I'm an audio-engineer and a note-to-color music theorist, and I I must say, I DO recommend this to the general podcaster. Because of it's intuitive ease of use and function. Concepts like compression and limiting are highly abstract things that can take years to fully feel comfortable using. I'd consider this mixer a blessing. This unit has just come out, so its slightly more expensive than it's competitors, the Rode Podcaster Pro, or the Zoom PodTrack. But the prices should level out soon. If you have the cash, this this seems like a no-brainer for those who have little or no experience with working with audio and recording. Even I, myself want one! I want to savor that giant screen while I'm compressing my worst enemy during one of my podcasts! - The Acoustic Rabbit Hole
Great review! I have a Zoom LiveTrak L-8 and I really love it. It spawned a whole new genre of more specialized products that are very similar, yet broke the mold in terms of what you'd expect from a "basic mixer" by combining a bunch of functions that are commonly used together. The DLZ here looks like Mackie has just upped the ante again by showing us what a dedicated computer filled with a well curated collection of related tools and functions can look like. I love the fact that they chose to build three different UIs into it based on the user's experience level. I've been around computers since the birth of PCs, and one of the simplest things that has ever been done was to make every plug different so it was impossible to get things mixed up. The audio world is similar, and yet it baffles me how easily some people get totally confused trying to figure out how to plug something like a dynamic mic with an XLR connector into their phone without realizing there's a reason (several, actually) why you can't do that. Simply handing them even something like a LiveTrak L-8 doesn't help because they still have to learn this stuff. But having something like the DLZ that has a "newbie" mode that takes them by the hand and explains what to plug where is just genius! I've been in Guitar Centers when people come in and ask for help after buying even a simple mixer and they can't figure out how to make some mic or outboard pedal work with it. I don't know how much detail is provided by the DLZ, but I suspect that just this feature alone will make a lot of newbies far more comfortable by not having to get help from friends or at a store while trying sound like they know what they're doing. And it will spare them many hours of watching videos on RU-vid!
@@MikeRussell Yes, I’ve watched many of them. It would be nice to have a head to head video though! Either way, this was a great video and looks like a great bit of kit.
Great walkthrough Mike! If I didn't own a Rode Caster Pro II already, I'd went for this. Been using Mackie mixers for my live shows for ages, the latest two I still own, a VLZ 8 channel and an FX8 are amazing axes. Out of sheer practicality, this new unit is much larger than the Rode Caster although that 10” screen os gorgeous, also there are no tech specs on their website to show if there's a Vesa mount undeneath which is a very important option for many. Bottom line and without even touching this, I'd recommend it over Røde to every new user who's just starting to livestream or podcasting
Hi Mike, When it comes to using the mic settings using the Mackie DLZ (Processing), is it better than the RCP2 (using Apex Processing), when setting up your ElectorVoice RE20 or Shure SM7B mic? Which unit is better, or are they both great to use? Let me know what you can. Thank you.
I bought one, and loved all the features of the mixer, Onyx Mic inputs, the versatility the effects and all the stuff..........But realized I cannot edit the sound wave on the device its self. There is no wave form or editing tools on board to do this. So I have to utilise it as a mixing desk only, and use an outboard DAW, to edit the wave file. In my case Audition. This is not clearly explained in the info of this product, and IT SHOULD BE, as you are marketing it to so called "beginner" thru experienced producer types. Put a bloody wave form editing software into the updates, so that realistic editing on the DLZ can be achieved.
Hey Mike, I just bought a DPA 2011 twin diaphragm microphone and I cant make it work together with my DLZ Creator. Any ideas? Its complete silent.... Greetings from Sweden. Kind regards Ulf
Double check that the DLZ has switched over to the microphone preamp then play with the gain and phantom power as condenser mics like the DPA 2011 require 48V to function properly.
Mike I recently purchased this item. I have some questions when coming to connect the mackie to the FCC ENDEC Sage digital. What is the correct output that I should follow? We’re a broadcasting fm station and are required to transmit fcc required alerts. Thank you
Glad to hear you're satisfied with the DLZ mixer's performance in your podcast setup. Every detail seems to have been meticulously addressed in your experience.
