Back in May, we posted about our new mixing console, the Mackie DL1608 digital board and after several gigs, we thought it might be a good idea to do a follow up for anyone contemplating this type of mixer..
Let’s go with the bad (or the annoying) first
The Power Supply: This thing uses an external power supply. That means, we have to worry with getting the brick’s input and output cables tangled, and we have to handle it with care. And God forbid we were to break the barrel connector or something, as there is no locally sourced part that will exactly work.
The Wireless Router: Then there is the inconvenience of using a wireless router to connect the DL1608 to our iPads for wireless control. That thing gives us two more cables to worry with, an ethernet cable and a power supply, which takes up a couple spots on a power strip.
A Solution To All Our Problems?
A possible solution might be to mount the DL1608 into a road case, and secure the power brick inside as well as the wireless router and a power strip. That would permit quicker setup, secure everything in one place so nothing can get lost (or easily damaged). We might just do this in the near future.
That’s pretty much it for the bad! Sure, we would like a few more inputs, and the ability to have some sub groups, ability to turn on/off groups of inputs for Phantom (It’s either all on or all off), additional affects, and maybe to record more than two channels at a time – but hey, what do you expect for less than a grand???
The Good
Size: It’s compact! so much better than dragging a full size console out and using the venue’s table.
No Snake Needed: We place it on the stage, and run short cables to it. No health or safety hazard of running cables where people might be walking. No rolling up that heavy snake.
Audio Quality: While the DL1608 does not have the headroom and the low noise of our old ZED, it is still very much acceptable. It’s just not as crisp, it’s more flat sounding. Accept that the preamps are not going to be the same as on your big monsters, but this isn’t a bad thing.
Intuitive Controls: Pamela runs our audio at most shows. While she is not an audio engineer, she has a good ear, and she is there for us and able to accept input from four musicians all wanting something different and the venue personnel, and turn that into a great mix. The DL1608 allows her to do that on the iPad, and it is NOT overwhelming. It doesn’t look like the cockpit of a 747.
Saving A Show: This is one of the best things! There’s not a lot in the way of knobs that can get tweaked (or damaged) during a move of this mixer. So when you show up, if the knobs for input gain have not moved, the mixer settings are exactly like you last saved them. You can set the levels and EQ for your favorite bar or club and save them, then recall them when you play there again. This saves us 10 minutes at setup!
Six Aux Outputs: Hey, if you go with in ear monitors, you could have 6 mono outputs, or 3 stereo for your musicians. We have standard powered monitors, so we have run up to 3 different mixes. Each musician that has an iPhone or iPad can set their own mix. These also save when you save a show.
Cool factor: Trust me when I tell you that people are fascinated by this technology. They see Pamela wandering around with an iPad in hand and watch her. Also, on stage, we leave an iPad docked into the DL1608, so we can record to it, and use it for stage mix.
With Behringer’s new console, and the Presonus out there, would we get the DL1608 if we were to do this all over again? At this point in time, yes. Even though there are more inputs from the competitors, and certainly better preamps, this little unit seems like it is perfect for our four piece group.
When you see us play in the Greenville, SC area, come check it out, we’ll be glad to show you how it works.