MACKIE preview of new D.4 Pro Mixer  Add your News

Oct 11, 2006 : At first glance the new d.4 is the logical follow up to the highly-successful d.2, which led Mackie’s official entry into the DJ mixer market early last year. But the d.4 is much more than simply a four channel version of it’s immensely popular sibling. In typical Mackie fashion, real-world consideration went into designing something unique here—a true centerpiece for modern electronic music production and live performance.

More than your standard DJ mixer, the d.4 Pro includes two preamps from Mackie's Onyx series of consoles, and an optional FireWire expansion both sends and receives audio from a Mac or PC. The d.Pro FireWire Card adds 14x8 I/O to a Mac or PC for live scratching, and the simultaneous playback and mixing of up to four stereo music files. The d.Pro FireWire card ships with a full copy of Mackie's Tracktion DAW, so the d.4 Pro can serve as a producer's interface for multitrack recording.
With the addition of the optional d.Pro FireWire card that the d.4 Pro’s unique functionality truly shines. Adding the FireWire option allow the d.4 to work very closely with most major software apps, adding 14x8 I/O to a Mac or PC for live scratching, and the simultaneous playback and mixing of up to 4 music files. At PLASA, the previewed d.4 was doing its magic with MixVibes via firewire. And since the d.Pro FireWire card ships with a fully copy of Mackie Tracktion, the d.4 Pro also serves as the ultimate interface for true multi-track recording.

The d.4 Pro has a studio-grade analog circuitry that offers up exceptional sound. On board are premium phono preamps, a pair of flagship Onyx mic preamps, plus the finest VCA and analog filter effects in its class. Also present is a 3-band EQ with complete kill filters and blue backlit knobs, flexible 4-position routing switches per channel, zone and booth outs, XLR main outs, advanced cueing with split cue functionality, individual program meters as well as stereo main out meters. All this is housed in an extremely rugged, “built-like-a-tank” steel chassis—a Mackie hallmark.



There are also several other additions over Mackie's first DJ mixer, the d.2. The best of these is the pair of analog filters that can be sent to any of the four channels. Each filter can be set to highpass, bandpass or lowpass and includes cutoff and resonance knobs, as well as a Bump rocker switch for performing rhythmic tricks. Also onboard is a 3-band EQ with complete kill filters and blue backlit knobs, flexible 4-position routing switches per channel, zone and booth outs, XLR main outs, advanced cueing with split cue functionality, individual program meters and stereo main out meters. All this is housed in a durable steel chassis.


Like the d.2, the d.4 Pro incorporates the contact-free, 45 mm optical crossfader from UK-based Infinium Technologies. Besides lasting for a long time, the contact-free crossfader allows DJs to personalize its feel with adjustable tension and cut-off points.
In addition to lasting for an exceptionally long time, the contact-free crossfader provides DJs with unparalleled fingertip control, as well as the ability to personalize its "feel" with user-adjustable tension and cut-off points.

Although a price is not yet set, Mackie plans to ship the d.4 Pro in early 2007.