Mackie ONYX 820i manual

OWNER’S MANUAL P remium 8-Channel Analog Mix er with P erkins EQ and F ireWire MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO TAP E PAN 2 1 MID FREQ MID FREQ BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL AL T 3-4 AL T 3-4 AL T 3-4 AL T 3-4 AL T 3-4 LOW MID 400Hz O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ INSERT INSERT O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW[...]

2 Onyx 820i 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water . 6. Clean only with a dr y cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’ s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radi[...]

Owner ' s Manual 3 Part No. SW0718 Rev . D 02/2010 ©2010 LOUD T echnologies Inc. All Rights Reserved. Loosely based on a dream sequence in which the technical writer is given keys to a sports car of his choice, unlimited gas, and closed roads. The dream suddenly ends and reality kicks in. A mixer manual to write, a mixer manual to write! Set [...]

4 Onyx 820i Introduction Thank you for choosing a Mackie Onyx 820i professional compact mixer . The Onyx i series of mixers offer built-in Fir eWir e, along with the newest features and latest technologies for live sound r einforcement and analog or digital studio r ecording, all in a durable, road-worthy package. The Onyx 820i is equipped with thr[...]

Owner ' s Manual 5 Ho w T o Use This Manual The fi rst pages after the table of contents ar e the hookup diagrams. These show typical setups for fun times with your mixer . Next is a detailed tour of the entir e mixer . The descriptions ar e divided into sections, just as your mixer is organized into distinct zones: • Back panel • Connect[...]

6 Onyx 820i Contents IMPOR T ANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ........................ 2 QUICK ST ART .......................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 4 YOU ARE HERE ....................................................... 6 HOOKUP DIAGRAMS........................................[...]

Owner ' s Manual 7 Hookup Diagrams 1-2 Man Coffeehouse Gig MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO TA P E PAN 2 1 MID FREQ MID FREQ BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL A LT 3- 4 A LT 3- 4 A LT 3- 4 A LT 3- 4 A LT 3- 4 LOW MID 400Hz O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ INSERT INSERT O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ O [...]

8 Onyx 820i Home Studio System: Straight to stereo MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO TA P E PAN 2 1 MID FREQ MID FREQ BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL AL T 3-4 AL T 3- 4 AL T 3-4 AL T 3-4 ALT 3-4 LOW MID 400Hz O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ INSERT INSERT O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ O N Y X M I C P R E [...]

Owner ' s Manual 9 Home Studio System: Recording each channel MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO TA P E PAN 2 1 MID FREQ MID FREQ BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL ALT 3- 4 ALT 3-4 AL T 3-4 AL T 3-4 ALT 3- 4 LOW MID 400Hz O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ INSERT INSERT O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ O N Y[...]

10 Onyx 820i Club System MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO TA P E PAN 2 1 MID FREQ MID FREQ BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL AL T 3-4 ALT 3- 4 ALT 3-4 A L T 3-4 ALT 3- 4 LOW MID 400Hz O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ INSERT INSERT O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz HIGH MID 2.5KHz[...]

Owner ' s Manual 11 P ost-Production System This diagram shows a voice-over microphone connected to channel 1 mic input, a video deck's audio output connected to channels 3/4, with its audio inputs receiving the main mix from the 1/4" outputs. A synthesizer is connected to channel 5/6, and an electronic drum kit connected to channel [...]

12 Onyx 820i Onyx 820i Features Rear Panel 1. POWER CONNECTION This is a standard 3-prong IEC power connector . Connect the detachable linecord (included in the box with your mixer) to the power r eceptacle, and plug the other end of the linecord into an AC outlet. The Onyx 820i has a universal power supply that can accept any AC voltage ranging fr[...]

Owner ' s Manual 13 These same two channels from the computer can also be chosen as inputs to channels 7 and 8, allowing you to adjust the gain, EQ, level, and pan, as well as to solo, and add to aux send 1 and 2. This is routed using the FW/line input selector [22] on channels 7 and 8. This is useful for live performances, wher e those 2 chan[...]

14 Onyx 820i PHANTOM POWER Most modern professional condenser mics r equire 48V phantom power , which lets the mixer send low-curr ent DC voltage to the mic’s electronics through the same wir es that carry audio. (Semi-pro condenser mics often have batteries to accomplish the same thing.) “Phantom” owes its name to an ability to be “unseen?[...]

Owner ' s Manual 15 Insert jacks can be used as channel dir ect outputs; post-gain, and pr e-EQ. See the connector section on page 30 (fi gur e G) showing thr ee ways to use insert cables. 10. MONO LINE INPUTS (Ch. 1 and 2) These 1/4" jacks shar e circuitry (but not phantom power) with the mic pr eamps, and can be driven by balanced or u[...]

