Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording

Subject: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: JudyB
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 08:47 PM

Has anyone used the Mackie Onyx mixers for home recording to computer? I currently use a Mackie 1402, which generally works well for what I'm doing - but the sound is all mixed before it hits the computer, so if the voice is a little too soft compared to an instrument in one spot, there's not a lot I can do (well, there is - but it's a pain).

I suspect that the Onyx 1220 would let me record up to 4 mics to up to 4 separate tracks, and do some additional balancing after the fact. The major downsides I see are the price of the board and firewire card, and the fact that anything I record will now take up 2 to 4 times as much space on my poor hard drive. I'm looking at the Onyx primarily because I'm expecting it to act similarly to the Mackie boards I have now.

I don't often use more than 4 mics at a time - I upgraded from the 1202 to the 1402 partly for some live sound situations and partly so I can leave various channels set for various instruments. I generally use CoolEditPro for editing, and have Adobe Audition (its current incarnation) which I'll probably switch to as part of the upgrade. I know there are a bunch of other great programs, but it's the one I know.

I did do a search for Onyx here without any luck, and have checked some of the techie boards, but a lot of what they're doing is so far ahead of what I do that just reading the posts makes my head spin.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions?

Thanks!
JudyB

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: treewind
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 08:15 AM

The Alesis 16 USB looks like what you want at a lower price. up to 16 channels in and out using USB. It has 8 mic inputs.

I've no idea about the sound quality and reliability of the Alesis.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: Spot
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 10:28 AM

Allo everybody...
                        Very sorry , not able to help with your query , Judy, but I have a mint 1402 for sale in UK midlands, if any body interested. PM for details..

          Regards to all...Spot

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: JudyB
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 11:04 AM

Thanks, Anahata - it's a thought. Are you sure about the 16 channels out - one of the tech sites seemed to be saying there were only 2 channels out (basic stereo) with the USB versions because they were USB1 and that was all the flow they could handle.

I'd prefer firewire anyway, and the Alesis MultiMix 12 FireWire and MultiMix 16 FireWire do seem to have the ability to send the individual tracks and the mix to the computer. They're also 24-bit, while the USB is 16. They're also, not surprisingly, more expensive.

The MultiMix 12 FW seems fairly similar to the Onyx 1220. The Alesis board has 100 built-in effects (which I don't need for recording but might be useful if I ever used it for live sound) and costs about half as much; the Mackie seems a bit better on specs but it's hard to say if the greater frequency response or better signal-to-noise ratio (for instance) are things mere mortals could actually hear.

Have you used any of the Alesis boards? Have you used Mackie boards? Are they similar? A point for the Mackie is that I'm familiar with them - but twice as expensive is quite a point against.

Thanks for bringing the Alesis to my attention!

JudyB

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: treewind
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 03:22 AM

You're right - it says "USB audio, which allows direct computer audio interfacing for 16 bit simultaneous stereo input and output" - I think I misread 16 bit as 16 channel. Yes I do know the difference!

Mackie has a better reputation than Alesis in the pro audio world. The Onyx is beginning to look like a good choice.

Another approach is to look at line level multi channel input for your PC (M-Audio do some good products like the Delta 1010 with 8 analog inputs and outputs or the Delta 66 with 4 inputs and outputs) combined with a mixer to use just for the mic preamps.

I don't think your Mackie 1402 has direct outputs per channel, but you can use the insert points to take a signal out of each channel into the computer I/O. With a standard jack plug there's a trick for this: plug it in halfway (first click) and the send will be connected to the tip of the jack - otherwise you have to make special cables with ring at one end connected to tip at the other, or use a Y cable.

I haven't used the Alesis or Mackie mixers, but I have used the technique of tapping the mixer channels as described above. I have a Soundcraft Spirit FX8 and the channel direct outputs go into a Yamaha AW16G.

It's a good way to use a Mackie: the preamps are the best bit, especially for low noise. The 1202VLZ is often recommended as best bang-for-buck if you need 4 channels of mic preamps.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 04:33 AM

I love mackie Speakers as PA.

I did a concert last week in a tramshed, with mackie 350's and 450's as the onstage monitors and bigger mackies for the actual audience. You can imagine the acoustics - and it was the best sound I ever heard anywhere.

No Fixed Abode use Mackie SRM 450's for their live work, and they absolutely eat pub lounges.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: JohnB
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 12:59 PM

I use a Delta 66 with a Behringer 1204 mixer. This gives me the four inputs I was looking for.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: JudyB
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 04:09 PM

Figured I'd give this a quick refresh to see if anyone else had thoughts on either the Mackie Onyx mixers or the Alesis MultiMix FireWire mixers. Thanks all for the suggestions so far!

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 05:32 PM

Sorry, but I've no experience of either... but I do know that Alesis kit is excellent - in fact, I'm going to buy one of the HD24 ADAT 24 channel 24 bit hard disk based units, having seen one in use.

In my experience any of the 'names' are able to provide good S/N ratio with modern technology. Okay, sometimes Behringer stuff is faulty straight out of the box, but they don't usually fail in use unless you do summat daft!

I've just bought a Behringer XENIX 1204 which comes with a USB 'soundcard' with stereo in and out on RCA Phono plugs. Okay, that goes back to the original difficulty of mixing everything down to two channels, but it's fine for the purpose I need it for. I already have a Soundcraft Folio Notepad (and the PowerPad version), and the Behringer is streets ahead on specification, for slightly less money.

Admittedly being in the trade gives me an advantage...!

Subject: RE: Tech: Mackie Onyx mixer for recording
From: JudyB
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 09:04 PM

Thanks, Bernard. Must admit I'm more familiar with the Mackie (and Behringer) names than I am with Alesis - which probably only shows that I don't get out much!