Thoughts on Mackie Onyx boards?

[woody777]

Specifically the 1620? I'm thinking about picking up one of those and the Onyx Firewire I/O card to record my band (8 mics for drums, everyone else will track individually). We plan to track using Cakewalk. Is this a decent "budget" setup? I'm not missing any components, am I (I've got mics, computer, monitors)? Anybody use this setup and care to comment on the quality, ease of use, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[Anomaly Design]

The thing about that board is when going through the soundcard it bypasses all the EQ and everything... all you're gonna be using is the pre's, which i hear arent' so bad. I didn't get that board just for that reason... I went with the firepod and really enjoy it.

 

[woody777]

Really??? That seems odd... Can anyone else confirm this?

 

[Anomaly Design]

Check sites that sell it... Its on some reviews, then I went to guitar center and the guy confirmed it. I would say its not really worth that price unless you need it for live applications also.

EDIT: What do you need 8 mics on the drums for anyway??

 

[woody777]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I understand that once you record a track, you can't use the mixing board to edit that track in the computer program... but are you saying that when tracking the signal does not run through the EQ or anything else on the mixing board?

 

[altitude909]

Direct outs are almost always pre fader.

 

[woody777]

Direct outs are almost always pre fader.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that.

Also, the 1620 w/ Firewire card can record 8 seperate tracks simultaneously, correct?

 

[altitude909]

Mixers with direct outs are usually pre fader = Signal is sent to the output before the fader so only the the dry signal is sent. No eq, efx, nothing

What is the point of applying efx or eqs to a track being recorded? You can always do it after it has recorded but if your record it wet, then you cannot undo any channel settings.

Also, the 1620 w/ Firewire card can record 8 seperate tracks simultaneously, correct?

Yes

 

[Minion]

You might want to take a Look at the "Alesis 16 Track Firewire Mixers" as they has 8 Fair sounding Pre-amps and will let you Record all 16 Tracks at the Same Time into your PC useing all of the Effects,EQ,Faders ect on the Mixer in your recorded Tracks...

A Friend of mine rescently got one and he says that it is an awesome Unit and is one of the Cheapest ways of Recording 16 Simutainius Tracks to your PC as it only Costs about $600 US but you can Probably get it for less.....


Cheers

 

[countrylac]

Yea all you sacrifice is some sound quality. There is a modification for the mackie onyx that can make the firewire send post fader, but most people (I for one) like the pre fader send for the firewire because by bypassing the rest of the board it can give a cleaner and uncolor signal. I guess it depends on taste.

 

[BushmasterM4]

Get the mackie. Im getting ready to build a 30 * 30 Home recording studio and a mackie onyx 1640 is going to be in the control room. The firewire signal is pre-eq'd which is the best way to do it. For the recording quality you cant beat it for the price. Its clean and simple to use and you dont have alot of different pieces of hardware to learn. Go to mackie website and download the manual, it explains all. Also download the firewire manual also.

 

[battleminnow]

I have a 1220 and a 1640, and I really love both of them. I was concerned at first of the pre-fade (which means the output is sent before any modifications regardless of where the knobs are) eq issue, but really I do all my mixing in the box with Cubase, so it's a moot point for me. And the Mackie preamps are LIGHTYEARS ahead of the Alesis ones, but I know what money crunch is like, and the Alesis is a good value board, but the Mackie is agreat board overall, not just great for the price.


And if you use your board in a live situation for gigs or practices, the EQ is great. You just can't send it through Firewire.

Pete