Main

Mackie Big Knob Studio Control Center

Big Knob is perfectly suited to a range of applications beyond desktop music making, including home stereo systems, keyboard/guitar rigs, high-end multimedia systems, archiving LP's to CD, classrooms and boardrooms, and more. Learn More...

    • New $299.95
    • Blowouts save up to $40!
    • free ground shipping
Write a Review:

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
I cannot even think what to do with that much of outputs. Talkback is a very neat addition... I think this is the only monitor controller with so much features.

Quality:
I noticed that, at very low levels the stereo image shifts. I mean when i turn the volume knob up from zero, first the left channel starts to play and gradually right ch is coming. Phones level controls are a bit flimsy but studio out and talkback level controls are solid. That big knob is especially solid. Mono button causes st. image shift too.

Value:
i think this is one of the best values ever. I dont know any product offering this much of features... I would have bought one of the SPL controllers but they are twice as much as a price.

Desirability:
i think i like it.

Sound:
sound is good not excellent. I've been been hearing direct from DA converter to speakers... It was much clearer and stereo image was more solid. This is not bad though but it colors the sound a bit. I think especially the upper mids... Passive systems offer no degradation of sound.

Ease of Use:
Easy to setup but i wish it had XLR outputs. I had to change the connectors of my xlr-xlr cable. Other than that, it is relatively straight forward.

Support:
i didnt have to deal with...

Overall:
Overall this unit is sitting nicely on my desktop but i think it occupies too much space. They could have made it smaller... Another thing which is not cool is it gets pretty hot under normal circumstances.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
You won't find ANYTHING in a similar price range with all of the Big Knob features. Just about any combination of ins and outs you can imagine for your DAW setup.

Value:
No competition.

Desirability:
Looks great on your desktop.

Sound:
Pure and clean.

Ease of Use:
Stupid easy.

Overall:
If you need to compare mixes, CDs, etc. this is your ticket. It made DAW mixing a pleasure for me instead of a circus act of switching between inputs and level changes on my desktop mixer.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Only wish it could do 5.1

Quality:
Seems well built (for studio equipment), don't think it was really designed for road use.

Value:
Bit pricey, but probably best balance of quality/features/price I seen.

Desirability:
Looks sharp, and once you grab a Big Knob you'll never want to let go.

Sound:
Noticed no degradation of sound quality (in-line between E-MU 1820M and PM5s). Just make sure you get your levels right - more than just pressing bal/unbal button.

Ease of Use:
After reading manual, any confusion was cleared up (lots of i/o, some of it for larger studio functions that don't apply for me)

Support:
N/A

Overall:
Would buy again, but if I were a bit richer, I might buy the PreSonus Central station (all the i/o of the Mackie, plus digital - and a smaller footprint [with the add-on controller]) but you do trade mixing for switching on the inputs.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Terrific if you have a couple sets of monitors and like to switch between them. I like to switch between my Blue Sky Pro Desk monitors and some cheap computer speakers to see how my podcasts and voiceovers translate to equipment that everyone has. I don't have a control room separate from the "studio", but this unit is just the ticket if you do. Built-in phono inputs are great for ripping vinyl. And of course, there's the Big Knob itself. You'll love the ability to route inputs and outputs at the push of a button. Things I miss: should have just one more set of inputs! But then again, if you are recording more than a couple of tracks, you probably have a mixer or a multi-channel interface anyhow.

Quality:
Solid steel baby! No plastic crap. I like that. Doesn't move around on the desk unless you want it to. Good layout, easy-to-read labels. Some question about the rear trim controls though -- seemed a little loose at certain postions, but didn't seem to effect signal or usability. Unless you swap out equipment, the trim controls are pretty much "set and forget".

Value:
Seems a little pricey for what it does, but I can't complain. Don't see anything else on the market that comes close in quality and versatility.

Desirability:
Looks like pro equipment.

Sound:
Neutral as far as I can tell.

Support:
Have had no need for support. Mackie is quite responsive though -- just pick up the phone.

Overall:
Damn near essential for a home studio DAW setup, especially if you have two or more sets of monitors. I use it every day for basic tracking, recording teleconferences through a digital telephone hybrid, listening to CD's with headphones, and occasionally, ripping vinyl. Anticipate this unit will be on my desk for years.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
I bought it for the "talkback" and "mono" features...but I got so much more. Lots of flexibility with this hook up...NICE

Quality:
Solid construction...but you EXPECT that from a "Mackie"

Value:
Does more than other devices costing much, MUCH more.

Desirability:
Looks real sexy sitting next to my Korg D32XD.

Sound:
The sound is VERY clean... Mackie knows sound, like "Bo" knows football...no worries here!

Support:
Don't know...haven't needed it yet.

Overall:
I had a cheap radio shack A/B switch...but this lets me do so much more...I'm glad I bought it!

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no