The Mackie MCK-2048990-00 DL16S is an advanced 16-channel wireless digital mixer that fundamentally reimagines live sound control by untethering the mixing engineer from the physical console. This system comprises a compact, rack-mountable digital mixer brain and leverages dedicated iOS and Android applications to provide complete, professional mixing control from a tablet or smartphone over a secure wireless network. The core philosophy is to offer full studio-grade mixing capabilities with the mobility to walk the room during soundcheck or a performance, allowing for real-time adjustments based on the actual audience perspective. This setup is ideal for a wide range of applications, from houses of worship and theater to mobile DJs and corporate AV, where a single operator may need to manage both the mix and other production elements from various locations in the venue.

At the heart of the system is the DL16S stage box/mixer unit, which houses 16 premium Onyx microphone preamplifiers with individual +48V phantom power, high-headroom analog-to-digital conversion, and comprehensive digital processing. It connects to a standard Wi-Fi router to create its own secure network, to which user devices connect. The mixing application presents a fully-featured digital console interface on the tablet screen, including parametric EQ with detailed analyzer views, dynamics processing (compression/gate) on every channel, digital effects, flexible aux sends, and motorized fader emulation for precise level adjustments. All processing is handled internally by the DL16S, ensuring low-latency performance and stability, with the tablet serving purely as a control surface. Multiple users can connect simultaneously in a "master/remote" configuration, allowing for collaborative mixing or providing a dedicated monitor mix engineer with their own control.

Engineered for reliability in live environments, the DL16S provides robust wired connectivity options, including a Ethernet port for connecting directly to a computer for multitrack recording via its built-in 16x4 USB audio interface. Its all-metal rackmount chassis is built for durability, and the system includes safeguards against dropouts, such as the ability to lock in a static mix if the wireless connection is temporarily interrupted. For sound professionals seeking to modernize their workflow, the Mackie DL16S delivers the pristine audio quality, deep processing, and routing flexibility of a high-end digital mixer, combined with the unprecedented freedom and situational awareness of wireless tablet-based control, making it a powerful and innovative solution for the evolving demands of live sound.