Performance
The Mackie DLZ Creator XS is the baby brother to the Mackie DLZ Creator that I reviewed in May of 2023 and was using until I switched it for the XS. I love the Mackie DLZ big brother, and that feeling extends to the baby brother. My experience with both has been the same in terms of clean preamps that provide clean audio recordings, flexibility when customizing my preferences, especially since I can use the easy mode, enhanced, or the pro mode, and I like that I can record to either an SD card or USB drive (I use a USB thumb drive. This Mackie DLZ XS has now replaced its big brother primarily because it frees up some desktop space and does not impact any of the functionality and versatility that I have become used to. As a part of my setup process, and as I did before, I recorded my Podcast theme music to one of the banks and buttons on the sound pad. There are 3 layers for the banks that allow you to record audio for multiple recording scenarios.
Here are a couple of links to a Podcast episode and a couple of tech videos that I recorded using this device:
• Unleash Your Sound: Rode Wireless Go II Mic Unboxing and Audio Comparison - Elevate Your Audio Game
• "Sound Showdown: Hollyland Larx Max vs.Sennheiser MKE 600 - Unboxing and Audio Face-Off!"
• "Healing vs. Profit: The True State of Healthcare - Prioritizing Money over Patients"
What I like about the Mackie DLZ
Creator XS
• The smaller footprint compared to its big brother
• The same functionality and versatility as the DLZ
• The clean audio that it produces
• The ease of use and the very responsive touchscreen
• The additional connectivity that includes multiple NDI connections
• The visual quality of the LED screen
• The sound pads and multiple banks for storing audio effects
• The quality of the faders
• The overall visual appearance
What needs to be improved?
• I am a big fan of the original DLZ and this DLZ XS. No complaints so far
Final thoughts
The Mackie DLZ Creator XS is a fantastic little brother to the Macke DLC Creator. It has all the functionality and versatility I need and I love the NDI options. The touchscreen is very responsive and the customization options are endless. The audio quality is exactly what I expect from Mackie. Another well done for Mackie!!
Price: $499.99
Where to buy: B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Mackie, Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Mackie. Mackie did not have a final say on the review and did not preview this review before it was published.