I bought one of these at full price on release. Thought it would be a great upgrade from the Rodecaster Pro. Looks great and looked full of features. Reality, build quality for a mixer at a near £800 price point was terrible. It rocked on the desk and didn’t sit flush. The faders are really cheap plastic and not built for purpose. The touchscreen was very slow and unresponsive. The microphone processing sounds dreadful. (Neumann TLM 103 and U87) not the I need the mixer for processing as I use TC Finalizer 96k but tested it. The sound pads are small and unresponsive and no onboard storage means you have to use an SD to store your sound files which is so fiddly. Mix minus on this is awful, I record into a professional online radio software and the levels were horrendous. I had massive high hopes when I first saw it, I want something a bit more substantial than a Rodecaster with all the features. Sadly this isn’t up to it and thankfully returned the next day. Maybe the DLZII will be much better. Please improve as I really think the vision is right. I see you aren’t using it as your main mixer.
I am in the same boat I want to get DLZ create I have rodecaster pro 2 but after reading this I might hold off as I love rcp2 but thought this would be an upgrade. This was very informative
Thanks for the detailed review! I am considering buying the DLZ but have heard some people talking about this mixer does have some latency up to 5ms. Have you experienced any noticable latency? And how does this mixer do for music production / karaoke?
There's a bit of latency but no more than other digital mixers of this genre. As it's working with a DSP inside it you would expect something but it's nothing that throws me off. It'd be great for karaoke and music production as it has great effects including a reverb that is awesome.
I'll get one but only when a firmware update incorporates an automatic mute for the monitors when the mics are on. This is so it can be used for radio outside broadcasts.
While the Mackie DLZ mixer is an excellent choice for improving audio quality in your podcast, adding multiple cameras for a podcast with four or more people would require a different solution, such as a video switching software or a multi-camera recording setup.
I have one problem with the DLZ Creator. I cannot play media files on the machine. I record the media on USB, but only can play on another device. Anyone has any idea of what I am missing?
I have to say this is one glaring ommision that I couldn't see an answer for in my experience. Not great but perhaps can be fixed by firmware update. Also open to the fact I overlooked the feature and it does exist.
Excellent video. Small question, if we occasionally have 5 or 6 people on our podcast, is it possible to connect a USB mic to the USB input, and a mic to the Left Right line, as with an XLR to L+R adapter? Thank you 🙌
@@MikeRussell Thanks for your reply, it's a great help. And since there's a left and a right input, do you think it's possible to connect an XLR to Line mic on the L and another on the R? That way, we'd have two tracks on one stereo track, which we can then split into two mono tracks if there's any editing (adding gain, for example) to be done on one track independently of the other? If not, we've also thought of just adding an XLR splitter to one of the XLR inputs, although the tracks will be mixed into one… Thanks 🫡
Hi thank for your video lot of help. I want to buy my first Podcast station, like lot of people i not sure about my choice. Mackie DLZ or Rode Caster. I prefer the big screen of Mackie. But i love the option Depth, Sparkle and Punch of the Rode. Can i do the same with the Mackie ? Thank sorry for my bad english
Hi Mike. Would this be a good choice for voicetracking ? Mix minus would be required.. and how easy is it to allocate jingles/ effects to the pads.. for voicetracking is this better than the RodecasterPro2. Thanks Peter
I've just saved up enough money to get one, so hopefully by next week it will be in my hands? This will save me having to load my GOXLR settings up in Windows, then booting into Linux. Mackie should work out of the box with Linux, connecting it through to OBS should be a breeze. I've also just made some content on AI voice overs, but need this Mackie DLZ to really give me that professional sound, that I cannot get through the GOXLR.
Thank you for the great review. I dont really understand how Ducking works on the Device. If I want the Background Musik or Game Musik to Duck if I speak into the Mic
Ciao pensi possa andare bene in ambito musicale per registrare tracce come sax o tastiere ? ha opzioni interessanti che mi piacciono , lo schermo e opzioni easy /enhanced/ pro , ... non faccio podcasting ! grazie mille !
Absolutely, it can be versatile for recording musical instruments like sax or keyboards. The different screen options offer varying levels of customization depending on your needs...
What I need are 4 input streams coming from 4 different PC's all with their own USB Mics attached.... sent across ethernet into a switch, and then from there into the Stream PC where they are mixed together on a real computer monitor with software wit mute, fader bars, and equalizers, and sent out to the internet (RU-vid). How do I do this? Neither the Mackie nor Rodecaster seem suitable to do this...
