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Mackie DL1608 & Apple Airport Express... Mono?

Scott Waldy

Scott Waldy

Aug 14, 2007
401
284
The State of Confusion.
#1
I just got a Mackie DL1608. At this point I'm planning on running the Apple Airport Express as the wireless access point. It has a 1/8" audio output. VS running it into the DL1608 in stereo, has any body ran both channels of the Express into into 1 channel on the board? Gotta save real estate.
 
#2
Scott Waldy said:
...has any body ran both channels of the Express into into 1 channel on the board?
Click to expand...
unless that can be done electronically upstream, not a good idea; jamming two audio outputs together with a Y-cable stresses those outputs (they try to "drive" each other) and can sound bad.
 
#5
It's done routinely, but that doesn't make a good idea.

I'd get one of those little boxes like this that combines two outputs into one...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Actually, I don't even like to run the outputs of an iPod or a computer into any XLR input of a console. It's easy to make a TRS-to-XLR adapter, but I fried an iPod many years ago when I plugged it into a console and the phantom power was mistakenly turned on. I always use a DI or the little Rapco box like the one I listed as a safeguard.
 
#6
I'm cornfused other than as a router for remote opes, what are you going to get from the airport express ? Are you attempting to use it as an audio source for break music ? Maybe a better thought would be to establish a playlist for your iPad iniTunes app, sync and use the dedicated iTunes inputs in MF... No channels burned in the process. No need for a special cable... And other than unhooking the iPad while break music is on discussed yesterday, it's slick...

I could see the external audio device hooked up while you are brining the system up and getting used to a new room. After that, because you saved your show at the end of the night when you were happy with the evenings adjustments to EQ's, mon mixes, channel tweaks, etc - Yeah man, remember to do that, eh! Cause next time in, you recall the show and pick up where you left off - just have to remember how the gains were set...

After recalling that show, roughing in out front becomes a quick val/ver pass...

To net that out, I would use my external audio source (if I were using one) for the roughing in and then un hook it to reclaim the channels and use the internal to the iPad iTunes as my break music as an alternate method...
 
#7
Hmmm. My phantom is basically on all the time - 3 active DI's on stage all the time. I wonder how phantom affects the combo plugs.... I would hope that a tip sleeve or TRS plug wouldn't get the 48v. Might be a good question for Mackie... Or god forbid we look it up in the doc... I would hate to commit an RTFM this early in the morning... But then again I am curious and lazy all at once :)

I take DJ, computer, etc in a sound company gig setting via a Radial consumer to XLR DI but I do not carry that in my Willy & Nelson stripped down to the minimum band kit... That Rapco looks cute...
 
#8
4Mal said:
I'm cornfused other than as a router for remote opes, what are you going to get from the airport express ? Are you attempting to use it as an audio source for break music ? Maybe a better thought would be to establish a playlist for your iPad iniTunes app, sync and use the dedicated iTunes inputs in MF... No channels burned in the process. No need for a special cable... And other than unhooking the iPad while break music is on discussed yesterday, it's slick...
Click to expand...

Yes, If I'm running another band. I don't want to have to go dock the Ipad.

4Mal said:
I'm cornfused other than as a router for remote opes, what are you going to get from the airport express ? Are you attempting to use it as an audio source for break music ? Maybe a better thought would be to establish a playlist for your iPad iniTunes app, sync and use the dedicated iTunes inputs in MF... No channels burned in the process. No need for a special cable... And other than unhooking the iPad while break music is on discussed yesterday, it's slick...
Click to expand...

I was working with this exact situation last night...
Ipad docked. Switching from MF3 to ITunes. Turn it on/push play. Signal represented in the Ipad channel and the Mains out. It drops the signal while MF3 syncs again. This is unacceptable.Plus, I can't find a way to pad the input of the ipad. turning it down in iTunes doesn't work either. The "Trim" in MF3 doesn't seem to attenuate it either.

Any clues?
 
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#9
4Mal said:
Hmmm. My phantom is basically on all the time - 3 active DI's on stage all the time. I wonder how phantom affects the combo plugs.... I would hope that a tip sleeve or TRS plug wouldn't get the 48v. Might be a good question for Mackie... Or god forbid we look it up in the doc... I would hate to commit an RTFM this early in the morning... But then again I am curious and lazy all at once :)

I take DJ, computer, etc in a sound company gig setting via a Radial consumer to XLR DI but I do not carry that in my Willy & Nelson stripped down to the minimum band kit... That Rapco looks cute...
Click to expand...

I think I was told by one of the design engineers that somehow they wire those combo connectors to not have phantom power on the TRS part of the plug for the reasons we are talking about. But I'd have to dig that info up again. Maybe later tonight. I'd love to able to say for certain one way or the other.

Stay tuned...
 
#10
Scott Waldy said:
Yes, If I'm running another band. I don't want to have to go dock the Ipad.



I was working with this exact situation last night...
Ipad docked. Switching from MF3 to ITunes. Turn it on/push play. Signal represented in the Ipad channel and the Mains out. It drops the signal while MF3 syncs again. This is unacceptable.Plus, I can't find a way to pad the input of the ipad. turning it down in iTunes doesn't work either. The "Trim" in MF3 doesn't seem to attenuate it either.

Any clues?
Click to expand...
The ipad link to itunes seems to be internal and set for hot. in fairness I have not heard any distortion. Just a startingly high Ladder on the channel. Channel fader works just fine.

once I'm doing music from itunes there is no docking/ undocking in my routine so no issues with the sync delay. On sound company gigs it is generally my SL board so it hasn't been a limiting factor for me.
when you're doing sound, how about a very small submixer. Alesis MM-8 or similar... Put the external audio plus that sexy new headset mic you'll snag with the proceeds are a remote talk back 0n it. Then you're still only burning 1 channel :-)
 
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#11
4Mal said:
The ipad link to itunes seems to be internal and set for hot. in fairness I have not heard any distortion. Just a startingly high Ladder on the channel. Channel fader works just fine.
Click to expand...

Perfect. Good to know. My fader seems to work accordingly.

4Mal said:
once I'm doing music from itunes there is no docking/ undocking in my routine so no issues with the sync delay. On sound company gigs it is generally my SL board so it hasn't been a limiting factor for me.
Click to expand...

Ok... so I'm an idiot but what is an "SL" board?
 

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