Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Matrix Work?
A matrix is basically a mixer within a mixer with delay, compression and EQ. The matrix can have several
groups, auxes, and mains assigned to it. It can be used to distribute to many locations such as speaker zones
(e.g. lobbies, cry rooms), video feeds, CD recorders, and audio interfaces.
What is the difference between a VCA and a subgroup?
A VCA allows you turn up or down a whole group of faders while maintaining their relative levels throughout. There is no signal processing happening in a VCA just overall volume control. A subgroup is a bus where
audio can be routed too. This audio can then be processed (EQ, compression) and acts in a similar manner
where the subgroup fader will bring all the volumes of channels in that group up or down.
How do I get sound through the mixer?
By default every input is assigned to the Main LR mix. By default the Main LR mix is assigned to the XLR
outputs 13-14. So the absolute easiest way to get signals through the mixer is to turn up a channels mic pre
gain, turn up a channel’s fader and finally turn up the Main LR mix fader. Now you have signal passing out of
the XLR outputs 13-14.
Why is there a Gain and a Trim?
The gain control on a specific channel adjusts the pre-amp gain for a microphone plugged into that channels input. This is the same exact control as the gain knob you are used to seeing at the top of analog mixers
except it is under digital control. The trim is a digital gain stage that occurs after the signal is converted to
digital. It is commonly used for your USB playback or Dante inputs that have no analog gain control allowing
you to adjust signals that are coming off your USB hard drive that are too loud or too quiet.
What does AES/EBU output do?
The AES/EBU output is a two channel digital output that can be assigned like any other output using the
I/O Patch view. It is commonly used for carrying digital audio signals between various devices, for example
sending the Main LR to a system processor or amplifier with AES/EBU inputs. This allows the signal to stay
completely in digital for the highest sound quality.
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the I/O patching work on the DL32R
The Input/Output Patch view of Master Fader is where physical inputs are assigned to channels and signals
are routed to physical outputs and USB sends.
There are 6 separate tabs: Input A, Input B, Output, USB, Dante, and Talkback.
Input A: Each channel on the DL32R has 2 inputs, Input A and Input B. These inputs can then be switched
between on a per channel basis or globally. Select the source for the Input A for each channel in this section.
The default is mic pre 1 feeding Ch1’s input A although the user can choose between USB or Dante sources
as well.. Input A is also where the User selects the talkback source.
Input B: This is where users select the second input of each channel. The default for Input B is the USB playback. So USB 1 is feeding Ch1’s Input B
Output: This is where users select the source for the physical outputs on the front of the mixer. By default
Aux Sends 1-10 are routed to XLR outputs 1-10, Matrix outputs 1 and 2 are routed to the XLR outputs 11 and
12 and the Main LR bus is assigned to XLR output 13 and 14. However the I/O patching section is incredibly
flexible and everything can be routed just about anywhere.
USB: This tab is where the signal sources for USB inputs are selected. By default Mic Pre 1 will feed USB 1 and
Mic Pre 2 will feed USB 2 etc. This section allows users a large amount of flexibility in what can be routed to
the USB inputs.
Dante: This tab is where audio sources are routed to the Dante Card. Dante sends multi-channel lossless
audio via a single Ethernet cable.
Talkback: Assigns which bus the talkback microphone is feeding.
Can I physically plug my iPad into the mixer for control? Do I have to use Wi-Fi?
No, you cannot physically plug your iPad into the mixer. The DL32R requires a Wi-Fi router to mix wirelessly.
Does this mixer have built in Wi-Fi?
No, you will need a Wi-Fi router to connect to this mixer.
What Wi-Fi router do you recommend?
For small, portable setups, we use the Apple Airport Express. When we demand the best performance and
Wi-Fi range, we like the Apple Airport Extreme. Having said that, there are a lot of routers from multiple manufacturers that work. These are just the ones that we’ve used and they’ve worked flawlessly.
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the talk-back button do? Do I need to hold it down to speak? Does it use the iPad’s microphone?
Talk-back is a method of communication between the sound engineer and personnel on stage or in a
recording area. When enabled it sends the talkback source to the assigned destinations. By default, the
talk-back input of the DL32R is channel 32, but this can be routed from any input. The destinations can be
selected from any number of the output channels. The button does not need to be held down; it toggles on
and off when pressed. The talk-back function does not use the iPad’s microphone.
Why can’t I see my faders?
In the upper left hand of the Master Fader app there is a selector to choose between the three different main
views. The Overview shows every single channel, group, and output. The Mixer View shows the selected
mix’s channel faders. Channel View shows processing, routing and gain settings of a selected channel. The
mixer view is the place where you do the majority of work switching to the channel view to adjust the processing on one channel at a time.
