The Mackie DL16S is a compact, stage-box style digital mixer that provides full professional mixing capabilities via wireless control from an Apple iPad. This mixer features 16 premium Onyx mic preamps with 24-bit/48 kHz conversion across its 12 XLR/TRS combo inputs and 4 stereo line inputs, delivering studio-quality sound in a rugged, portable chassis designed to sit on stage. Its core innovation is the complete reliance on a connected iPad (not included) running the free Master Fader app for all mixing functions; there are no physical faders or controls on the mixer itself. This allows the sound engineer to mix wirelessly from anywhere in the venue with a secure Wi-Fi connection, offering unparalleled mobility and the ability to mix from the audience's perspective.

The mixer's digital engine includes comprehensive processing on every channel: 4-band parametric EQ, a compressor/gate, and delay. It provides flexible routing with 6 independent mixes (Main L/R and 4 aux sends) and 4 DCAs for group control. High-quality multi-effects processors with reverb and delay are built-in. The DL16S creates its own secure dual-band Wi-Fi network for the iPad connection and also includes a USB port for multitrack recording directly to a connected hard drive or flash memory, independent of the iPad. This makes it a powerful all-in-one solution for live sound, recording, and virtual soundcheck.

The Mackie DL16S is designed for musicians, worship teams, and mobile sound companies who desire the sound quality and flexibility of a digital mixer in a minimal footprint. By placing the mixer on stage as a digital stage box and using an iPad as a remote control surface, it drastically reduces setup time and cable runs, while providing the engineer with complete creative control from an intuitive touchscreen interface. It represents a streamlined, professional approach to digital mixing for small to medium-scale applications.