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Live Sound > Live Sound Mixers > Analog Mixers > Mackie Onyx 24.4

Mackie Onyx 24.4

24-channel Premium Analog Mixer with 20 Onyx Mic Preamps, 4-band Perkins EQ, and Compressor/Limiter

Item ID: Onyx24x4

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  • Retail Price $2199.99
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  • Sale Price: $1699.99
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Mackie is in the process of moving Onyx mixer production to factories with greater production capacity. Unfortunately, this move will delay the delivery of new Onyx shipments.

Mackie estimates these mixers will be back in stock by early fall of this year. For your immediate needs, please contact your Sales Engineer for other in-stock options.

Boutique-quality Preamps with the Mackie Onyx 24x4 Live Analog Mixer!

Mackie's Onyx 24x4 analog live mixer offers nightclubs, bands, and houses of worship a console that doesn't force them to sacrifice channel count or sound quality when looking for a mid-sized analog console. Mackie's flagship Onyx 4-Bus Series live sound consoles upgrade the performance and functionality of the legendary Mackie SR24•4 and 24•4 while adding 100mm Panasonic faders, 20 Onyx mic preamps, redesigned analog circuitry, Perkins EQ, and a built-in assignable stereo compressor/limiter section.

Mackie Onyx 24x4 Analog Live Mixer at a Glance:
  • 20 Onyx microphone preamps
  • Redesigned Analog Circuitry
  • 4-band Perkins EQ
  • Built-in stereo compressor/limiter


20 Onyx Microphone Preamps
The Onyx 24x4 analog mixer is loaded with Mackie's flagship Onyx mic preamps, offering excellent fidelity, headroom, and transparency. With specs like 123dB total dynamic range, -129.5 dBm Equivalent Input Noise, and 0.0007% Total Harmonic Distortion, Onyx preamps hold their own against boutique standalone mic pres. When you need crystal-clear fidelity, look no further than the Mackie Onyx 24x4 mixer with its superb mic pres.

Redesigned Analog Circuitry
Mackie spared no expense developing the Onyx 24x4 analog mixer, pulling together some of the highest-quality components available-from premium op-amps to IC chips costing exponentially more than those used in previous designs. All-new summing bus circuitry was designed from the ground up to maximize the Onyx 24x4's headroom. And the entire signal chain was electronically balanced from input to output, offering big, full-range sound and lower noise than many mixers in this class. Most significantly, premium Onyx mic preamps, Perkins EQ circuitry, and a THAT Corporation 4301 assignable stereo compressor/ limiter chip were custom tailored specifically for these new consoles.

4-band Perkins EQ
Mackie enlisted the aid of veteran audio engineer Cal Perkins to design the EQ circuit for the Onyx 24x4 live console. The Perkins EQ is built on the classic Wein Bridge circuit topology used in British consoles during the '60s and '70s, but offers increased filter and phase shift control. The end result is an extremely musical and very effective 4-band EQ with sweepable low- and high-mids, making the Onyx 24x4 a perfect for mixing live sound.

Built-in Stereo Compressor/Limiter
Compression and limiting have been a live sound tool for years, so Mackie decided to built one into the circuitry of the Onyx 24x4 mixer. And not just any compressor/limiter chip would do, so Mackie chose a high-quality master compressor/limiter chip from THAT Corporation for the Onyx 24x4. This assignable analog stereo compressor/limiter chip was designed and manufactured in the US by veteran analog engineers, offering true RMS Detection and Auto Make-up Gain for extremely accurate and musical results. It features independent Threshold, Ratio and Fast/Slow Attack controls, and can be assigned post-fader to the L/R main mix (for system limiting and protection) or pre-fader to Group 1 / 2 or 3 / 4 outputs (for grouped signal compression, like drums or background vocals). This reduces the hassle and expense of separate outboard processing.

On the rear of each Onyx console are DB-25 female connectors (in groups of eight), which can be used to route all mic/line signals to an external device. These connectors are configured with standard TASCAM pin outs. All of these balanced direct outputs are pre-fader and switchable via internal jumpers as either pre- or post-EQ. These outputs are ideal for multi-track live recording.

Mackie Onyx 24x4 Analog Live Mixer Features:
  • 20 Onyx microphone preamps
  • 4-band Perkins EQ
  • 6 x 2 matrix provides 2 additional mixes
  • 6 Aux sends with Pre/Post switches
  • 100mm Panasonic™ Faders
  • Built-in stereo compressor/limiter

Mackie continues to be a leader in live sound with the Onyx 24x4 analog mixer!


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Reviews
based on 1 customer review

Perfect Medium-Format Live Console

by D.J. from Monterey, TN
September 5, 2008
Music Background: Live Sound Engineer, Recording Engineer, Vocalist
If you are not engineering for an orchestra or a large live ensemble, you simply cannot do better than this board for the money. The Onyx preamps are literally studio-quality (to those of us with a "... read more [+]semi-pro" home studio), and if there are any other preamps out there that are better in a live format console, I guarantee that you will not be able to hear the difference in a live environment. So that you understand the comparison I am making here, I have to tell you that I traded in my brand new Allen & Heath GL2400 24-channel board for this Mackie Onyx 24-4. Most live sound guys will say I am crazy, right?? Well, it is all a matter of taste. The Mackie gives up nothing in the way of features to the Allen & Heath, and I could hear absolutely no difference in the sound quality that would be noticeable in a live environment. Since my smaller rehearsal boards have always been Mackies, this board just had a more familiar feel and layout to it. Some will prefer the divided channel section (with the master control section in the middle) of the Allen & Heath, but I personally want all my channels on the left with my master control section at the right end of the board, since all my monitor sends are done through the auxes. This is again just a matter of personal taste.
The big things that sold me on the Mackie vs the A&H (besides what I have already mentioned) are 1. The Price. The Mackie is roughly $300 cheaper, depending where you buy. 2. The Mackie gives you very useful little "handles" on each side of the board for easy movement, carrying, or positioning. 3. (And this is BIG!) The Mackie gives you an onboard compressor that is obviously missing from the A&H. I wish to lead noone to believe that this compressor is a studio-quality, boutique compressor, but in a live environment, on several channels you are simply looking for a compressor that will squash some peaks and level the channel out a bit. This onboard compressor works flawlessly in this situation. 4. The direct outs (on ALL channels, I might add) are DB25 on the Mackie, whereas they are 1/4" outs on the A&H. Again, personal preference, but I like to minimize the number of cables sticking out of my console, and the DB25 outs are perfect. 5. (This is not so important) The Mackie just looks REALLY COOL!!! In all seriousness, I just couldn't get used to the red/baby blue/yellow clown makeup color scheme of the pots and faders on the Allen & Heath.
The bottom line is that with this mixer, you get a whole lot more for your money than with the competition, and you don't sacrifice ANY quality, in my opinion. If you need more channels, just jump up the the 32-channel version. In any case, unless you are mixing sound for Aerosmith or Guns 'N Roses and you just have to have a Soundcraft or Midas board, go with this Mackie. I guarantee that you will fall in love with it just like I did! close [-]

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