Will the Shows and Snapshots from my DL1608 and DL806 work on my DL32R?
No. Shows created on the DL1608 or DL806 cannot be used on the DL32R. Presets created on any mixer can
be used on any other mixer.
There is a Dropbox and iTunes system backup, what is it backing up?
You can back up Presets, Shows, and Snapshots to Dropbox, email or iTunes file transfer.
How do I make a multi-track recording?
There are two ways to record with the DL32R: USB 2.0 streaming to a Mac or Windows computer or directly
to a hard drive.
If the DL32R hooked up via USB cable to a computer for audio streaming, it’s used exactly like an audio
interface. Select the DL32R as the playback and recording device and use capturing software like Pro Tools or
Logic to record the audio.
If the DL32R is hooked up to a portable hard-drive simply open the menu that looks like a circle within a
circle in the upper right hand of Master Fader. In this menu there is a section on the right to name a new
recording; select the desired number of tracks to be recorded the recording bit depth. Use the USB tab in the
IO Patch view to select the USB sources and then press the Record button to start recording.
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the channel colors in Master Fader?
Yes, there is a color selector to choose from for every channel. Press the channel ID at the bottom of the
channel, in the pop-up menu tap Color, and choose the coolest color available.
Is there 3rd Party plug-ins? Or Apps?
Not at this time.
How do I save a preset?
To save a specific EQ preset, after the desired changes are made to your EQ, press the Presets button and
from the drop down menu, tap Store and give it a name. the preset can then be recalled at a later date. This
process is the same for other DSP presets like GEQ compression and gate.
For saving entire channel presets, after the desired changes are made to EQ, Compression and, Gate for the
channel, tap on the channel ID at the bottom of the channel and from the pop-up menu, tap Store and give
it a name. Channel presets are unique to each channel type.
What does my hard-drive need to be formatted to?
The hard drive needs to be formatted to FAT32. The DL32R can format any attached drive by plugging in a
drive and pressing the format button.
What format are the recorded audio files?
Recording made to the USB2 hard drive are recorded as a 48kHz Multichannel .wav file. When the file is taken
off a hard drive it will show up as a single .wav file. These can be easily split apart in DAW’s like Pro Tools or
with applications like Sound Devices’ Wave Agent.
How do I Playback audio from my hard-drive?
To play back a stereo song (ripped from CD, downloaded off iTunes), First convert it to a 48kHz .wav file. Then
place it on the top level of the Music Folder on the hard drive.
On the left side of the Playback and Recording view, select your desired song and hit play.
The DL32R can also playback any of the recordings done on the unit as long as they are still on the Hard
Drive
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch my meters pre/post fader?
Input meters are fixed Pre DSP. Output are fixed Post Fader.
How many rack spaces does the DL32R take up?
The DL32R takes up 3 rack spaces.
Does it have a universal power supply?
Yes, the DL32R has a 100VAC – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz universal power supply.
How long of a Cat5 cable can I run?
The maximum length cat5 cable supported by the DL32R is 100 meters or 328 ft.
What is Dante?
Dante is a combination of software, hardware, and network protocols that deliver uncompressed,
multi-channel, low-latency digital audio over a standard Ethernet network.
Can I plug my Dante Cat-5 cable into my computer’s internet port?
Yes. Simply connect the Dante enabled device to an Ethernet switch, using Cat5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cable,
and then connect the computer to the same switch.
If there is only one Dante-enabled device to connect to the computer, the switch is unnecessary. Simply
connect the two with a Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable.
*For your computer to receive audio via Dante, a driver is required.
https://www.audinate.com/products/software/dante-virtual-soundcard
How do I perform a virtual sound check?
Virtual sound check is the ability to perform a sound check without musicians present.
This is accomplished by using a pre-recorded show that is already on a hard drive attached to the
mixer. Playing back the recording allows for setting EQ and Compression and Gate settings for every channel
without having to have a musician hit or play a specific note repeatedly. It lets the engineer have the flexibility to spend as much time as is needed to get a good mix going and to build a good balance before the
band is even on stage.
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of expansion cards will be available for the DL32R?
The Dante Card is the only card that has been announced at this time.
Can I link 2 DL32R’s together for FOH and MON operation? Can I link my DL1608 to the DL32R?
With the optional Dante card you can link two DL32R’s together for FOH/MON systems with shared IO.
The DL1608 will not be able to be linked with the DL32R.
Can I link two DL32R together for 64 input operation?
