Best Audio Digital Mixer For Beginners in 2024 – Mackie DLZ Creator XS Review

Mike Russell

6 months ago

2024 Best Audio Digital Mixer For Beginners - Mackie Dlz Creator Xs Review

Choosing the right audio digital mixer for your content is important. With a sea of audio mixers in the market, it can be hard to decide which mixer is best for your needs. In this blog post, I dive into the brand new Mackie DLZ Creator XS. It is a smaller brother of the audio mixer I use, the Mackie DLZ Creator. I compare the two mixers discussing some of their differences. Furthermore, I walk you through how to set up the new device.

Mackie DLZ Creator: Old vs New

One of the biggest questions is whether or not the new XS version is better than the original Mackie DLZ Creator. Since I’ve been (and am still) using the old unit, I think I am the right person to compare the two.

Physical Differences

One of the obvious differences between the old and new DLZ units is their sizes. The XS is smaller in overall size, which also resulted in a smaller touch display. It also has fewer microphone inputs and headphone outputs.

The physical controls are also less on the XS, having only 4 compared to 5 on the old unit. Moreover, the faders on the DLZ Creator were changed into potentiometers on the XS. Again, this is merely because of the size difference.

Pricing

Pricing is another difference worth discussing when comparing the two versions. The XS is worth $499.99, $300 less than its big brother.

Features

In terms of features, there’s really not that much of a difference between the two. Although there are new improvements that are introduced in the XS unit, those will also be backfilled in the DLZ Creator.

Overall, portability is I think the main difference the two have. Since the XS is much smaller, it is perfect when you’re going on the move. If you’re like me, you can use both on different setups. The DLZ Creator sitting in your studio while the DLZ Creator XS is in your backpack for on-the-go projects.

Setting Up Mackie DLZ Creator XS

Select Language

When you turn the DLZ Creator XS on, the first thing you need to do is select the language. As of this writing, Mackie supports 9 languages including French and Dutch.

Choose Mode

The next step is to choose a control mode. If you are like me who is an audio nerd, you might want to select Pro. But if you are a beginner and need assistance, Easy is the mode for you.

Setup Headphones and Set Levels

Next, the system will let you connect and set up your headphones. You’ll automatically hear some audio playing when you plug in your headphones. This way, you’ll be able to check and set your volume levels.

Connect Microphones and Set Levels

After connecting your headphones, it’s time to plug in your microphones. Once you do, the system will ask you to select the type of microphone you just connected.

Then when you click Next, it will ask you to set your input levels. The good thing about this is that the system will automatically detect and set the levels for you.

Setup Input Source 2

If you have another gadget connected to the Mixer such as an instrument, you’ll need to set it up too. It’s the same process as setting up your microphone. However, if you didn’t plug in any on the input source 2, you can just press the Skip button.

Connect Other Devices

The next steps will allow you to connect other devices such as speakers, line-ins, SD cards, etc. If you have them, plug them in. If not, just leave them to default.

Setting up the Mackie DLZ Creator XS is straightforward. The system provides instructions on where to connect different devices. Moreover, help buttons are also available if you need any help.

Once the setup is complete, the device will give you a quick tour of the different functionalities. I recommend you go through the tour if you are a beginner.

Final Thoughts

The Mackie DLZ Creator XS is definitely a great audio digital mixer. It is smaller than its predecessor but the main features are still there. Moreover, the change in size is actually an advantage. It is perfect for a portable podcasting studio.

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