Mackie Onyx Mic pre/Perkins EQ

[Recording Chick]

Has anyone heard the new Mackie Onyx mic pres with their new Perkins EQ that is supposed to be comparable to british consoles. Do they live up to the hype? How do they compare to the previous mackie Pro series?

[deepwater]

I have and the Soundcraft M Series still has better pres and better EQ. Its also cheaper

[Recording Chick]

But is it better than previous Mackies which I have had pretty good experience with?

[boingoman]

I'd just go and check one out. Your ears are always the final judge. Also check out the Soundcraft like deepwater suggested, and the Crest x-rack series. Better consoles for the money, IMO. The Mackie Onyx does have that digital option, though. After I heard some different EQs the Mackie midrange always seemed to me like shaving with a chainsaw. Itchy stubble or cut to the bone, but painful in any case. It would be hard not to improve them. I read you are looking at an ass-kicking vocal channel in any case, so the EQ (at least for vox) isn't going to be an issue, right?

[Recording Chick]

True, I'm just curious if you guys with trained ears agreed with the hype about the onyx. Idealy for my next project I would like to bypass the analog circutry on the Roland 2480 and go s/pidf in with a Apogee Rosetta 200 which is stereo. I would use something like a compact mixer to expand my inputs then route everything from the main stereo outs to the Apogee. I would bypass some of the mic pres with high end pres through the inserts on the compact mixer. This would eliminate the need for endless plugging and unplugging of gear. I'm still debating on this, as then everything is still going needlessly through more circutry. I might be better off with a patch bay, but the ability to submix multiple mics down to stereo would be nice. I've certainly have nothing against sound craft, especially the ghost. Mackie and I have been together from the beginning, so I'm hoping they'll be up to the task. They will be if there's any truth to their ads at all. I typically don't use Mackie EQ on their compacts. I'm not a comlete idiot.

[deepwater]

The new Onyx is better than the VLZ. I compaired the Onyx to the VLZ and M series. But like I said the befor the Soundcraft came out on top. Take some time and go check them out. Let your ears be your guide

[Recording Chick]

Thanks Deepwater.

[bgavin]

Look long and hard at the Crest XR20. I think it is the best of bunch, short of a Midas.

For the record, I purchased a used SR24-4 VLZ Pro, strictly for live performance mixing.

[steve350]

I am in the market for a new mixer. I am looking at the Mackie Onyx and the Soundcraft M series.
I am leaning toward the Soundcraft because of the digital coax out option and it has main channel inserts and for some silly reason the Mackie does not.

[Recording Chick]

Looked at the soundcraft M series. I wonder how good their A/D conversion is. Anybody know? Their EQ seems limited with function, but I'm sure it sounds great. I guess parametric with Q would be to much to hope for.

[deepwater]

Soundcraft had the best one of the best Eqs you can buy. The M series also has direct-outs on every channel which can be set post or pre eq and fader which is very nice. The pres are the same design as the ones found the Soundcraft Ghost. They are designed by the same guy. Pres are very warm and rich sounding.

[Hard2Hear]

hey dw-

could you pm or email me what you can sell me the m-series 16 ch and the onyx middle size for? Also, what else do you have dealerships for?

Thnx,
H2H

[deepwater]

PM has been sent

[steve350]

hey dw-

could you pm or email me what you can sell me the m-series 16 ch also. Thanks Steve.