Mackie Master Fader DL16S, DL32S, DL32R USB Multitrack Record HOW TO

At the request of my viewers, I have produced a "HOW TO" video tutorial of making a multi-track recording with the DL series Mackie Mixers. In this video, I demonstrate the necessary settings, and the process of recording and playing back your multi-track recording as well as using it as a virtual soundcheck. Enjoy! Donate if this helped you and Thank You! : www.paypal.me/kurysound

[@jeffmaestro]

Just wanted to tell everyone what a super nice guy Dan is. He saved the day for me! I was just about to send my DL32, router and iPad back because of connection issues. Dan was so confident that it was user ignorance (lol) and I was! I’m enjoying the DL now. Thank you Dan!!!!

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Jeff, and everyone :-) just want to make sure that everyone knows that I didn’t tell Jeff he was ignorant :-) we all have our moments and I have certainly had mine. Jeff is a breath of fresh air, and I am so happy that he decided to keep his gear…. overtime, he will wonder how he ever did without it. Thank you, Jeff.

[@oneminuteguitarlessons6060]

I have always found your videos on Masterfader to be really helpful. This may have been the best. Thanks for posting.

[@dankurydotcom]

Thanks for the nice comment! I'm glad it was beneficial for you.

[@sovereignacademyfortheperf4591]

Nobody does this better than you Dan. Thank you for being so gracious with your knowledge. - David✨

[@dankurydotcom]

awe,,, thank you!!!!

[@bennydrumming...2339]

Wow nice to see u sir . Learnd alot with ur tutorial n alwsy fel so glade whenever listen ur voice.

[@dankurydotcom]

thank you Benny! I am so glad the video helped you. :)

[@Tzaltochnie1]

You are amazing sir…

[@dankurydotcom]

awe, thank you I appreciate you!

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Brian, connect everything, turn everything on, go to the routing page and select the USB tab across the top, make sure all USB channels are set to mic Pre 1 to USB,... mic Pre 2 toUSB 2 etc. make sure your laptop audio interface in settings is set to the Mackie mixer. Obviously then, create a project with however many mono input channels you need and make sure that the input of each of those channels is consecutive channels, one, two, three etc.

[@brianmenear4458]

thank you for your prompt response/help. i will try this tonight. have a gig tomorrow night and looking forward to trying this. THANK YOU!!!!

[@dankurydotcom]

@@brianmenear4458 let us know how it works out :)

[@brianmenear4458]

I'm still a little confused. I want to to connect my laptop/daw to the mackie dl16 via USB cable. I want to record my band gigs live, multi track and mix later at home. Can someone explain step by step what I need to do in master fader.

[@leoniea138]

Amazing ❤

[@dankurydotcom]

how nice of you!!! Have a super blessed day!

[@AngelRamirez-nj9bq]

Appreciate this video, if you ever have time it’d be great if you could make an updated tutorial on Master Fader 5

[@dankurydotcom]

the features act the same, so references to Master Fader 4.XX are still accurate.

[@tigilthomas2141]

Love u dear Dan u r the best 🤗

[@dankurydotcom]

It sounds like you have benefitted from the videos and that makes me happy :) Thank you!

[@user-nt5dr8gl6j]

I gotta tell you, you rock sir! I have learned more here than the so called techs have tried to help me with at Mackie and Waveform. I am using a DL16 digital mixer and the Waveform DAW program that came with it. Your video about running the sub mix through an aux channel was brilliant. This is my issue, as simple as it is, it has been baffling me. I have recorded my band into Waveform and my remix sounds awesome. How do I play back the song(s) through my iPad and re-record the song in stereo using Waveform, or should I use a different program? I tried using Audacity and couldn’t get any input signal. I’m sure this is simple for you but I don’t have your elite experience Thank you for your time Steve

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Steve, I have never used waveform... so I' don't know what to suggest about that. You said... "How do I play back the song(s) through my iPad and re-record the song in stereo using Waveform?" That question is confusing... play back the song/s "THROUGH" your iPad .... and record ,,,,,,, hmmm? you also said that your mixes sound good,, if they sound good are the songs already in a stereo audio track in Waveform? I'm not sure why you want to try to record to the iPad.