Absolutely! The Mackie DLZ Creator lets you create your own presets. It has ready-made presets, but you can also make custom ones for input channels, output channels, EQ, gate, compressor, and FX. You can tweak a factory preset to your liking and save it as your own. It's easy to load, save, rename, or delete presets. You can create presets for channels and effects. And don't forget, you can also make presets for output settings like EQ, compressor, reverb, and delay. Enjoy the flexibility!
what would be the video equivalent of this device that does not break the bank? i am looking for a video switcher with a large screen. something like yolobox with physical controls like the mackie . any suggestions?
How would this interact with a DAW such as Ableton? I am curious if it work as a multitrack mixer that can be assigned to multiple channels in Ableton?
This I am unsure about as I've not tried myself but I imagine you can assign different faders/sources to different tracks in Ableton as in Audition etc.
Great video as always… how do you feel about this the sound quality from a stereo audio (standard music) based on this video when you used the iPhone for your loop… it sounded very muffled (Radioish) while typically Mackie (even the cheapest mixers) provide excellent stereo audio quality with great dynamics etc… For the record, I’m one of those who don’t like the stereo audio out of the rodecaster. Thanks
I love the audio quality coming out of this unit. Remember the audio from my phone was playing wirelessly via Bluetooth technology and there can always be some quality loss via this method so don't take that as a true representation of the stereo music capabilities of this.
Hey Mike, I appreciate your knowledge about Mackie and their commitment to maintaining excellent stereo audio sound quality. Could you provide me with a website where I can find a short audio sample? I'm in search of a mixer that offers podcast features while also delivering high-quality sound for music. While most mixers excel in microphone performance, many disappoint when it comes to basic audio stereo. I'm extremely grateful for your assistance. Thank you so much!
I apologize in advance if you covered this detail but I'm wondering about the ability to record and edit using SD card media / do you get individual tracks that you can edit in your DAW? I was looking at a Tascam podcast model that was limited to so many minutes per recording per track - any issue such as that with this Mackie? Thanks!
Hey there! Yeah, the DLZ Creator's pretty cool! It can record up to 12 tracks at once (4 mono, 4 stereo, plus the main mix). You can then edit these tracks individually in your DAW. Recording length? Mostly depends on your microSD card's storage and the recording quality. Just make sure to use a Class 10 or better microSD card and format it using the DLZ Creator. And yep, you can also play back and process recorded audio directly from the device. Hope this helps! 🎵👍
Hi i was wondering if you can help me with a doubt I have , I’m currently using a maonocaster e2 connected via live output to my mixamp pro (Xbox) so I can use my microphone in chat, it works great, but I want to upgrade to the mackie , I was wondering if it also have a live output option like the maonocaster , Hope you can help
@@MikeRussell sorry for asking another question ^^;; but since there's only one pc output on the dlz mixer, does that mean it won't be able to do a dual pc setup like the GO XLR where it has a line in and out so a 2 pc setup is possible?
I saw another review that demonstrated how LOW the volume of the 'low priority' channel when used in AutoMix. It was so low that it was practically unusable, and it appears to not be gain sharing at all, it's just low volume. Have you experienced this?
Dear Mick, thanks for your "classes" in DLZ and Adobe Audition 😊 I just bought an American Audio DB Display Mk 2 for the fun of it. How do you recommend this to connect to my DLZ Creator? Thanks in advance/ Ulf
Thank you for your support, Ulf! To connect your American Audio DB Display Mk 2 to your Mackie DLZ Mixer, you can use the DLZ's AUX Sends or group outputs to send the audio signal to the display unit. Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance!
@@MikeRussell Thanks :-) Not really sure how you mean. I have two phono female plugs for monitors which are occupied. Do you mean the connection direct on the side of the monitor outputs (5/6)?
Hi ! With my RodeCaster Pro 2 I can manage 3 stereo inputs and 3 stereo outputs to my computer (using the 2 USB-C ports). With this DLZ how many "sound cards" can I have with a pc connected. Just one input/output ? Or many ? Is it mix-minus option in this case ?
It enables multitrack control as far as I'm aware so you should be able to individually record all the tracks available. Mix-minus is available on channels 5/6, 7/8 & 9/10 so this should be a possibility if configured correctly.
@@MikeRussell Yes but for my part it's to play 3 different sources coming from the pc, like 3 sound cards. It's what I do with RCP... But by reading the user manual it's seems to be possible to simulate 2 sound cards only and not 3... sor for my job I can't use it...
Omg, Went to listen to your jingles. Those are perfect for my real estate videos. But man, they are pricey but really really great quality. Are your music available from any subscription services?
