Mackie Onyx 1220i 12-Channel Premium Analog Mixer with FireWire Interface

zZounds' Take on Mackie Onyx 1220i

Many home studios seem to get by just fine without a hardware mixer. After all, with today's DAW software, you're likely doing your mixing "in the box." But sooner or later, you're going to need a way to get your sound into the box in the first place -- and that's where the bottleneck lies. What good is software that can roll dozens of simultaneous tracks, when you're thwarted by an interface with cheesy, hollow-sounding preamps?

That's why the Mackie Onyx 1220i has 4 clear, detailed Onyx mic preamps plus 4 stereo channels that can handle line-level inputs like keyboards and drum machines. Best of all, the 1220i has a built-in 16-in/2-out FireWire interface. That's right: with this mixer plugged into your computer, all 12 channels, both aux sends, and your stereo master show up as inputs in your DAW, no routing necessary -- and no need for a separate interface.

With the 1220i, you get all the robustness of a Mackie analog mixer, plus complete integration with your digital recording setup. Add Mackie's high-quality Cirrus analog-to-digital converters, and you've got a space-saving, easy-to-use analog front-end for any DAW.

Analog Guts, Digital Brains

Even if the 1220i didn't have a built-in FireWire interface, it would still be a serious analog mixer. First of all, it's a Mackie -- a company known for tank-like build quality. Mackie boards have long been indispensable in can't-fail environments like broadcast studios, live venues, and mobile recording rigs. Plus, the Onyx name means you're getting Mackie's flagship mic preamps -- 4 of them, in this case. Onyx mic pres are designed for accuracy, transparency, and detail, with phantom power available on individual channels. The first two preamps have a dedicated switch for accepting a Hi-Z input like a direct guitar or bass. And every channel has Mackie's "British-style" Perkins EQ, named for the veteran engineer who developed these natural-sounding filters. Because the 1220i is a full-fledged analog mixer, it's an excellent real-time monitoring solution: just use its 2 aux sends to build headphone mixes in the analog domain with zero latency, regardless of what is going on in your DAW.

Send 16 Channels To Your DAW Over FireWire

The Onyx 1220i really starts working its magic when you plug in a FireWire cable. Your 16 channels sail through high-end Cirrus A/D converters, through FireWire, and into your DAW at up to 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. Each channel has a pre/post-EQ button for the FireWire output, so you can record your tracks with or without the channel inserts and Perkins EQ applied. For example, if your bassist needs lots of low-end punch in his headphones during tracking, you can kick on his EQ, but press his channel's "pre" button so only the clean, un-EQ'd signal is sent out through FireWire and into your DAW. Or you can insert your trusty hardware reverb for the vocal channel for monitoring, but still record the vocal track "dry." However you set up the routing, FireWire is fully integrated into the Onyx 1220i -- making external interfaces or converters completely unnecessary.

Compatible With Your Rack Gear -- And Your Plug-ins

Got outboard gear? With 1/4-inch insert plugs on the first 4 channels, you can easily insert your favorite hardware compressor on that bass track. And with 2 aux buses, there's even room to feed your hardware reverb on from an aux send, and return the resulting signal to one of your 4 stereo channels. Now, if you're of more of a plug-ins power user, that's where the 1220i's FireWire integration comes in handy. For example, say you're multi-tracking a vocal group with the 4 Onyx preamp channels, and you're running everyone's headphones off Aux 1. Looks like you've got an aux available for reverb routing. Aux 2 appears in your DAW via FireWire, ready to be processed in real time by your reverb plug-in. Sent the plug-in's output channel, and press the FireWire Input button on the 1220i's last stereo channel. Now you're monitoring the "wet," reverbed signal on its own hardware fader, and instead of trying to mouse knobs on-screen, you're using the Onyx 1220i's orange knobs to adjust exactly how much the reverb is affecting each vocal mic. Powerful stuff!

All told, the Mackie Onyx 1220i packs a whole lot of power into a decidedly desk-friendly footprint. You get 4 great-sounding preamps, 4 flexible stereo inputs, Perkins EQ, and built-in 16x2 FireWire integration for your home recording setup. And of course, you get legendary Mackie build quality. Try this mixer and replace your old interface with real analog hardware!

Features:

-4 Onyx mic preamps with individual phantom power, plus Hi-Z instrument inputs on channels 1 and 2
- 4 stereo line inputs
- Musical Perkins EQ section on each channel
- Integrated 16-in/2-out FireWire interface at up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution
- Pre/post switch sends channels to FireWire with or without EQ and inserts applied
- Built-in talkback mic
- Tough Mackie build quality throughout

Manufacturer's Description for Mackie Onyx 1220i 12-Channel Premium Analog Mixer with FireWire Interface

The 12-channel Mackie Onyx 1220i FireWire Recording Mixer combines the benefits of a powerful computer interface with the tactile, hands-on control of a sleek, space-saving premium analog mixer. Proven, professional features like four Onyx mic preamps and classic Perkins EQ only accentuate the mixer's ample connectivity and clear-cut workflow.