No, the DL32R uses all of its processing for 32 channel operation, instead of limiting its functionality with 32
channels to reserve processing for 64 inputs.
Does the DL32R support Dynamic IP? Static IP?
By default the DL32R uses dynamic IP to get an IP address, but it can be configured to use a Static IP if desired. Access the static IP address settings in the Devices screen by tapping the small i near the name of your
DL.
Is Android supported?
There is no limitation of what kind of control options we could introduce in the future. We are focused on
delivering the most features and the best experience that we can and at this time, that means iOS only.
Is there a Mac OSX or Windows control app?
There is no limitation of what kind of control options we could introduce in the future. We are focused on
delivering the most features and the best experience that we can and at this time, that means iOS only.
Can you import and export presets?
Yes! Presets (as well as shows and snapshots) can be exported via Dropbox, email and iTunes.
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there inserts?
There is no inserts, instead there is DSP built in to every channel so no inserts are needed.
Are there aux returns?
There are four return channels that can be used for any source desired including USB or Dante playback.
Additionally, the three internal FX processors have dedicated return channels.
What version of iOS is required to run Master Fader 3.0? What iPad models are supported by Master
Fader 3.0?
iOS 7.1 or greater is required to run Master Fader 3.0. This means that iPad 2, iPad (3rd generation), iPad (4th
generation), iPad Mini, iPad Mini Retina, and iPad Air are supported.
Is Master Fader 2.1.1 iOS 8 compatible?
Yes
Will My Fader 3.0 work with iPhone 6 and 6 plus?
My Fader will work will iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
Are archived versions of Master Fader available?
No, Apple makes only the latest version of Master Fader available.
Can you side chain a compressor or a gate?
No you cannot.
If you link channels do the gain / trim control both channels?
No they are completely independent on linked channels. This provides the flexibility needed for stereo
sources with different levels.
How many ¼” line / XLR inputs are there?
There are 24 XLR inputs and 8 XLR/ ¼” combo jack inputs
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you name the Aux sends and outputs of the DL32R?
You can name everything in Master Fader, including aux sends, sub groups, channels, matrix outputs, etc.
Is there a section for notes this Master Fader?
Master Fader allows notes to be added to each show. This is easily accessed from the Shows view.
Bluetooth compatibility?
No.
What are the USB jacks for?
There are two USB jacks on the DL32R. The DRIVE jack is used to record and play back multichannel audio
to and from an external hard drive. The COMPUTER jack is used to stream multichannel audio to and from a
computer.
What does the network light indicate?
This LED gives information about network activity. Check the table in the Owner’s Manual to find out what
the different combinations of Network and Power LED’s mean.
Can I use any input for the talk back source?
Yes. By default, the talkback source of the DL32R is Mic Pre 32, but it can be routed from any source using
the Input A tab of the I/O Patch view.
What are the monitor outputs for?
The monitor outputs are for connection to an in-ear monitoring system for convenient monitory of soloed
signals by the engineer. Because every output of the 32R is assignable, this output can also act as additional
¼” outputs for whatever purpose you like.
Is there a back button within the app when I’m zoomed in on a channel?
There is the channel view, the mixer view and the overview. If you are adjusting a specific channel you only
need to press the mixer view or the overview to view some or all of your available channels.
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com
Rev 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need drivers to connect to a computer for recording and playback?
For Mac OS, no driver is needed. The DL32R uses standard Core Audio protocol for recording and playback.
For Windows computers you will need to download a driver from our website.
Does the DL32R have phantom power?
Yes. Phantom power can be turned on and off individually for each of the 32 mic inputs via the Master Fader
app.
Is there going to be a dedicated Hardware controller?
There is no limitation of what kind of control options we could introduce in the future. We are focused on
delivering the most features and the best experience that we can and at this time, that means iOS only.
Is there word clock out or in on this device?
There is no external word clock input or output on the DL32R.
Are the main outs separate or are they part of the 14 XLR outputs?
All the outputs are fully routable so any signal can be patched to any of the 14 analog plus stereo AES physical outputs. By default the main outputs are patched to XLR 13 and 14 but this can change this as needed.
Are there any immediate plans for incorporating the Onyx Plus Preamps in other Mackie products?
While Mackie does not discuss unannounced products, we always strive to create technology that is used in
many products and accessible to all of our users. Like the XDR and Onyx before it, the Onyx+ preamps are
Mackie’s latest and greatest preamps and we hope to bring them to additional products in the future.
16220 Wood-Red Rd NE •Woodinville, WA•98072•USA
Phone: 425.487.4333 • Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: 425.487.4337 Email: Techmail@loudtechinc.com
www.mackie.com