with it - I've gotten some phenomenal "direct to digital" recordings that way :) . It saves two conversions (D/A in the board and A/D in the recorder). Oh, and BTW most Canon camcorders have a line level input that can be manually controlled - even the lower end ones.
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I bought the mixer to be able to have the ipad control on my mic stand, not docking my ipad. Sure, I could use a second ipad and dock it and record on it, but I already have a nice zoom recorder, and don't have a 2nd ipad, and can spare the 2 aux's. If I ever need more aux outputs, I would use the wifes mini to record docked. I guess that's a nice feature with this design...many way's to skin the cat.
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And, my canon does't have that feature, at least I could not find it. Additionally, I found I have more flexibility with camera position with not needing to run a cable from the mixer to the camera.
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And, my canon does't have that feature, at least I could not find it. Additionally, I found I have more flexibility with camera position with not needing to run a cable from the mixer to the camera.
What model do you have? I usually run two cameras, one fixed at the FOH position.
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Canon VIXAHF R40
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Video working great. Using a zoom on a couple of aux's for audio, syncing with the camera in post.
Why not just record on the docked iPad? I don't think anyone has had a problem with it - I've gotten some phenomenal "direct to digital" recordings that way :) . It saves two conversions (D/A in the board and A/D in the recorder). Oh, and BTW most Canon camcorders have a line level input that can be manually controlled - even the lower end ones.
No line inputs of any kind for audio, it's their way or the highway. Won't go near Canon again after they dropped the VL lens system in the dumpster. I spend over 5K back then on the L1 system the least they could have done was reuse the "state of the art computerized lens system". >:(
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Canon VIXA HF R40
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/4/0300010414/04/hfr40-42-400-im2-n-en.pdf
Page 87
:)
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Thanks! Note to others with this camera, when I did this with my camera, I had the camera set to auto, and the manual leveling does not come up as an option, only the audio scenes. You have to be in Programed AE mode to see that option. The manual doesn't really mention that.
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Both of my Canon's have a mic/line level selection that your camera seems to lack - so you might need an in-line attenuator :( .
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Both of my Canon's have a mic/line level selection that your camera seems to lack - so you might need an in-line attenuator :( .
IME consumer camera's are a guessing game on the external mic starting with the 3.5mm connector. 3 or 4 line input, does the camera provide bias voltage out etc? You usually can't get an answer from tech support. I have a breakout cable just for this nonsense and meters. The 3 lines in the manual allocated to the mic input states a -64dBV at an output impedance of 600ohms or greater than 5K ohms. Meaning if no voltages are supplied by the camera to what typically is stereo electret mics (their add-on option) then with a line to mic attenuator you could possibly hook it to the two aux (or one if you combine in cable) outputs. Hooking aux direct of course overloaded the input and the noise you experienced is what I would expect. IMHO not worth the time. It also limits as you stated camera placement.
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mtsens1:
My only DL purchase turned out to be a major fail, as I’m sure you’ve already read my novels here. But since using a newer one that our school purchased, I have had no issues what so ever. I run my iPad undocked, even when sitting next to the mixer. I tune the room/ run wirelessly with another iPad, or my iPhone, it’s been flawless for every event that I have done for the school. I am impressed.
Would I take another chance on buying another DL? That’s the $100,000 question ($1100.00 question in Toronto). With the possibility of flakiness happening again/ track record of reoccurring issues? Maybe not. But I will use the school’s DL anytime. But, I keep an analog mixer, A&H ZED10 onsite as backup just in case. I’d like to trust the DL 100%, but not yet. At least Mackie, aka: Beno is taking a proactive interest in customer satisfaction. That says something for Mackie.
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Magic,
I believe the issues you and others have may be specific to the ipad model. At least I haven't heard complaints with new ipad models and new DL's...so the survey BenO is doing may shed some light. I hope he shares the results. I guess using an OEM product as an integral part of your product will alway's be problematic. Reminds me of previous work supporting modems and networks...the problem was never the phone companies...the problems seemed to resolve themselves after you escalate Ma Bell. :(
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Well said KM, I'm glad you've had the chance to see the good side of the DL. I also carry a backup desk, my old 1202, which would at least allow the show to go on (kick vox and keys throughout the desk everything else will have to take care of itself). Not ideal but the desk (whatever it is) is the only thing I have not got more than one of on a gig. I certainly trust the DL as much as I would any other low/mid price digital desk (and I have heard of LS9's crashing) and even analogue gear can fail.
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mtsens1
You maybe onto something there. I am using 2 iPad2s 30 pin dock connector undocked. Both are working well with the newer DL, also 30 pin. I wonder if I decided to dock one iPad all the time, will issues occur with this newer DL? More than likely. Hopefully not, fingers, eyes and toes crossed. ;) Sure couldn't do any mixing at that point though. :lol:
There haven't been too many posts here about Lightning Dock DL's. Are these users having the same issues? I would really like to find out. Better start Googling I guess.
Sam, thank you. I agree that it is as good as any low/mid priced digital desk. And yes, even the ole' reliable gear can fail at the most inconvenient times, just like anything. :)
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When I buy my Berry X32 Compact the DL will be my backup on bigger gigs (which I use the DL for now) and my bar gig desk with the 1202 as backup) that way I'll always have a backup with enough channels to do a proper job. 8)
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KM the subject has been thoroughly covered here with at at least 7+ threads (lost count) and yes at one time the lightning connector was hoped to solve the problem, unfortunately it did not.
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WK,
Thank you for the clarification on that. :-[ I actually did say, I'd better start Googling aka: searching :). Oh well I guess we'll have to wait for Mackie to iron out the bugs, hopefully soon? Guess not huh?
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Let me start by stating that I have no where near the knowledge that other posters have on this board. All the graphs,charts, formulas have minimal meaning to me. I am not, repeat not a professional sound tech, nor is it my primary source do income. The others here simply amaze me at there awesome knowledge and help they are able to provide to novices like me. For that I am eternally grateful!
I am the average weekend warrior that beside playing drums in an occasional working band often is hired to run sound for others. I simply have a good ear and ability to know how to make things sound well mixed. I possess a decent working knowledge of systems and own enough gear to do a medium size gig with up to 4 monitors.
I work this as a fun social, way to generate a few dollars that fund my toys.
That being said, I like the DL a hell of a lot, I have had no real problems except my sticky button episode last week that never occurred since. I did not buy this to be a end all perfect system, I liked the wireless aspect and getting rid of all the outboard gear and snakes. Yes, I dumped a STudio live as a trade in for this. I don't regret the decision at all and I would replace this with another DL again if it was ever lost or broken. I don't use the iPad music function other then running music prior to show time and during breaks and I have never had the dreaded white noise issue. I do however carry a spare Yamaha board just in case, but it's in my gear van anyway the same as I carry a few extra speakers, cords, power amps.
For my needs it's a perfect board, in over 60 shows I have never had a problem and any screw ups were my own stupid fault. I still would recommend this board to others.
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Just a quick follow up, while I'm still liking the DL, I finally got a chance to run a X-32 last night. The house sound company allowed me to do the mix for the band that I work with all summer and I have to admit there is just nothing that compares to real faders!
While I miss the ability to wander the house, and I know it is possible with the X32 with the proper set up, it was still a lot of fun. Glad they hung close by to assist in setting up the matrix' sorry I would have been lost.
My 10 minute crash course only scratched the surface of the capabilities of this bad boy. Other then finding the controls to feel a bit cheap, and the mike input locks a bit hard to release (yes, they were falling apart on a month old board) I was impressed with the quality of the sound and the flexibility of the board.