16 Onyx 820i 15. T APE INPUTS These ster eo unbalanced RCA inputs allow you to play a tape, CD player , iPod ® dock, or other line-level source. The tape in jacks accept an unbalanced signal using standard hi-fi hookup cables. Push in the tape button [39] to route the tape input to the control room and phones outputs [6, 17]. This allows you to p[...]

Owner ' s Manual 17 Channel Controls The vertical channel strips look very similar , and have only a few differ ences between them. Each channel works independently , and just controls the signals plugged into the inputs dir ectly above it. Her e are a few featur es and differences: Mono Channels 1 and 2 • These ar e mono channels, and their[...]

18 Onyx 820i Plugging a guitar into a lower -impedance line-level input can r esult in the loss of high fr equencies, causing an unnatural and dull sound. Normally , you must use a direct box between a guitar and a mixer’ s input, which serves to convert the impedance of the guitar from high to low . The hi-z inputs on channels 1 and 2 make the n[...]

Owner ' s Manual 19 This 20 dB of attenuation can be very handy when you ar e inserting a hot signal, or when you want to add EQ gain, or both. W ithout this “virtual pad,” there is mor e chance of channel clipping. 24. SEND FIREWIRE PRE/POST Each channel of the mixer can send a Fir eWir e output to your computer or DA W . The Fir eW ire o[...]

20 Onyx 820i 26. MID EQ FREQUENCY (Ch. 1 and 2) This knob sets the center fr equency of the mid EQ level control [27]. This is sweepable from 100 Hz to 8 kHz. Once this is set, the mid EQ level can be adjusted with the mid EQ level control. Most of the root and lower harmonics that defi ne a sound ar e located in the 100 Hz–8 kHz frequency range[...]

Owner ' s Manual 21 32. AUX SEND 1 and 2 These controls allow you to set up two independent mixes, typically for running stage monitors or external effects processors. The controls ar e off when turned fully down, deliver unity gain at the center , and can provide up to 15 dB of gain turned fully up. Chances ar e that you will never need this [...]

22 Onyx 820i 35. –20 and OL LEDs These LEDs indicate the channel’ s signal level after the gain and EQ controls, but just befor e the channel’s level. So even if the level is turned down, you can see if a signal is pr esent, or if the channel is being overloaded. The OL (overload) LED will come on when the channel’ s input signal is too hig[...]

Owner ' s Manual 23 the Fir eWir e connection from your computer . Alt 3-4 is the additional ster eo mix bus formed when any channel is muted with the mute/alt 3-4 switch [34]. Selections made her e deliver stereo signals to the control room, phones, and meters. W ith no switches or main mix [38] engaged, ther e will be no signal at these outp[...]

24 Onyx 820i 42. PHONES Knob This controls the volume at the phones output, from off to maximum gain. W ARNING: The headphone amp is loud, and can cause permanent hearing damage. Even intermediate levels may be painfully loud with some headphones. BE CAREFUL! Always turn this control all the way down befor e connecting headphones, or pr essing a so[...]

Owner ' s Manual 25 Aux Master This section includes the aux sends and the aux r eturns. Aux sends tap signals off the channels, via the aux knobs [32], mix these signals from each channel together , then sends them out the aux send jacks [12] and Fir eWir e outputs 7 and 8. The aux sends can be pre- fader or post-fader (both ar e post-EQ, but[...]

26 Onyx 820i 50. POWER LED This gr een LED will turn on when the mixer is turned on, as a r eminder of how on it really is. If it is not on, then it is off, and the mixer becomes a rather nice weight for keeping your morning newspaper from blowing away in the wind. If it does not turn on, make sur e the power cord is corr ectly inserted at both end[...]

Owner ' s Manual 27 The aux 1-2 switch routes the talkback signal to the aux send 1 and 2 outputs [12]. Use this to communicate with the musicians through their stage monitors when you ar e setting up a live performance. It is fi ne to have both destination switches pushed in at the same time, so the talkback signal will be routed to both des[...]

28 Onyx 820i Appendix A: Ser vice Information If you think your mixer has a problem, please check out the following troubleshooting tips and do your best to confi rm the problem. Visit the Support section of our website (www .mackie.com) where you will fi nd lots of useful information such as F AQs, documentation and any updated PC drivers etc. Y[...]

Owner ' s Manual 29 “XLR” Connectors Mackie mixers use 3-pin female “XLR” connectors on all microphone inputs, with pin 1 wir ed to the grounded (earthed) shield, pin 2 wir ed to the “high” (”hot” or positive polarity) side of the audio signal and pin 3 wir ed to the “low” (“cold” or negative polarity) side of the signa[...]

