Mackie DL1608 Reference Guide V1.2
18
Power LED
This LED will illuminate green when the DL1608 is turned on
. If it does not turn on, confirm that The Power
Block and line cord are connected correctly (to each other, the mixer and the AC outlet), the local AC mains
supply is active and that the power switch is on.
Phantom Power Switch
Press the top of this rocker switch in if any microphone requires phantom power. (Always check the position
of this switch before connecting microphones.) This is a global switch that affects all mic channels’ XLR jacks
at once.
Press the bottom of this switch in to turn the phantom power off.
Most modern professional condenser mics require 48V phantom power which lets the mixer send
low-current DC voltage to the mic’s electronics through the same wires that carry audio. (Semi-pro
condenser mics often have batteries to accomplish the same thing.) “Phantom” owes its name to an
ability to be “unseen” by dynamic mics [Shure SM57 / SM58, for example], which do not need external
power and are not affected by it, anyway.
Never plug single-ended (unbalanced) or ribbon microphones into the mic input jacks
when phantom power is on. Do not plug instrument outputs into the mic XLR input jacks
with phantom power on unless you know for certain that it is safe to do. When phantom
power is engaged, be sure that the master fader is down when connecting microphones
to the mic inputs to prevent pops from getting through the PA.
It is not a good idea to enable the phantom power unless it is actually needed. Line-level
sources may be particularly unhappy when they are subjected to 48V phantom powering.
Many musical instrument amps and keyboards with “direct outputs” fit this description.
It takes approximately 15 seconds for the phantom power to shut off completely.
Do not add or remove any inputs until the phantom power LED is completely off
or mics could be ruined.
Phantom Power LED
This LED will illuminate red when phantom power is engaged. If it does not turn on, confirm that the
phantom power switch is on, that The Power Block and line cord are connected correctly (to each other,
the mixer and the AC outlet), the local AC mains supply is active and that the power switch is on.
It takes approximately 15 seconds for the phantom power to shut off completely.
Do not add or remove any inputs until the phantom power LED is completely off
or mics could be ruined.
XLR and 1/4" Inputs
All 16 channels may accept a balanced mic or line-level signal using an XLR connector, while channels
13-16 also accept 1/4" line-level signals.
They are wired as follows, according to standards specified
by the AES (Audio Engineering Society).
XLR Balanced Wiring:
Pin 1 = Shield (ground)
Pin 2 = Positive (+ or hot)
Pin 3 = Negative (– or cold)
2
3
1
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
2
1
