Topic: Mackie Onyx Satellite: entry level phantom/preamp?

[sunjan]

There hasn't been much said about this unit here on TS yet.
I found a thread indicating that it can be ran standalone, in front of an R-09:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,92801.msg1255361.html#msg1255361

Can anyone confirm this? In that case, it could be a good value alternative to a Denecke PS2, with added preamps!

Or does it require firewire connection to a laptop?

Specs here:
http://www.mackie.com/products/satellite/
Goes on fleabay for around $120 used...

[tcf]

I have one and can't say enough good things about it.  This box has completely flown under the radar for the tapers.  The preamps are very clean and transparent.  For an acoustic set last weekend, I ran 45 dbs of gain and did not have one bit of noise.  In summary it can use an external battery, small, fits in bag well, transparent clean preamps, nice headphone output, level meters.  For an added bonus, mine has been used in conjunction with a mac as a firewire device without issue.  Now that is some double duty.

This is a box that someone should judge on the sound instead of what they think of the mackie brand, past or present.

[jeromejello]

this does look like a great alternative (sorry for the slow reply, i went and read the manual).

a couple of things, could be good or bad...  the outs are only 1/4 trs which are not as secure as xlr or min xlr... and it appears that the headphone 1 monitor knob does double duty as a second volume adjustment after the preamp gain and before it hits the recorder.

would love to play with one up close

[tcf]

There are two "control room" knobs on the front panel, one doubles as an attenuator for the balanced outs on the back of the unit.  This is similiar to the mini mp in that respect, which comes in handy.  The second control room knob, controls the true headphone out.  There aren't any conflicts in this department.

The 1/4" balanced outs are very secure and have had not had any experience losing connection through these outputs.

BTW, this box is just entry level based on the price not performance.

I'll be glad to answer any other questions based on my experience with the onyx.

This is a no brainer box, I sold my FR2LE and went back to this box, because it sounds so good.

[beeco]

I have one and can't say enough good things about it.  This box has completely flown under the radar for the tapers.  The preamps are very clean and transparent.  For an acoustic set last weekend, I ran 45 dbs of gain and did not have one bit of noise.  In summary it can use an external battery, small, fits in bag well, transparent clean preamps, nice headphone output, level meters.  For an added bonus, mine has been used in conjunction with a mac as a firewire device without issue.  Now that is some double duty.

This is a box that someone should judge on the sound instead of what they think of the mackie brand, past or present.

Nice to see someone is using this unit.  I've shopped it a little but hadn't heard any tapers commenting on it.
What external battery are you using for this unit?  Will it run on 9v DVD batteries with standard Radio Shack adapt-a-plugs?
Thanks

[tcf]

We tried it off of 9v and it did not fire up.  The spec is minimum of 12volt and works fine at that voltage.  I have used up to 18 volts personally and no prob's.

[sunjan]

Interesting to read all the feedback!

Physical Dimensions and Weight Pod
Height: 2.1 in/53 mm
Width: 8.0 in/203 mm
Depth: 4.1 in/104 mm (including front knobs and
rear jacks)
Weight: 1.8 lb/0.8 kg

Smaller cubic footprint than the UA-5 (but the UA-5 is a tad lighter):
Size and Weight
Height    47 mm    1-7/8 inches
Width    218 mm    8-5/8 inches
Depth    137 mm    5-7/16 inches
Weight    0.7 kg    1 lbs. 10 oz.

[tcf]

In regards to the heavier weight of the onyx compared to the UA-5.  Let me say that you could probably drive your car over the onyx or chuck it out the second story window without a problem.  It is that well built, it has a very heavy duty chasis.  The UA5 does not have as heavy of a chasis/case.

The only thing I wish the Onyx had was a power off/on switch and 9volt dc would have been nice, but neither are certainly a deal breaker.

With r/c batteries I get over 3 hours easy in field record time.

[TNJazz]

On-stage samples of JZ Mics BT-201 -> Mackie Onyx Satellite -> MT @ 16 bit/44.1khz here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,114658.msg1543066.html#msg1543066

Pretty damn good sounding for a preamp you can pick up used for $100 or less...

[illconditioned]

BTW, if you search the big stores (Samedaymusic, zzsounds) the Satellite is discontinued and on sale pretty cheap.  Maybe as low as $180 or something?

This would be a nice box for your desktop.  Connect the "base station" to your computer, plug in the Satellite and use it for a DAC, then unplug the unit if you need it for recording.

I'm not getting one though.  I've already got way too much gear .

[Javier Cinakowski]

Google product search has several retailers letting these go for $149.00

If it was USB2.0 instead of firewire I would already own one of these.  I don't have firewire on any of my machines....  Perhaps I could get a firewire card, but that is an extra cost as well....  I could run analog into my soundcard, but I have plenty of preamps.... I need a digital interface for my basement pc....