30 Onyx 820i TRS Send/Receive Insert Jacks Mackie’ s single-jack inserts are the thr ee- conductor , TRS 1⁄4" phone type. They ar e unbalanced, but have both the mixer output (send) and the mixer input (r eturn) signals in one connector . See Figure F . The sleeve is the common ground (earth) for both signals. The send from the mixer to th[...]

Owner ' s Manual 31 Appendix C: T echnical Information Specifi cations Noise Char acteristics: Equivalent Input Noise (EIN), mic input at insert, 150 Ω source impedance, 20 to 20 kHz: 60 dB (max) gain: -127 dBu 40 dB gain: -126.5 dBu Equivalent Input Noise (EIN), mic input at insert, 50 Ω source impedance, A-weighted: 60 dB (max) gain: -130[...]

32 Onyx 820i 14.2 in / 361 mm 9.0 in/ 229 mm 3.7 in/ 94 mm WEIGHT 10.0 lb 4.5 kg 3.8 in / 96 mm 1.6 in / 40.6 mm MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO 19.0 in/ 482.6 mm (with optional rack ears) MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO 13.68 in / 347.5 mm 14.2 in / 361 mm 9 rack spaces VU Meter[...]

Owner ' s Manual 33 Block Diagram solo logic Contro l Room level Main level Aux Retu rn 2 L R Insert HPF Level Pan Solo Aux Sends Level Tape L R L/3 R/4 Aux 1 out Aux 2 out Aux 1 level Phones Control room outputs L R L sum R sum Alt L/3 sum Alt R/4 sum Aux 1 sum Aux 2 sum Solo sum Level Aux Return 1 L R LO MID 80 100~8K 12K HI Aux 1 Meter Tape[...]

34 Onyx 820i The optional Rack Ear Kit allows the Onyx 820i mixer to be mounted in a standard 19” rack. It will be out of harm’ s way and the band may continue tearin’ it up without fearing any consequences. The mixer takes up nine rack spaces. Be sur e to allow for an extra space or two above to make connections. The kit contains two rack ea[...]

Owner ' s Manual 35 Appendix E: FireWire The mixer comes with a CD containing the PC driver softwar e needed to use your mixer's internal FireW ire interface with W indows XP or Windows Vista. Mac OS X contains built-in drivers, so no softwar e installation is r equired. Before installing the drivers from the CD, please check our website [...]

36 Onyx 820i 6. Select "Install," and the driver softwar e will be installed. 7. The following message confi rms that the driver softwar e has been successfully installed. The audio interface is now r eady to use with the Digital Audio W orkstation software of choice, as well as with consumer audio applications such as iT unes ® or W in[...]

Owner ' s Manual 37 7. Select the “Next” command and the driver softwar e will begin installing. 8. When W indows pr esents you with a warning about the softwar e not having passed Windows testing, select “Continue Anyway .” 9. Repeat steps 3-8 to allow a second driver to be installed. The found new hardwar e box will appear all over a[...]

38 Onyx 820i USING THE ONYX 820i WITH A MAC The Onyx 820i works with Mac OS 10.4.11 and higher . This OS includes the Apple Fir eWir e 2.0 driver . The Onyx 820i will only work with the 2.0 driver , so if you have an OS befor e 10.4.11, you will need to check your system for updates from the nice folks at Apple. 1. Connect a Fir eW ire cable from y[...]

Owner ' s Manual 39 Appendix F: Modifi cations The following modifi cations can be carried out on the Onyx 820i by an authorized service center . Authorized service centers may be found online at: www .mackie.com/scripts/service_centers/search.asp Please contact our technical support department if you ar e having trouble fi nding an authori[...]

40 Onyx 820i MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V MUTE SOLO 48V LINE MUTE SOLO MUTE SOLO TAP E PAN 2 1 MID FREQ MID FREQ BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL A L T 3- 4 A L T 3- 4 A L T 3-4 A L T 3- 4 A L T 3-4 LOW MID 400Hz O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ INSERT INSERT O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz LOW 80Hz EQ O N Y X M I C P R E HIGH 12kHz HIGH MID 2.5KHz LOW [...]

Owner ' s Manual 41 Onyx 820i Limited W arranty Please keep your sales receipt in a safe place. This Limited Product W arranty (“Product W arranty”) is provided by LOUD T echnologies Inc. (“LOUD”) and is applicable to products purchased in the United States or Canada through a LOUD-authorized reseller or dealer . The Product W arranty [...]

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