The 1220i allows you to send channels, aux sends or master L/R signals discretely to your Mac or PC for recording. Compatible out of the box with most major DAWs, and qualified for use with Pro Tools(R) M-Powered(TM) 8 via downloadable driver upgrade at Mackie's website. It's a premium analog mixer that integrates seamlessly with your favorite DAW.

Features

- Premium 12 channel super compact analog mixer with integrated FireWire I/O
- Qualified by Mackie for use will all major DAWs, including:
-- Logic(R)
-- SONAR(TM)
-- Cubase(R)
-- Ableton(R) Live
-- Final Cut Pro(R)
-- Pro Tools M-Powered 8 (Requires $49.99 USD driver upgrade at www.mackie.com)
- Includes Tracktion 3 Music Production Software for Mac/PC
- 4 mono channels (mono mic and mono line inputs)
- 4 stereo channels (stereo line inputs)
- 4 Onyx mic preamps with sound comparable to boutique preamps
- 3-band Perkins EQ iwth sweepable mids on mono channels
- 3-band Perkins EQ on stereo line channels
- Flexible FireWire routing with up to 12 channels pre/post EQ, aux sends and master L/R routable to computer
- 2 channels of FireWire monitoring routable to either the control room or channels 11 and 12
- 2 independent aux sends with separate pre/post switches
- Selectable instrument inputs on first two channels-no DI box needed
- Individual 48 volt phantom power switches on all microphone inputs
- Talkback section with built in mic and flexible routing
- Planet-Earth switching power supply for worldwide use

The Onyx 1220i is equipped with four premium precision engineered studio grade Onyx microphone preamps. The Onyx i-series feature boutique quality Onyx microphone preamps that deliver pristine signal quality.

Channels 1 and 2 feature high impedance instrument/line level inputs so you can connect an acoustic, electric or bass guitar directly into the mixer eliminating the need for an external direct box.

Recording and Mixing
Send all channels, aux sends or the master L/R straight to your computer for recording. Pre/post EQ taps on every channel allow you to integrate our renowned Perkins EQ into the record path. Plus, returns from your DAW are assignable to the control room section or straight back into a channel for mix integration.

Powerful Effects Engine
With all aux sends routable to your DAW, Onyx-i allows you to use your favorite plug-in as a realtime effect. Just route an aux send to your DAW, apply the plug-in and assign your DAW outputs to the control room or to a channel strip for instant integration into the mix.

Live Recording
Live sound recording could not be simpler with Onyx-i. The ability to record individual channels either wet or dry allows for studio quality multi-track recordings for later editing and mixdown. Or simply record the main mix, allowing for immediate creation of CDs right at the gig.

* NOW for a very limited time, the driver will be absolutely FREE.

People who purchase Onyx-i mixers will be able to go to http://www.mackie.com and download the Mackie Universal Driver Upgrade completely free of charge. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Mackie products.

Minimum System Requirements For General Use
FOR PC
- Microsoft Windows 7 32 / 64 RTM, Vista 32 / 64 RTM or XP 32 SP 2
- Pentium 4, Celeron or Athlon XP processor
- 512 MB RAM

FOR MAC
- Mac OS X 10.4.11 - 10.6.2
- G4 processor
- 512 MB RAM

Minimum System Requirements For Pro Tools M-Powered 8 Use
FOR PC
- Microsoft Windows Vista 32 SP2 or XP 32 SP 3
- 1GB RAM

FOR MAC
- Mac OS X 10.5.5 - 10.5.8
- 1GB RAM

The following computer systems have been qualified by the Mackie test department for use with all major DAW's including pro tools(r) m-powered(tm) 8. This list does not represent the only systems that will function faultlessly and is intended to be a guide, however we cannot guarantee or support problem free system setup outside of these qualified systems.

For PC:
- HPCP7700P
- Chipset Q963
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 @ 2.13GHz
- 2GB RAM
- Ultra ULT40109 8 port FireWire / USB 2.0 card (VIA chipset)

FOR MAC:
- 8-core 3GHz
- Mac Pro (first generation, second revision)
- 4GB RAM
- MFG date April 2007 Power Mac G5

PowerMac (third generation, 7th revision):
- 2x 2.3 GHz

Using your Onyx-i Series Mixer with any other major DAW?
Onyx-i Series mixers are compatible with all major DAWs. This list includes (but is not limited to):

- Logic(R)
- SONAR(TM)
- Cubase(R)
- Ableton(R) Live
- Final Cut Pro(R)
- Tracktion(TM)
- Digital Performer(TM)

Register your Onyx-i mixer with Mackie and you will be given Instructions for the Mackie Universal Driver and Mackie Authorization Application that unlocks your mixer for use with Pro Tools M-Powered 8. The driver purchase allows your registered mixer to work with as many supported computers running Pro Tools M-Powered 8 as you have access to.

Our 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies to the Mackie Onyx Mixer. Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

M-Audio Pro Tools M-Powered Recording Software cannot be returned once opened due to copyright law.

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Base Item

Shipping Weight: 13 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 8 in