[jnorman34]

hiya guys - i read in the manual that:
Pod provides 2 in/2 out audio streams; “Docked” pod
and base station provide 2 in/6 out audio streams

am i understanding correctly that in the studio, i would be able to record 6 discrete channels of audio (two mics via the XLR ins, and 4 more mics via external preamps fed into the 4 line ins)?

thanks.

[TNJazz]

no, I think it is always limited to 2 inputs at a time.  You can route them 3 different ways though, hence the 6 out...

[carpa]

Just a couple of questions:
in a device like this the line outputs should be two "ctrl"  1/4 jacks  on the rear of the unit. In order to connect this unit to a R09HR'a line in as a mic preamp  is it necessary to unbalance the signal in some way or the only thing to do is running a two mono 1/4jacks to a stereo 1/8 minijack cable?

The second question is about quality of budget preamps like this (mostly computer soundcards with a line out, as dedicated mic preamps cost usually more). In using external mikes the two options are a preamp like this to go line-in or an external phantom power to go mic in.
The advantage I can see in the first options is tha t we can have separate L and R gain; but is it a good option in terms of preamp quality compared to the deck's stock preamp?
 In other terms the question involves quality of standalone mic preamps compared to computers soundcards (edirol, presonus, mackie and many others) used as mic preamps.

thank you

c

[tcf]

No reason to unbalance the signal. just use the regular cable.  The preamps and p48 are very good and shouldnt be considered budget based on price.   

[carpa]

In this Mackie the ctrl output can be used to go line in into a deck. Does the signal coming from mics get a preamplification and nothing else or passes through a ad+da conversion? In this last case it wouldn't be the best thing as it would pass another conversion stage inside the deck.
c

[sunjan]

In this Mackie the ctrl output can be used to go line in into a deck. Does the signal coming from mics get a preamplification and nothing else or passes through a ad+da conversion? In this last case it wouldn't be the best thing as it would pass another conversion stage inside the deck.

Good point! In that case, it would be similar to UA-5 (or most of the Edirol sound cards).

If you're lucky, this is answered in the specs, or if the manual contains an electrical drawing of the signal chain.
Unless anyone here on TS can confirm, shoot a q to Mackie tech support. They should be able to tell whether it has true analog passthrough.

[TNJazz]

It does not have true analog pass-through.

See the attached block diagram.

Still, it sounds better than most anything else out there under $4-500, and for a hundred bucks it's pretty rockin'.

[illconditioned]

It does not have true analog pass-through.

See the attached block diagram.

Still, it sounds better than most anything else out there under $4-500, and for a hundred bucks it's pretty rockin'.

Hey, did you notice the "inserts"?  That looks promising...

  Richard

[TNJazz]

It does not have true analog pass-through.

See the attached block diagram.

Still, it sounds better than most anything else out there under $4-500, and for a hundred bucks it's pretty rockin'.

Hey, did you notice the "inserts"?  That looks promising...

  Richard

The inserts are post preamp, but they still go through the AD/DA.

Plus they're only on the dock, and the dock is pretty bulky to take out into the field.

[colors]

I use the mackie onyx satellite as my external soundcard for my macbook.  I run the firewire in/out of the laptop and run to my amplifier out of the onyx.  I have a pair of mics rigged in my room, as well as a pair of TRS ins that just live in the base (guitar/bass through stereo effects unit).  Then of course I can just pull out the satellite and take into the field.  For a while, mackie was running a rebate where you could get a carrying case, extra power supply, and extra firewire cable.  Makes life super convenient....my R-09 even fits in the case with a 1/4 pair to 1/8 stereo cable.
These originally sold for $300 or $400?, but after about 6 months of being on the market, they were discounted to $200 and occasionally dipped down to $160.   DO NOT judge the quality on the price.  I have gotten lots of use out of this device, and although I rely on my R-44 now, this unit gets plenty of use, as my final mixes and everyday audio go straight through it to my ears. 

[jnorman34]

can you daisy-chain two of these together to get 4 discrete channels of audio via FW into a laptop?

[momule]

Im giving up my stock R-4 pre's for this little guy.  Ive been thinking of downsizing my aud rig for some time. If I am doing 4 tracks anymore odds are I can do 24 tracks.  So I chose this and a korg MR-1 for my new 2 track Aud rig. .     

Im curious to hear it with my peluso's

Something different     

[TNJazz]

Something different     

If we still had tickets you'd get plustees for a week from me for this statement.  That's what I like to see...!

[momule]

like alot of us.  I have ran/tried alot of gear in the last 2-3 years.

let's see mic's alone were talkin

Mic's:
Peluso CEMC6  (all the caps) 
AKG 451,
AKG 480
AKG Perception 100
Earthworks SR71's
Studio projects B3's 
Studio projects C4's
Marshall MXL VM63's
ADK A51LE
samson C02's
Behringer C2's
naiant XS