Owner's Manual
7
Typical Daisy-chained Setup
This hookup diagram will detail how to record multiple tracks simultaneously utilizing two Onyx
Blackbirds and your DAW of choice. We'll get you started, but the rest is up to you!
Our main goal is to track drums, but also to capture scratch tracks of other instruments, as well, being
bass, guitar, keys and vocals in this example. Blackbird #1 is connected to computer via FireWire and set
up quite similar to hookup diagram #1. Drum inputs are wired up on analog inputs 1-7 and HR824mk2s
(mon out) and phones 1 are set up for the engineer. Alt out L/R is used to send a custom mix to the band,
but the lead singer (in the control room) has his own custom mix (on phones 2) so he can provide the
other band members song cues, witty feedback and infinite wisdom at will.
A second Onyx Blackbird (#2) – set up in standalone mode – is outputting its 8 analog inputs over
ADAT into Blackbird #1 at 96 kHz. Meanwhile, Blackbird #1 is set up to sync to ADAT so that all 16
Onyx preamps will be in sync when the signals are converted to digital and sent to your DAW of choice.
Word clock could also be used as a sync source, if desired.
Blackbird #2 is the input for electric guitar and bass (with hi-z switches engaged), and keys are also
input into 7-8 via line. The lead singer is plugged into input 4 with phantom power (48V 3-8) engaged.
When two units are configured this way, the Blackbird Control software will show that analog inputs
1-7 are drums and may be mixed and custom-named per output via the software. Similarly, because
Blackbird #2's inputs are routed into the ADAT inputs of Blackbird #1, all inputs will show up on a single
mixer as inputs 1-16 with the DAW output coming from 17-18 (which will factor in when overdubs
begin). Since most of the band shares a mix, checking in with the artists to make sure they can all hear
what they need is key. Of course, the engineer can set up his own mix and provide the lead vocalist with
the mix he desires, as well.
In summary, a setup like this allows all artists to play together, record together, overdub together, etc.
Furthermore, depending on how many mixes are desired, main, alt and headphone outputs may be
configured and mixed accordingly.
GAIN
INPUT 1-2
DIRECT MONITOR
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
TO MON
GAIN
PHONES
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MON
PH1
MONO
STEREO
LINE
HI-Z
LINE
HI-Z
MAX
O
O
MON
PH2
2
1
2
1-2
POWER
ON
1
ONY
X MIC PRE
3
ONY
X MIC PRE
4
ONY
X MIC PRE
5
ONY
X MIC PRE
6
ONY
X MIC PRE
7
ON
YX MIC PRE
8
INSERTS
1
2
FIREWIRE
ADAT
WORD CLOCK
IN
OUT
OUT
IN
88.2/96kHz
44.1/48kHz
1-8
1-4
5-8
SIG/OL
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
SIG/OL
SIG/OL
MON OUT
MAIN OUT
ALT OUT
L
R
8
7
6
5
4
3
16X16 FIREWIRE RECORDING INTERFACE
BLACKBIRD
BLACKBIRD
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
MONITOR
MAX
O
O
POWER
3-8
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
L
R
L
R
48V
48V
ON
YX MIC PRE
ON
YX MIC PRE
2
1
GAIN
INPUT 1-2
DIRECT MONITOR
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
TO MON
GAIN
PHONES
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MON
PH1
MONO
STEREO
LINE
HI-Z
LINE
HI-Z
MAX
O
O
MON
PH2
2
1
2
1-2
POWER
ON
1
ONY
X MIC PRE
3
ONY
X MIC PRE
4
ONY
X MIC PRE
5
ONY
X MIC PRE
6
ONY
X MIC PRE
7
ON
YX MIC PRE
8
INSERTS
1
2
FIREWIRE
ADAT
WORD CLOCK
IN
OUT
OUT
IN
88.2/96kHz
44.1/48kHz
1-8
1-4
5-8
SIG/OL
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
SIG/OL
SIG/OL
MON OUT
MAIN OUT
ALT OUT
L
R
8
7
6
5
4
3
16X16 FIREWIRE RECORDING INTERFACE
BLACKBIRD
BLACKBIRD
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
SIG/OL
+
40dB
U
-20dB
U
20
30
40
60
MONITOR
MAX
O
O
POWER
3-8
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
MIC/LINE
L
R
L
R
48V
48V
ON
YX MIC PRE
ON
YX MIC PRE
2
1
Headphones
Engineer
Lead
Vocals
HR624mkII
Studio Monitors
Onyx
Blackbird #1
Rear Panel
Onyx
Blackbird #1
Front Panel
Onyx
Blackbird #2
Rear Panel
Onyx
Blackbird #2
Front Panel
Mic’d drum kit
Headphone Amp
Headphones
Studio
Microphone
Electric
Guitar
Bass
Guitar
Keyboard
Desktop
Computer