Mackie Spike USB Audio Interface with DSP

A complete recording solution from Mackie featuring a 24-bit/96k USB Audio/MIDI interface, great-sounding Mackie preamps, incredibly easy Tracktion recording software. 48 People rated this product:

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Manufacturer's Description for Mackie Spike USB Audio Interface with DSP

Meet Spike: A complete desktop solution for 24-bit/96kHz audio recording & MIDI production on a Mac or PC.

Recording music on a Mac or PC just got exponentially easier with Spike, a complete digital recording solution from Mackie. Spike consists of the XD-2 USB 24-bit 96kHz Audio/MIDI Interface featuring clean, high-headroom Mackie mic preamps and onboard SHARC dynamics processing; incredibly easy-to-use Tracktion multitrack audio recording software with unlimited track count and VST plug-in support; and the Nomad Factory Blue Tubes Warmer Phaser plug-in. Quite simply, this is the easiest open-ended system for computer music production.

XD-2 USB Audio/MIDI Interface
The XD-2 is a two-channel, mic/line/instrument USB audio and MIDI interface with 24-bit, 96kHz resolution, high quality internal effects for tracking and monitoring, and support for ASIO 2.0, WDM and OS X Core Audio. Its footprint may be small, but this compact interface offers great sound, channel dynamics & EQ for tracking and monitoring, and comes with enough software to get up and running right out of the box. Since the XD-2 has an onboard SHARC processor, it allows things like low-latency monitoring and powered dynamics processing -all controllable via an intuitive on-screen graphic display.

Tracktion Software
Tracktion is an intuitive audio recording and MIDI production software based around a refreshingly simple user interface, thoughtful features--and personality!
Tracktion integrates all the major features of a professional digital audio workstation into a simple working environment that gets all the technical stuff out of the way, allowing you to focus on making music. And with full VST plug-in support, you can use all your favorite plug-ins from other applications. Find out more.

Tracktion Features:

Unlimited track and effect count (based on computer's processing power)

Full VST support, including VSTi synths

Drag & drop waveform editing

Full automation capabilities

Built-in Sampler, Reverb, Chorus, Delay, EQ, Compressor, and Phaser

Pitch Shift and Time Stretch features

Full ReWire support

Audio file rendering, exporting, and archiving capabilities

Ableton Live Mackie Software

Ableton Live Mackie is a powerful version of the award-winning Ableton Live software application. This revolutionary program acts as a real-time audio sampler and sequencer, which you can play like an instrument.
Live Mackie integrates complete multi-track recording and editing functionality into a unique user interface that lets you play your studio arrangements on stage, or record live improvisations and edit them in the studio. Even better, Live Mackie lets you manipulate the speed and pitch of any audio while it's streamed from disk with exceptional flexibility and fidelity. In short, Live Mackie lets you use audio any way you want.

XD-2 Features:

2-channel 24-bit/96k USB audio and MIDI interface for Mac or PC

2 mic/line/instrument inputs with high-headroom Mackie mic preamps

Onboard SHARC chip for full channel dynamics & EQ with intuitive computer-based control - all without a drain on the host computer

Low-latency monitoring with effects

DSP available for mixdown

Easily fits in a laptop bag with unique, "swivel foot" design

Effects

Spike gives users several ways to tap into high-quality effects.

For starters, the XD-2's onboard DSP provides channel dynamics & EQ for tracking and mixdown, plus low-latency monitoring with no drain on host computer's CPU.

The bundled Tracktion software includes built-in Reverb, Chorus, Delay, EQ, Compressor, and Phaser. It also allows users to run any of thousands of VST effects plug-ins (sold separately) and comes bundled with all the Maxim Digital Audio (MDA) virtual instruments and plug-ins.

To get started, Spike also includes the Warmer Phaser plug-in by Nomad Factory: a special edition VST plug-in with all of the characteristics of a traditional analog phaser, plus panning, vibrato and tube simulation.

Applications

Spike is perfect for recording applications including home studios, project studios, live performing & recording and anywhere that high-quality 24-bit/96k digital recording is needed.

Compatibility

Windows XP & Mac OS X

ASIO 2.0, WDM, and OS X Core Audio zZounds is an authorized dealer of Mackie products.

Mackie Warranty

Mackie Warranty

If you have additional warranty questions, please call the manufacturer at 800-898-3211

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Customer Reviews

4 out of 5 (48 ratings) Rate and Review This Product

Read all 5 Mackie Spike USB Audio Interface with DSP Reviews

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us. This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful. "Easy on the ear, Easier on the wallet..."

Sound: I use our Mackie Spike 4 times per week to record live performances at our Church. Our recordings include everything from spoken voice to music specials. The sound quality of our recordings is very good to great. Feature: What can I say... It does what I need it to do... very well! Ease of Use: Having a computer/audio background, I took to the interface like a duck to water. However, several training sessions each were required for our less experienced technicians. Quality: Our Spike routinely travels with me between home office and church sound booth in a softside computer bag. Needless to say, it's been banged around a bit but is none the worse for wear. Value: For the solution it has provided and what we paid for it...I'd say it was a pretty good value. Manufacturer Support: I haven't had to call tech support. The included documentation had enough pictures that even a guy can plug this thing together and make it go. Hint: Register your product...Mackie does contact you periodically with updates! The Wow Factor: Practical design. Sleek look. Perfect footprint for a crowded sound booth. Overall: I plan to use the Mackie Spike for our recording needs for the forseeable future. It simply does what it's designed to do, processes live sound well and didn't eat a hole in my wallet. I'd give it a 10 but I'm not the kind of person that says anything is perfect...But then again, I can't really think of anything I'd change.

Style of Music: Traditional Christian

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"Definitley worth a look!"

Sound: I've only had it a few weeks, but so far I think it sounds great. Feature: Lots of extra features (like compression while recording vocals) make this a step above the alternatives. I want to respond to a previous reviewer that said you may need to buy a new sound card in addition to the Spike system- but the XD-2 (part of Spike) is an audio interface- that IS a sound card. There's no need to buy another one. Not sure what he was smokin'... Or maybe a sleazy sales guy told him otherwise...? Quality: The build quality seems very solid. The casing is metal, and I have a feeling that I could throw it against a wall and it'd be fine- but I think I'll hold off on that test... Value: Good value for what you get. Manufacturer Support: The only time I talked to Mackie was right before this came out- I called about the ship date of the Spike system. Unfortunatley I got four different answers from four different people about when the damn thing was coming out- I'd appreciate someone saying "I don't know" if they really don't have an answer. But, it was very easy to get in touch with them, with minimal hold time. The Wow Factor: I guess we've all got our fetishes, but mine doesn't include hardware. Still, this is a funky-looking piece of gear, and the vertical design saves space on my desk. Overall: I plan on using this for years, and I'm confident that it'll last a long time.

Style of Music: rock, alternative

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Read all 5 Mackie Spike USB Audio Interface with DSP Reviews