I have a question about the DLZ creator, when I record it on multi track on the SD card. It splits the audio after 18 minutes of recording an hour podcast can be split into four different portions. Have you found out to be an issue or work around for it?
I know this is a paid video but Def I can see this product as huge easy sell....make that affiliate game mate. 😅🎉 That's a product even I'm interested in. Neat and intuitive
Thanks! I appreciate your input. Yeah, the Mackie DLZ Mixer is definitely awesome. It's extremely user friendly and has some fantastic features. I've been using it as my main studio mixer recently and I couldn't be happier with it. Highly recommended!
I wanna use this for recording vocals and maybe record some instruments...mainly for FL studio and making music! Do you think this will be good for me or is there something better for that? Great review BTW!😁
I love it. But I can't afford it. I had to get the RCP on a payment plan through American Music Supply. I make my last payment next month. Would love it...but 800.00 is way out of my budget.
Hey Mike. Great vid, thanks. Would this be good for voiceover? Can you apply the effects (eq, noise gate etc) and record the effected take into adobe audition?
Ok, however it is not clear to me how many channels can be assigned to the pc, only one? I see that they are fixed channels? that is, 4 channels for microphones? And what if I only need two channels and I want to take advantage of the other two to play audio from the PC? could you assign those two channels to the pc?
@@MikeRussell That is, you can't reassign each channel to personal configuration needs, it's a pity, not all people need to have 4 fixed channels for microphones.
@@MikeRussell Okay, it's incredible and I like everything else, the quality is perceived, maybe in the future they will add the option I need to have the configuration required for the project, I will follow the progress of this team.
It sounds like you might have some interference or grounding issues that could be causing the hissing noise with your speakers - try checking your cables, connections, and power sources to troubleshoot and eliminate the issue.
I got the Rodecaster Pro with a podmic microphone, they work amazing and its very easy to use it. On my headphones everything sounds very nice and loud but when I export it and hear it on my computer the volume is quiet low from what I was listenind on my headphones. Any suggestions?
READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY 1. The fact that this unit records in FAT 32 file format is going to ruin SOME people's days. be careful out there. if you are recording a 1-hour long podcast, just note that this will break down the 60-minute-long recording show into 5 different files....yes, you read that correctly...5 different files of 2.15GB each...if you don't want to be manually aligning your audio at the end of the recording sessions, do not buy this. i sometimes record 3 hour long podcasts and I do not like MANUALLY ALIGNING my audio, only because this can throw off SYNC with video throughout the show at some point if not properly and precisely aligned (And no, it won't SNAP into place PRECISELY). 2. Also, MACKIE has not yet fixed the file name issue they have. every file is recorded and stamped with the same date, ALWAYS, and you won't be able to change that. it records every file with the 8th of MARCH of 2023...so finding out which file is which is a nightmare. 3. The media pads are HORRIBLE in my opinion. as a music producer, I have not yet encountered stiffer pads. it isn't light to the touch or anything close to that. you have to hard press them to trigger them. 4. Cannot connect it to the internet to update firmware or date settings, you have to manually place the firmware file into a flash then install it inside the machine and etc...not a huge inconvenience, but then again $800 ?! 🤷♂ 5. The unit does not automatically give you separate stems in various files. instead, it records them in one single file which you then have to open it in your DAW to extract the stems from...not all DAWs have the MULTITRACK functions to break these files down (Studio One 6.6 doesn't). Customer support is not great at all. the guy there is rude and it's like he doesn't want to help you at all. answers you with attitude for no reason, especially after you just dropped $800 on this thing. look, at the end of the day, to each their own. to some this may be helpful and to others this might upset them. At the end of the day, for me, this is 100% not better than the RODECASTER pro 2...even though RODE just acquired them 😄
@@MikeRussell you’re videos are always informative Mike. Thank you. I’ve had many disappointing experiences with machine over the years. This unit could be so so sooo much better if only they cared to fix the small little things. Instead their support is rude and just a fail. Once again, keep up with the amazing work! We all appreciate it!
While the Mackie DLZ Mixer may not have the Aphex Exciter or Big Bottom features I personally find the detailed audio processing and large screen to be more than enough to make up for the lack of Aphex or "specialist" effects.
A game changer would be a device you could actually make money with creating content. An ocean of content out there that people created that never earned a dime for anybody but Google, RU-vid, and Comcast/ISPs. Not the creators.
