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

[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