[@dankurydotcom]

as far as recoding your stereo mix,,, you should be able to create an empty stereo audio track for your final mix,,, set the outputs of all the recorded audio tracks of the band to (let's say) a group or bus, I just don't know what waveform jargon is, but you basically want to route all the recorded audio tracks and any effects to the same stereo audio track that will be named "MIX". Simply turn on the "MIX" record button and hit record, only the "MIX" track will be recording while the other tracks play. Once each song is finished, hit stop, and you will have a stereo MIX, then that final stereo mix track can be exported however you wish.

[@allybeatz4853]

Why Gain knobs not on??

[@Rodarooni]

Well done Dan.always informative and interesting.can’t wait to try this.are you using a MacBook or pc laptop?

[@dankurydotcom]

I use a Mac, I have used Mac since about 2004 :) Thank you for your generous compliments!

[@kaioyoca]

Hi, but with this mixer is it possible to record both the mixer effects (compressor, eq etc) and the direct mackie effects such as reverbs or delays on each channel? I have a behringer X32 and can only do it on 16 channels of the 32 available unfortunately

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi, yes, you can record the individual input channels, but for the (compressor, eq etc) to be recorded, you would need to open the routing page, click on the USB tab across the top, then along the left-hand side choose (Ch 1, 2, 3, etc. Post DSP). The DL16S is limited to only 16 USB channels going out, and I assume that the DL32S is limited to only 32 however, if you have the DL32R, you have many choices including Dante if you have the Dante card installed in the rear. If you want to record the EFX in stereo, then each stereo effect would need to use two of those 16 USB channels. In the following scenario,.... you might have 13 inputs and want to record all of them to a multi-track,... the mono delay would use USB channel 14, and the stereo reverb would use channels 15 and 16. On another note, recording the effects to the multi-track is usually a waste of time because those effects are determined by the main mix faders' positions during the live event. Since the multi-track would be mixed later, the balance of sounds in the reverb's recorded audio would never match the new mix, hence the reason to add effects during the mix. I hope you subscribed and shared :)

[@dennytroy]

Thanks for all the videos Dan. Say I currently have the DL1608 but I'm looking at getting a DL16s. I play in a band and mix our group from stage. I would like to record using the DL16s but I'd prefer not to drag a laptop to a gig. Can I record to a USB hard drive from the DL16s, then later import those recordings from the USB hard drive to a DAW? Thanks for all you help!

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Denny, the short answer is "No" to your questions. The only Mackie DL mixer that can record multi-track without having to have a computer is the DL32R. Thank you for watching!

[@washingtonvillafuerte3367]

Buenas tardes porfavor quiero hacer ese trabajo tengo las mutipistas que ruteo ago por favor si podria ayudarme

[@celiooliveira4191]

Cool top.

[@dankurydotcom]

:) 😃

[@riverdawg3705]

What software are you using to capture the recording on Mac? Will this also work with the DL1608?

[@dankurydotcom]

Digital Performer by MOTU DAW. The DL1608 does not have any provisions to make a multi-track recording.

[@HereAfterNow]

hi, to control the device, are you able to do it via USB and not the wifi app?

[@dankurydotcom]

you said, "to control the device"... do you mean the Mackie DL mixer? There is only one way to control the DL mixers, and that is with the Master Fader App. In order to control the DL mixer, the DL mixers are controlled with a tablet via Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is not to be confused with an internet connection. There is no internet connection needed. The iPad or tablet connects to the DL mixer with a simple Wi-Fi connection. This is accomplished with a Wi-Fi router, or in the case of the DL16S and DL32S, they have their own built in router. Did that answer your question? :)

[@mrshiney2]

As far as an interface goes how would your rate this against oh say a Focusrite Clarett?

[@dankurydotcom]

while engineers all over the world get their panties in a wad over specs, and all audio components do indeed have varying specifications, I know of nobody that would be able to hear any difference between these two, and if there is an audible difference, it is because one of the products have hyped compression, EQ etc. Flat is all you want, and as low noise as possible, that way after you have spent many hours tweaking the mix to your hearts delight, it will likely be listened to on a pair of smart phone earbuds. :( Oh well... :)

[@johngerardmusic7761]

Can it record all on an iPad, with no computer involved? I do my recording on iPad using Cubasis 3.

