Mackie Onyx Series, 16-Channel Premium Analog Mixer with Multi-Track USB

I waited 6 months before reviewing my Onyx16. I primarily use this in a home studio, but it would make an exceptional live mixer as well. I currently route it's outputs into some powered Kali studio monitors and the sound quality is exceptional. I expected to use it as an audio interface, but I didn't expect it to be such a versatile audio interface. I plugged a USB cable from the mixer to my Macbook (I use Logic Pro), and instantly had 18 individual digital inputs and digital returns that I could route/patch (within the Mac) to my heart's content. HiZ inputs on channels 1/2 make it easy to just plug a guitar or bass in (and DI into the Mac), and the stereo inputs on 9/10, 11/12...., make it a breeze to run stereo keyboards in as well. The additional Bluetooth input allows you to pair your phone, so easy to get Spotify into the rig to jam along with (and it gives you 2 extra channels if you want to run a stereo line in, or additional stereo FX return). The built in effects are adequate for most applications, but with each channel acting as it's own audio interface, you could do all the digital effect processing you could ever want on each channel within Logic or Main Stage and feed the output back into the mixer. One irritating stupid drawback: When you turn on the Onyx, it defaults the effects back to it's default DELAY setting. Easy to switch, but seems very "amateur" to have to reset it every time you power it up. The SD card recording is also just a quirky gimmick that's actually useless in my opinion. Maybe useful to some that want to just raw dump all of the output (i.e. as a form of documentation), but the auto file naming (AUD000001.WAV, AUD000002) quickly makes it useless as a working tool in a professional environment where you'd quickly have more than a few files. The Rec/Play/Pause buttons are really laggy too, so useless as a professional tool for recording your band in a live setting. And for those that think it would be nice for "break music", it would be far easier to just Bluetooth your phone. So those two drawbacks aside, the mixer/interface functionality eclipses the wonky SD recording, and the irritating requirement to reset the effects on every power up. I've now got a very versatile mixer, and a very versatile audio interface to my computer environment and on those two fronts I'd have to rate the Onyx 5 stars. At this price point, this is a solid pro level working musician tool.

I've been using Mackie products here and there for 25 years and I rarely run into one that I just don't like so you should buy this if you're looking at it. Yes, its worth it. No I was not paid to say this but if you're like me going back and forth between which mixer to get, and you've been doing this for a while, trust me, just get it. It does everything you need it to do with very little learning curve. I haven't used the built in effects yet, and I probably wont because I add all my effects in post-production. Overall 5/5 from me. I love this thing CONS Its a little big for my setup but probably will work great for you. Ok, go buy it now.

I love Mackie products but I return this mixer because I am no longer doing this type of mixing. Aside from that it's a great mixer is my second one actually.

I purchased this mixer as 'used like new' and I'm pretty sure I received the same unit that krh316 reviewed in January. krh316, if that is who had it the last time, even included a printed note with their purchase date and the fact that channels 1 and 2 were defective. In further testing I found that the effects bus had some kind of tone that was always present and that the main fader was audibly scratchy when adjusted. I did use the mixer for one session (sans effects and channels 1 & 2) and it worked very well with my logic setup to record a vocal session over an existing project I'm working on. I will be re-ordering another unit, but it would have been nice to get one that worked as described the first time around. I will likely be paying a bit more for the unit as the price on the same grade of used equipment has gone up a bit since my initial purchase. Anyways, long story short, I think this board is a great value if I can get my hands on one that is fully functional.

I love this mixer. Mackie offers such a great product and instructions. Works perfectly.

I have the Onyx 24 I use mainly in the studio for band practice. On occasion I record practice. I have only done 2 shows with it. Now there is an issue between the monitors and the mains. My sliders don't work and I turn up the monitors and the mains go up. I was loving my Mackie gear until this happened. I got the unit July 15 of 2022. A year and a half I all I got and I only practice 1 to 2 times a week. I also got the Mackie thrash 12" powered speaker about the same time and one of those won't turn on.

The Onyx 12 is really a 14 channel mixer, and it is awesome. The pre-amps are dope, clean and punchy with low distortion. The unit feels rock solid, as a Mackie should. Major awesomeness: 14x4 USB — 14 channels out over USB to the computer, with four channels back to the mixer from the computer. How sick is that at this price point? The built-in recorder is not multi-track, but records a stereo mixdown of the main bus, but remember, you can stream your dry tracks / stems directly into your DAW over USB to retain full control for mastering.

I bought this to replace an aging Mackie Onyx 820i, which was experiencing lots of potentiometer and switch failures. Build quality between this and the 820i is night and day, which this Onyx 8 being superior in every way! Volume knobs are rubberized, which provides a great feel and grip. Center detents are very distinct and tactile, and the silk-screened graphics line up perfectly with the controls and jacks. "Solo" and "Mute" buttons illuminate when pushed, which is a great touch. Built-in Bluetooth is a huge plus, and enables me to finally get rid of my old, external Bluetooth audio receiver. I use this primarily as an audio interface on my studio PC, and it works brilliantly for that purpose. I cannot comment on the quality of the built-in effects as I've not used them (and probably never will). Minor gripes are no "-20 dB" or "clip" indicator lights on each input, and global phantom power instead of per-channel switching.

Es de excelente calidad y material. Tardo un poco en llegar debido a la importación desde EEUU pero valió totalmente la pena, sobre todo por el precio ya que por el precio solo puedes conseguir algo más pequeño (incluso de la misma marca) aquí en frontera norte (Juárez, Chih.)

It’s a great mixer , excellent pre amps , very compact I have a Allen & Heath zed 14fx which is the same size with lesser channels and features . The Mackie onyx 16 has Bluetooth , stereo recording to an SD card , multitrack recording through USB . Highly recommend this mixer

Qué es puedo decir ya 4 años con esta mixer y la verdad Mackie es una marca con productos de calidad. La verdad no tengo queja alguna.

compre esta mezclado pensando en usarla tanto en estudio como en presentaciones. Cumple muy bien en ambas tareas. como interfaz es muy sencilla ya que solo controlas la ganancia. pero el sonido de los preamps es bueno

No Australian power adaptor and no English manual.