It is very important to understand how the DL and the iPad stores shows, presets and pictures.
This post is for newcomers to the DL so I am not intentionally "preaching to the choir".
A confusing thing is the naming of the various things in the shows.
A "Show" contains snapshots. I understand Mackie's thinking, a snapshot is the mixer's state from a specific time.
I wish Mackie had not used the term "Snapshot" when they designed the Master Fader app, to me, they should have used the term "Scene" like a theater show that contains multiple scenes in any given show.
To me, a snapshot is a photograph, and could be confused with the pictures that are used for the channel marking. Oh well.
When I do a job, once the show is under way and everything is peachy fine, I click on the show (upper right-hand corner) then I click on "Store Snapshot" this makes a new snapshot (scene) of the mixer's current status. Then as mentioned earlier, I click "Recall Snapshot". There is also a nice feature in the settings called "Confirm Snapshot Recall" which when turned on, allows us to eliminate the pop up that always asks us.... Recall this snapshot? This is wonderful when the DL is used to recall (Scenes)
I mean snapshots in a theatrical setting.
Instant recall. NICE!
After a little while, I go back to "Show", then I click on the snapshot that was last added,... and choose "Replace", this simply updates that snapshot with the mixer's current status, especially since I have a much better mix going on right now compared to when I created that snapshot or replaced it last. "Replace" is a good idea so you don't end up with 87 snapshots that are not named,... speaking of naming the snapshots, ALWAYS name them when you create them, otherwise, what good is it to have all those snapshots if you have no idea when they were made? Since I do sound for many different bands and events, I name the Show appropriately, then each snapshot is actually the date, or name of the venue.
Keep the house cleaned up and in good order.
It is a good idea to make a backup of your show when you get home, that way if you inadvertantly delete it, you can always go get it.
Another thing to know... let's say you do delete it by accident, first,
provided you have not loaded a different show into the DL since it's last use, you can always simply "save the show" since the DL still has it loaded from the last gig. Now,... if you did load another show since then, you could always use another iPad that was used on that show to load the show, then on the iPad that no longer has the show, simply "Save The Show".
The DL does not store a show perse, the iPad stores all the shows and pictures. The DL can only remember settings based on how it was used last... meaning... if you shut down the iPad and the DL, but didn't save or update the snapshot, it is only smart enough to remember the state that it was in when it was shut down or lost power. Just like your analog mixer, if you turn off the power and put the lid on it, all the knobs, faders and everything else will be sitting right where they were, when it was used last.
Shutting down after the job... just before we shut down the powered speakers and amps, mute all the input channels. When we turn on the DL on our next job, all the input channels are still muted as expected, even though our most recent snapshot does not have the channels muted. You do have a "MUTE ALL" master don't you? I also have a mute named "BREAK". The BREAK mutes everything except break music and the lead vocalist's mic.
If you turn on your first iPad
after the DL and it's router is up and running, you will most likely get a pop up message that let's you choose to use the show that is already loaded in the DL,
or the show on the iPad.
I almost always choose the DL, that way you have instant access to the previous gig's settings in case you forgot to save or replace the snapshot at the conclusion of the previous job.
One more bit of rambling... it is convenient to use the "Use Camera" feature to take a picture of the lead vocalist before a soundcheck or show for their input channel and monitor mix master, but if that same vocalist is on another job with a different "Show", their picture will not be available to use in the Master Fader show. I suggest using the iPad's camera App to take the picture, then choose "Photos" when you want to add the vocalist into another show. This way their photo is in your Photos App and available for any future show. I have a photos folder named DL32 and it contains commonly used photos such as kick, snare, guitar, bass, keys, sax, TPT etc.
Sorry to ramble,