[@dankurydotcom]

NO

[@IS5637882]

I have to turn up my gain to get volumes out... how do you have good inout signal without no gain?

[@dankurydotcom]

when I made this video, the band was not playing live into the DL mixer. I was using my Mac computer and it was playing the multitrack recording of the band into the XLR inputs. The inputs were line level (not mic level) that is why the gain was set lower for a line level not mic level. I hope that is more clear. You do have to use significantly higher gain settings when you're using microphones.

[@pgmorrow]

Is there a way to record multitrack to an external hard drive on the DL16S without using a computer and DAW? Like the original DL32R?

[@dankurydotcom]

sadly no, however, when I made multi-track recordings using my DL32R, using a connected hard drive was nothing but a royal pain in the butt because of all the required shenanigans necessary to convert the "Multi-Channel Wave" files to individual mono .wav files with a program called "WaveAgent that is free from Sound Devices. That certainly was a run on sentence sorry :) I decided it made far more sense for me to just record via USB or Dante directly to my Mac laptop running Digital Performer. When I got home, all I had to do was transfer the DP project to my studio Mac and get straight to mixing... so much more efficient. Also,,,... Have a nice Christmas!

[@roundbrownsuitcase2067]

you created a multitrack recording, thats cool, but what would i do to add tracks to the recording, lets say I have 14 tracks using the dl32r. I take it i would use the DAW to be the playback and change the dl32r channel to input A on channel 15, monitor the playback and play through the mackie into the DAW. Im not sure what to do, thanks.

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi, you have everything figured out perfectly. So, after you have made your multi-track recording, you want to add some additional tracks. Since it sounds like you already have a DAW on a computer, there really is no reason to individually route your 14 tracks from the n DAW back to the DL32R since at this point, you should be making all of your changes to levels in the DAW. Naturally, you will need to hear the 14 tracks while you add new sounds to the recording. The stereo mix of your DAW should be routed to two available inputs on the DL32R..., one channel for left, and one channel for right (stereo). Are you using USB to connect your DL32R to the computer or Dante? Regardless, the process will be the same. When you record your new tracks to add to the project (overdubbing) perhaps a vocal..., you will want to mute that channel in the DAW because it will have some latency (delay). You will always want to monitor the live mic from the DL32R so there is no delay. Thanks for watching and don't hesitate to come back if this isn't clear.

[@NOKL380]

Your videos are very helpful, thank you. I mam using traction waveform free that came with my DL16s but when I play it back, it is summing everything into Channels 1&2, not each channel. No idea how to fix it. Can anyone help? Thanks.

[@dankurydotcom]

Mackie made a pitiful choice to continue using this pathetic file format that is called multi-channel wav. Everyone cursed Mackie for using it with the DL32R but now I see you are suffering with the same crap with the DL16S and DL32S. :( :( :( It is a stereo wav file but has multiple channels imbedded and therefore requires the wav file to be imported into third part software that will "extract" each individual wav file. A royal PITA. Here is a link to the software program called "Wave Agent" by Sound Devices and I believe it is still free... www.sounddevices.com/product/wave-agent-software/ My suggestion is to stop using that junk and simply connect a laptop with a DAW recording program.

[@davidleungaxiom3491]

Thanks for your quick response to my request. This video is so informative and well explain for a layperson like me. Could you show me how to get post-fader recording in a live show for my DL16s ?

[@dankurydotcom]

Thank you David! :) In the routing page, instead of choosing Mic Pre 1, 2, 3 etc.... scroll down and look on the left-hand side,,, you will see "Ch 1Post DSP", choose that for the channels that you want to be post DSP processing, DSP = Digital Signal Processing). That's it :)

[@davidleungaxiom3491]

Super ❤❤❤❤❤

[@davidleungaxiom3491]

I guess I use post DSP in the usb routing for livestream a live concert to KZbin. Right ?

[@dankurydotcom]

@@davidleungaxiom3491 you've got it. That is if you are mixing the individual audio channels from a program that is receiving the USB channels. Alternatively, you could assign the main L/R stereo mix to a pair of USB channels.

[@josephbullock7483]

Would this be the same concept for live-streaming?

[@dankurydotcom]

Here again, I can't make sense out of your message... "Would this be the same concept for live-streaming?"

