Recording - June 2018 - 55

Mackie

Onyx Series USB Interfaces

Mackie has massively updated its offerings for DAW-based
production in recent months. We reviewed the excellent Big
Knob series of monitor controllers in November 2017 and
March 2018; for users looking at more traditional audio interface solutions, Mackie now offers the new Onyx Series.
There are two new Onyx interfaces, both 2-in/2-out models
but with different I/O-the Artist 1*2 and the Producer 2*2. I
had a chance to work with the Producer 2*2 for a few weeks,
and was greeted with the simple satisfaction of a no-fuss interface that effortlessly provides great audio quality.
The Onyx boxes are rugged all-metal desktop enclosures;
I didn't try driving a car over mine, but I bet it wouldn't have
cared. The Producer 2*2 offers two of Mackie's well-loved
Onyx mic preamps on the front panel, with XLR/TRS combination inputs to run line-level signals if preferred. Each of the
two preamps has its own Gain control, signal/overload LED,
and Hi-Z switch for use with direct guitar and bass inputs, and
there's a global 48V phantom power button.
Zero-latency direct monitoring is handled by a Mix knob,
and there are separate Monitor and Phones level controls,
one for the balanced rear-panel outputs and the other for the
front-panel headphone jack (both 1/4" TRS). The block diagram in the manual states, and my tests confirm, that the Monitor and Phones paths run in parallel rather than series, so it's
possible to turn each one up and down independently of the
other. If that seems like a trivial thing to you, try it on some other interfaces. You might be surprised at how many of them put
the headphone output in line with the Monitor control; it saves
on a couple of amp stages, but means you can't cue up music

on phones without also sending it out of your mains. It's great
that manufacturers are finally getting this right!
Besides the outputs, the rear panel has a USB 2.0 connector
for power and data, and MIDI In and Out jacks. Both of the
Onyx interfaces are bus-powered. (The Artist 1*2 has one
XLR and one TRS/Hi-Z input, an on/off Direct Monitor switch
rather than a Mix control, and no MIDI... all other specs are
the same.)
I've always been a fan of the Onyx preamps. There's a reason they've spawned so many imitators-they're clean (broadband RMS noise level at the mic input below -100 dBFS, THD
under 0.001% at minimum gain, +4 dBu/-6 dBFS @ 1 kHz),
have tons of gain, and don't mess with the sound of your mics,
delivering clarity without sterility if that makes any sense. I've
tried them with condenser and dynamic mics at various price
points, and they offer solid performance all along the way.
Mackie doesn't give an impedance for the Hi-Z input, but
I'm guessing it's 1 MΩ or more based on the transparency of
tone I get with my guitars. Output quality is impeccable as
well, and with up to 24-bit/192 kHz recording and playback
capability, the Onyx Producer 2*2 can even be pressed into
service by musicians giving hi-def audio a try.
These interfaces are dressed to impress and sound great. If
you need solid results without a lot of extra glam, take a hard
listen to the new Onyx Series.

Artist 1*2, $99.99; Onyx Producer 2*2
(as reviewed), $149.99; mackie.com
RECORDING June 2018

http://www.mackie.com

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