Quick Start Guide
15
FIREWIRE CONNECTIONS
Two FireWire connectors allow the transfer of
digital audio to and from your computer or digital audio
workstation (DAW). There are two identical connectors,
but you only need one. The other is used for
connecting additional devices if your mixer is using up
your computer's only FireWire connector. For example,
you could daisy-chain multiple Onyx 820i mixers or add
an external hard drive since the FireWire connectors
are run in serial. Performance will vary based on system
hardware.
The FireWire interface provides the following outputs
to your computer:
•
Individual channels, tapped pre-fader, and
either pre-EQ, or post-EQ (your choice).
•
Aux send 1 and 2 (a copy of the fi nal aux
outputs to your stage monitors or processors).
FireWire outputs 5 and 6 can either be from
channels 5 and 6, or aux send 1 and 2.
•
Left/right main mix. The left/right main mix
at the FireWire output is not affected by the
main mix level control (important for recording
live). FireWire outputs 7 and 8 can either be
from channels 7 and 8, or main mix L and R.
Use FireWire to record a live performance directly to
your computer, then mixdown to a stereo mix later. Or
you can use it to turn your Onyx mixer into a
high-quality computer audio interface for your DAW.
FireWire also provides a return for two channels from
your computer to your mixer:
•
These can be routed through the control
room/phones via the FW 1-2 button, to monitor
the computer audio through your control room
speakers or headphones (or through the main
speakers if assign to main mix is selected).
•
These same two channels can also be routed
through channels 7 and 8, and treated just
like any other channel, with adjustment for
gain, EQ, level, and pan, as well as to solo, and
add to the main mix and aux send 1 and 2.
This routing is done using the FW/line input
selector switch on channels 7 and 8.
FIREWIRE PRE/POST
The FireWire output from each channel can be tapped
before (pre) or after (post) the channel EQ. The output
is pre-fader. If you want the mixer EQ to affect the
FireWire recording, then set this switch to post. This is
useful in recording channels live, where the recording
includes your careful channel EQ settings. If you want
to record the straight signals now and EQ them later in
your DAW, then set this to switch to pre.
The following FireWire modifi cations can be done 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
are having trouble fi nding an authorized service center
in your area.
Modifi cations: Post-Insert FireWire Sends
The pre-EQ channel FireWire sends are pre-insert,
but the circuit boards can be modifi ed so that they are
post-insert instead. This allows for the use of an
external processor on the mic signal, sending the result
to the FireWire, while still pre-EQ.
Modifi cations: Post-Fader FireWire Sends
The post-EQ channel FireWire sends are pre-fader,
but the circuit boards can be modifi ed so that they are
post-fader instead. This allows the channel level to
control the level of the FireWire sends.
R/4
L/3
BAL/UNBAL
BAL/UNBAL
ALT 3-4 OUT
R
L
CTRL - RM OUT
POWER
ON
MAIN OUT
L
R
BALANCED
FIREWIRE
MAIN OUTPUT
LEVEL
MIC
+4dB
MUTE
SOLO
48V
MUTE
SOLO
48V
MUTE
SOLO
48V
LINE
MUTE
SOLO
MUTE
SOLO
TAPE
PAN
2
1
MID
FREQ
MID
FREQ
BAL/UNBAL
BAL/UNBAL
ALT 3-4
ALT 3-4
ALT 3-4
ALT 3-4
ALT 3-4
LOW
MID
400Hz
ONY
X MIC PR
E
HIGH
12kHz
LOW
80Hz
EQ
INSERT
INSERT
ONY
X MIC PR
E
HIGH
12kHz
LOW
80Hz
EQ
ON
YX MIC PRE
HIGH
12kHz
HIGH
MID
2.5KHz
LOW
80Hz
EQ
AUX MASTER
2
1
SEND
RETURN
2
1
EQ
MAIN MIX
(MONO)
L
R
L
R
L
(MONO)
R
BAL/UNBAL
L
(MONO)
R
BAL/UNBAL
L
(MONO)
R
BAL/UNBAL
TAPE
IN
OUT
L
R
AUX RETURN
1
2
1
2
AUX SEND
MAIN OUT
CTRL ROOM/PHONES
SOURCE
PHONES
CONTROL
ROOM
MID
2.5kHz
LOW
80Hz
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
U
+
15
-15
HIGH
12kHz
MID
2.5kHz
LOW
80Hz
HIGH
12kHz
RUDE
SOLO
20
15
10
6
3
0
2
4
7
10
20
30
L
R
0dB=0dBu
LEVEL
SET
CLIP
MIC
PRE
POST
PRE
POST
FW 1-2
LINE
HI-Z
LINE
-10dB
+
4dB
HI-Z
LINE
PREMIUM ANALOG MIXER w/ PERKINS EQ & FIREWIRE
PRE
POST
PRE
POST
PRE
POST
PRE
POST
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
+10dB
O
O
U
+10dB
O
O
U
+10dB
O
O
U
+10dB
O
O
U
+10dB
O
O
U
+10dB
O
O
U
1
2
3-4
LINE IN 5-6
LINE IN 7-8
AUX
PAN
2
1
AUX
PAN
2
1
AUX
PAN
2
1
AUX
PAN
2
1
AUX
RTN TO
AUX1
AUX SEND 1-2
TO FW 5-6
ASSIGN TO
FW 7-8
MAIN MIX
AUX 1-2
PHONES
DESTINATION
LEVEL
O
O
MAX
OL
- 20
OL
-
20
-
20
OL
OL
-
20
OL
-
20
1
2
TALKBACK
BAL/UNBAL
BAL/UNBAL
BAL/UNBAL
SEND
SEND
SEND
SEND
SEND
INPUT
POWER
ALT 3-4
FW 1-2
ASSIGN TO
MAIN MIX
3-4
5-6
7-8
GAIN
+
20dB
-
20dB
U
GAIN
MIC
GAIN
GAIN
+
20dB
-
20dB
U
U
20
30
40
60
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
1
LINE
2
LINE
1k
100
8k
1k
100
8k
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
+
15
O
O
+
15
O
O
+
10
O
O
+
10
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
FireWire Connections
FW Pre
or Post
Line/FW 1-2
Assign to
FW 7-8
Assign to
main mix
FW 1-2
Aux send 1-2
to FW 5-6