[@jasmin.salihovic]

You mentioned that all instruments go to your fcr interface, is this mean that you have to plug in mackie and interface to your mac in the same time, mackie like input - scarlet like output?

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Jasmin, I wanted this video to be viewed as if I was recording the band live into the Mackie's attached hard drive. In order for me to do this, I used my Mac computer and Digital Performer (DAW) to play back a multi-track recording that was done previously into the XLR inputs of the Mackie. The Focusrite interface was only used to monitor the audio as I was making the multi-track recording through my studio monitors. Most people will not care about this next part about what it takes to make a video like this... but here's what really went down to make the video... I played a multi-track recording from Digital Performer on my Mac. The Mac was connected to my Yamaha TF3 mixing console via Dante (ethernet CAT5 cable). I was then able to route each individual, mono audio channel of the multi-track to inputs on the Yamaha TF console. Then, the individual inputs were sent to separate Aux XLR audio outputs of the Yamaha TF console, where they finally connected to XLR inputs on the Mackie DL32R. So, this made it seem as though a band was playing live into the Mackie's XLR inputs and finally recorded onto the hard drive. Sorry for all that, but that's what it took to genuinely make a multi-track recording as a demonstration that could be used for this video. I know that is more than you asked for, but there you go. :) Have a great day!

[@jasmin.salihovic]

This is my problem: I tried to use Mackie DL16S as audio interface but i can't get output signal. I use macbook pro 15, DAW Ableton

[@dankurydotcom]

@@jasmin.salihovic you need to select the Mackie DL16S in the Mac's System Settings under "Sound", you will also need to set Ableton to the Mackie for the audio interface.

[@willtheham1]

Will adjusting the volume faders while recording mess it up? is there a way to make it not affected?

[@dankurydotcom]

that question is answered in detail in this video,.... thanks for watching! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWnZlah_oLaJma8

[@willtheham1]

@@dankurydotcom Also; Does the DL32S record 32 Tracks or only 16?

[@dankurydotcom]

@@willtheham1 32, it is all in the manual :)

[@barbison]

Hi all, Thank you for this very interrestinf video. I'm using a DL16S as sound interface for ableton with USB input exactly like in this video. I juste have a problem, the input gain wich is coming in is too high and i can't find any pad reduction ? is there another solution ? thank you for your help !

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi, you said "the input gain is too high". The inputs do not have a pad like many interfaces and audio mixers. If the audio level is too high coming into your DAW, then simply lower the level in Master Fader :) what is the audio source that is too high?

[@kiwibrennan]

@@dankurydotcom Hi Dan, firstly your videos are fantastic. Thank you! I have a similar issue to above (just the opposite). I am using a DL16s for live band performances and wish to record into my DAW via laptop. I have found despite setting the gain levels and live mix correctly the signals coming into the DAW via USB are very low. Can you recommend a solution without impacting the gain and volume levels for the live sound? Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@dankurydotcom]

@@kiwibrennan Hi Brennan, thank you for the compliment!!! I am happy that you have benefitted from the videos. If the levels in your DAW are too low, it is because you have set the input gain too low on the inputs. This is not a problem with quality of sound, since all the tracks in your DAW can be raised to your liking after the gig. It is always better to have levels that are too low as opposed to too high. Do a Google search for how to raise the tracks levels in your DAW. That's it :) Have a great week!

[@lrtannermoe]

With the Dl32R, the song that was recorded on the Mackie is on a separate hd connected usb port A . I’m trying to use a pc / Cubase ai to capture the song but not sure how to make that work. Any advice?

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Roy, if you are using Cubase to make a multi-track recording of your music, the PC will need to be connected to the USB-B port of the DL16S, 32S or 32R mixer. In the routing page of Master Fader, across the top, select the USB tab. Make sure that all the Mic Pre channels' dots are connected,.... "mic pre 1 to USB 1".... mic pre 2 to USB 2 etc. like the video shows at 1:01 into the video. Of course in Cubase, your audio interface should be set to Mackie, and each mono audio channel will need to receive audio from the desired channel of the Mackie mixer. Did that help?

