Mackie Onyx Series, 16-Channel Premium Analog Mixer with Multi-Track USB (Onyx16)

I waited 6 months before reviewing my Onyx16. I primarily use this in a home studio, but it would make an exceptional live mixer as well. I currently route it's outputs into some powered Kali studio monitors and the sound quality is exceptional. I expected to use it as an audio interface, but I didn't expect it to be such a versatile audio interface. I plugged a USB cable from the mixer to my Macbook (I use Logic Pro), and instantly had 18 individual digital inputs and digital returns that I could route/patch (within the Mac) to my heart's content. HiZ inputs on channels 1/2 make it easy to just plug a guitar or bass in (and DI into the Mac), and the stereo inputs on 9/10, 11/12...., make it a breeze to run stereo keyboards in as well. The additional Bluetooth input allows you to pair your phone, so easy to get Spotify into the rig to jam along with (and it gives you 2 extra channels if you want to run a stereo line in, or additional stereo FX return). The built in effects are adequate for most applications, but with each channel acting as it's own audio interface, you could do all the digital effect processing you could ever want on each channel within Logic or Main Stage and feed the output back into the mixer. One irritating stupid drawback: When you turn on the Onyx, it defaults the effects back to it's default DELAY setting. Easy to switch, but seems very "amateur" to have to reset it every time you power it up. The SD card recording is also just a quirky gimmick that's actually useless in my opinion. Maybe useful to some that want to just raw dump all of the output (i.e. as a form of documentation), but the auto file naming (AUD000001.WAV, AUD000002) quickly makes it useless as a working tool in a professional environment where you'd quickly have more than a few files. The Rec/Play/Pause buttons are really laggy too, so useless as a professional tool for recording your band in a live setting. And for those that think it would be nice for "break music", it would be far easier to just Bluetooth your phone. So those two drawbacks aside, the mixer/interface functionality eclipses the wonky SD recording, and the irritating requirement to reset the effects on every power up. I've now got a very versatile mixer, and a very versatile audio interface to my computer environment and on those two fronts I'd have to rate the Onyx 5 stars. At this price point, this is a solid pro level working musician tool.

I bought this to replace an aging Mackie Onyx 820i, which was experiencing lots of potentiometer and switch failures. Build quality between this and the 820i is night and day, which this Onyx 8 being superior in every way! Volume knobs are rubberized, which provides a great feel and grip. Center detents are very distinct and tactile, and the silk-screened graphics line up perfectly with the controls and jacks. "Solo" and "Mute" buttons illuminate when pushed, which is a great touch. Built-in Bluetooth is a huge plus, and enables me to finally get rid of my old, external Bluetooth audio receiver. I use this primarily as an audio interface on my studio PC, and it works brilliantly for that purpose. I cannot comment on the quality of the built-in effects as I've not used them (and probably never will). Minor gripes are no "-20 dB" or "clip" indicator lights on each input, and global phantom power instead of per-channel switching.

Excelente para tocar en vivo. Me hubiese gustado más salidas aparte del estereo, para aprovechar las entradas en el daw y el estudio. Es lo que hay.

I have the Onyx 24 I use mainly in the studio for band practice. On occasion I record practice. I have only done 2 shows with it. Now there is an issue between the monitors and the mains. My sliders don't work and I turn up the monitors and the mains go up. I was loving my Mackie gear until this happened. I got the unit July 15 of 2022. A year and a half I all I got and I only practice 1 to 2 times a week. I also got the Mackie thrash 12" powered speaker about the same time and one of those won't turn on.

The Onyx 12 is really a 14 channel mixer, and it is awesome. The pre-amps are dope, clean and punchy with low distortion. The unit feels rock solid, as a Mackie should. Major awesomeness: 14x4 USB — 14 channels out over USB to the computer, with four channels back to the mixer from the computer. How sick is that at this price point? The built-in recorder is not multi-track, but records a stereo mixdown of the main bus, but remember, you can stream your dry tracks / stems directly into your DAW over USB to retain full control for mastering.

I downsized from a larger analog Mackie (1620i) to this and shedded the outboard effects for the onboard ones on this. It's great sound with low noise, perfect for a rehearsal space.

Yes it's mostly old school, but I'm happy with it. The Bluetooth connect is good.

Works right out of the box. A few things that the manual could do a better describing, and the bussing is a little quirky, but you get used to it. It's been a while since I've bought a new mixer, so I was kind of surprised to not have individual meter lights on each channel, but it looks to be a common trend at this price point.

It’s a great mixer , excellent pre amps , very compact I have a Allen & Heath zed 14fx which is the same size with lesser channels and features . The Mackie onyx 16 has Bluetooth , stereo recording to an SD card , multitrack recording through USB . Highly recommend this mixer

Qué es puedo decir ya 4 años con esta mixer y la verdad Mackie es una marca con productos de calidad. La verdad no tengo queja alguna.

No Australian power adaptor and no English manual.

Does everything just as advertised. USB output allows audio capture with various recording software. Easy to use, sound is great.

Bought this Mackie Onyx 8 analogue mixer listed as Used/Like New and was pretty excited. Got everything hooked up, installed the driver and absolutely no signal going to the mixer from my laptop. Plugged in a synth to test the mixer input and…absolutely nothing. After trying everything from the manual to get things going I called Mackie tech support and the very helpful technician patiently walked me through everything I’d already done with the same result. After 45 minutes, he declared that the product seemed to be completely defective and that I should return it. So, that’s what I’m doing but pretty frustrated with the whole thing.