The high shelf on the first two mic/line inputs has a corner frequency of 12 kHz, not the typical 10 kHz on most fixed frequency high shelf EQs.

The low shelf is at 80 Hz, again, not your typical 10 kHz corner frequency. These are the same “Mackie frequencies” on my 1202 mixer.

As far as the mid-range, the peaking EQ sweeps from 100 Hz to 8 kHz, and all three bands have a +/- 15 dB boost/cut.

Inputs 3-4, mic input/preamp 3, have the same high and low EQ points, and two other peak EQ frequencies; one is low midrange at 400 Hz and the other is high midrange at 2.5 kHz. 

I’ve never preferred Mackie’s choice of 2.5 kHz as the high-mid frequency (again, also used on the 1202), but I can live with it, primarily because I usually do subtractive EQ (although the sweep mid is much more flexible).

The choice of 400 Hz as the low-mid frequency is interesting, considering the other frequencies chosen, and, with the preamp on this channel as well, you have the option of using a mic on inputs 1 or 2 with the sweep EQ, or on input 3 with the four fixed bands.  (All of these frequencies are also +/- 15 dB.)

Inputs 5-6 and 7-8 are line-only inputs, and have the same 12 kHz high frequency EQ, 80 Hz low frequency EQ, and 2.5 kHz mid-range EQ (all +/-15 dB).

The EQ sound very decent, and the sweep mid is, by far, the best of the three variations. The top is smooth and the bottom tight. 

The two Onyx-i 820i EQ sections

The mids 2.5 kHz are an annoying frequency to boost but an OK frequency to cut. But the sweep mid EQ can be boosted at higher or lower frequencies than 2.5 kHz to add more bottom or upper mids without any problem. 

.

This can also cut any annoying mid frequency or boost any desirable mid frequency with ease. It would be nice to have a “Q” control, but at this price point, the mixer is very flexible, especially with the talkback, control room routing, and 24-bit/96 kHz FireWire I/O.

Note that they state “hybrid mono/stereo channel with 4-band Perkins EQ with sweepable mids” when it actually has four bands of fixed frequency EQ.

This brings me to the next point in this review. Setting up the Pro Tools 8 M-Powered software, Mackie’s V1.0 Universal Driver, and interfacing the mixer. 

First things first. My package didn’t include a FireWire cable. However, after this article was posted, Mackie informed me that indeed a FireWire cable is included with all production stock, which is good news. (And as a result, please disregard my previous statement about needing to borrow or acquire one.)

As noted earlier in this article, I’m going to save the discussion of the installation of the software and set-up of the mixer using my laptop for the next (and final installment).

In addition, I’ll focus on how the package sounds in the “pro” studio, with better mics, monitors, preamps and EQs, not to mention how easy (or difficult) it is to set-up on the faster, more powerful computers - both Mac and PC platforms.

Until next time…

Bob Buontempo has more than 30 years of professional recording experience, and has been the president/owner of Buontempo Entertainment Services since 1976. He has also taught numerous recording and audio educational courses over the years.

Page 2 of 2
Previous  < 1 2