[@lrtannermoe]

@@dankurydotcom yes, but I have a problem as the recorded song files are on an external hard drive connected to usb A and I read that if A is being used , B won’t work. So I cabs really play the recording to then simultaneously record the 16 tracks individually to my DAW. :-(

[@dankurydotcom]

@@lrtannermoe you read correctly, the USB A and USB B ports on the DL32R can not be used simultaneously :( You will need a Dante Card for the DL32R, and then you can do what you are wanting to do. you would also need to purchase "Dante Virtual Soundcard" for Windows, and then download the free app called "Dante Controller". Dante is a product of Audinate. They have a 14 day free trial, but it won't work without a Dante Card for the DL32R. If you have a "Multi-Channel WAV file" multi-track recording that was made by simply connecting a USB hard drive to the DL32R, then you can connect that drive to your PC and use a third part app called Wave Agent available for free on Sounddevices.com. Then the files could be played in Cubase into the DL32R.

[@lrtannermoe]

@@dankurydotcom thank you for your awesome knowledge. One final question. When I connect the hard drive to my windows pc, I don’t see it . I’m guessing the format of the hard drive is specifically for the Mackie. If I could access the multi wav file , I was hoping I could play it or import it as is OR hopefully Cubase or whatever saw would break it up to separate tracks. Any ideas how to read the hard drive. ( or do I need the donte sw and card etc for that ? )

[@dankurydotcom]

@@lrtannermoe Hi Roy, hmmmm, I don’t know why your PC would not recognize the drive. I’m not making fun of Windows here because I’m a Mac guy …. and even though I’m a Mac guy, I’m well aware that it’s not perfect either. However, one thing that McIntosh computers excel at is the fact that Macs almost never have to download or install drivers for everything like Windows. It is possible with my limited knowledge of Windows, that perhaps there is a driver that is needed so that your hard drive can be recognized by the PC. I am guessing here only but, is your hard drive that was connected to the Mackie also connected with the same USB connections to the PC?

[@ZOOK250]

i have an aging DL32R lol, and there is one multitrack feature that is head and shoulders easier than hauling your DAW to a gig. that is the direct to portable hard drive feature. i dont understand why mackie left this out of the 16 and 32 S models.

[@dankurydotcom]

Most likely because they have to pay a royalty per unit to use the multi channel wave format.

[@tonyvan8323]

How to download. The app to record please half

[@dankurydotcom]

you can use whatever DAW program you want,... if that answers your question, but I think you are confused... this Mackie Master Fader app is a free download but is useless unless you own a DL Mackie mixer, DL16S, DL32S or DL32.

[@jeffmaestro]

Unfortunately I had to return my dl32s. Just would not connect. The master fader 5 app was very well laid out. Too bad it has issues

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Jeffrey, I am sad to hear that... I wish you would have contacted me to help with it. Was it a brand new mixer? Did you talk to anyone at Mackie?

[@jeffmaestro]

@@dankurydotcom Much appreciated. Yes, a new mixer and new iPad. It did connect after it did a firmware update. But after I got a new router (that I couldn’t get connected) I could never get the Wi-Fi to show up. I had watched all your videos and was very excited. I told my wife how much headache this would save me setting up. Thank you again.

[@dankurydotcom]

@@jeffmaestro I would have returned the router, not the mixer... I have quite a few Apple Express routers which perform fantastic, I would be happy to mail you one if you can get another DL32.

[@jeffmaestro]

@@dankurydotcom So very nice of you!! I had problems before I got the router. I mean, I turn it on and the Wi-Fi wouldn’t come up. It did eventually and that’s when I bought the router. After that failed I couldn’t get the Wi-Fi to show up on the mixer. I did a reset. Tried turning the iPad off and on, just anything I could think of. Sometimes it would show that I had a DLR32 instead of the S32. I haven’t sent it back yet, it’s boxed up sitting on the table looking at me and laughing. Lol. Perhaps I should have asked for help. It was an all day event.

[@dankurydotcom]

@@jeffmaestro contact me through my website kurysound.com and let's get this thing going.

[@jungacayan7805]

DL16S

[@dankurydotcom]

Hi Jun, the process for making a multi-track recording with USB is the same for all three DL mixers,... DL16S, DL32S and DL32R.

[@jungacayan7805]

@@dankurydotcom thank you

[@dankurydotcom]

@@jungacayan7805 glad to help :)