- USING MACKIE ONYX BLACKJACK INSTALL
- USING MACKIE ONYX BLACKJACK SOFTWARE
- USING MACKIE ONYX BLACKJACK MAC
At 44.1kHz, you still get a 15Hz to 21kHz range. You can run the Blackjack at sampling rates of up to 96kHz, and it delivers a 15Hz to 22kHz response accurate to 0.2dB. In general, the technical spec is similar to what you'd expect from a Mackie console, except, of course, that the frequency response is dictated to some extent by the sample rate used.
USING MACKIE ONYX BLACKJACK SOFTWARE
Just remember to turn software monitoring off in your DAW to avoid hearing direct and delayed sound at the same time! A Mono button puts the input-monitored signal into both left and right phones and speakers if preferred otherwise channel one is heard on the left and channel two on the right. This means that you can set larger buffer sizes when recording without suffering that annoying delay in the headphones. Importantly, the gain staging within the unit means that the preamp circuitry is correctly matched to the A-D conversion, to maintain headroom while minimising noise and distortion.Īn important feature is the Input Monitor knob, which mixes the input signal with the DAW return mix for simple latency‑free 'source' monitoring. These 24‑bit Cirrus Logic converters are capable of a 114dB dynamic range (A‑weighted), which is way beyond the signal‑to‑noise spec of most studio gear. While we probably wouldn't go quite that far, they certainly are impressive.Ĭonversion is via highly specified Cirrus Logic chips, and power for the circuitry comes from the USB port, so there's no need for a separate PSU. Mackie claim their Onyx preamps rival the most expensive boutique mic preamps for quality. There is no pad or low‑cut filter on this version but there's plenty of headroom, and impressive signal transparency with up to 60dB of gain. The Onyx mic preamps, which have simple metering in the form of a dual‑colour signal/overload LED, are the same as those used in Mackie's Onyx‑series mixers, and our reviews of these products have always included favourable comments about their sound. FeaturesĪt the rear, we find a USB connection, a pair of monitor outputs on quarter‑inch jacks and the two 'combi' jack/XLR inputs. The only thing missing is an S/PDIF digital input you may not need it very often, but they come in handy for importing DAT tapes or other digital formats. The monitor outputs are on balanced quarter‑inch jacks, governed by the Monitor level control, and there's a headphone output and accompanying level control on the front panel. The Blackjack features two Onyx preamps, having mic/line inputs on 'combi' jacks/XLRs, with individual DI switching for using the line jacks as high-impedance inputs, and switchable global phantom power. The Blackjack comes with a bundled copy of Mackie's Tracktion 3 software, which provides a pretty painless way to get into computer recording if you're not already wedded to a particular DAW.
USING MACKIE ONYX BLACKJACK INSTALL
While the Blackjack is class compliant and will work without the need for drivers, PC users running Windows are advised to download and install the latest ASIO driver from for the best performance.
USING MACKIE ONYX BLACKJACK MAC
The Blackjack works with both Mac and PC computers and is compatible with all the major DAW software, other than those software products tied to the manufacturer's own hardware. The folded‑steel case has a built‑in rear leg so that it sits at a sensible angle on the desk, and all the connections are kept at the back, out of the way. The unit is designed for desktop use, and Mackie's designers have clearly gone for simplicity, quality and very robust packaging. The Mackie Onyx Blackjack is a combined USB audio interface and monitor-level controller aimed at those who only need to record one or two inputs at a time, but who want the preamp and digital conversion quality of Mackie's larger Onyx interfaces and mixers.
Mackie's Blackjack is the smallest interface yet to feature their acclaimed Onyx mic preamps.