To see a video demo on Mackie’s new dXb (6.8 MB; Quicktime), click HERE.
Easily one of the high points of the AES convention for anyone who loves mixers is Mackie’s demo room where they’re showing the new dXb! The Mackie dXb is a 96k/192k capable, 72 x 72 I/O matrix (36 x 36 at 192k) digital production console with dual integrated touch screens, internal DSP, powerful automation, control surface functionality as well as FireWire I/O option cards for streaming audio to/from a desktop or laptop computer.
[b]Control[/b]
Physically, the dXb includes 24 channel strips with 100mm Penny + Giles optical touch sensitive faders and two integrated 15-inch touch screens-one for each bank of 12 faders. These screens are the mixer’s primary interface offering access to important functions like send levels, inserts, routing, dynamics processing, surround panning, metering, effects and much more. Also included is a tape-style transport with memory location recall and weighted Jog/Shuttle wheel as well as a padded armrest with built-in mouse pad and a control room section that allows for A/B monitoring, dual phones mixes and talkback.
[b]Software[/b]
The dXb software has been designed for the precise response and intuitive operation more commonly associated with analog buttons rather than virtual ones. Both touchscreens and the mouse can be used simultaneously and operate independently-allowing users to select the best interface for the task at hand. Users can also run select VST plug-ins internally without the need for a separate computer and/or operate plug-ins in a desktop or laptop computer system and interface with the dXb via FireWire.
[b]Expandable I/O[/b]
The rear panel of the dXb features a card cage that can be customized with a variety of I/O cards including analog (mic or line level with remote controlled mic preamps), AES/EBU, FireWire (IEEE-1394a), TDIF and ADAT optical. Both a Sync Card (supporting Word-Clock and LTC) and Control Room Card (Nearfield and Main speaker outputs, phones, and stereo AES/EBU and SPDIF) are included. Fixed rear panel I/O includes Sony 9-pin, MIDI In/Out (MTC/MMC), FireWire (for external data storage), Ethernet and two USB host ports for connecting a mouse and/or keyboard if desired.
It appears that the Mackie dXb will be available from Sweetwater in the second quarter of 2004 with a suggested retail price beginning under $20k depending on configuration.
[b]Features:[/b]
[list][*]96k digital mixing console with 72 x 72 channel I/O matrix
[*]192k digital mixing console with 36 x 36 channel I/O matrix
[*]FireWire I/O cards for streaming audio to/from desktop or laptop computers
[*]Dual touch-screen graphic user interfaces plus mouse control
[*]Twenty-five 100mm Penny + Giles motorized optical touch-sensitive faders
[*]Full dynamics and parametric EQ on every channel, input and output
[*]Ability to run select VST plug-ins internally
[*]8-channel surround mixing and monitoring capabilities
[*]Onboard UAD-1 card and Powered Plug-Ins bundle
[*]Tape style transport with memory location recall and Jog/Shuttle wheel
[*]Comprehensive automation system with event editing and dynamic/scene automation
[*]Variety of I/O cards available for support of all major analog or digital connections
[*]Sony 9-pin, LTC, MTC, MMC and Word Clock sync
[*]Mackie Control Universal™ mode for DAW control[/list]
