Mackie Onyx Blackjack Latency
I'm using the Mackie Onyx 1220. Yes, the optional firewire card is installed. The Onyx Mixer actually acts as my sound card now. I used to have a Soundblaster Audigy 4 Pro in, but with the mixer and the soundcard both installed there were what I was told were 'IRQ' problems. The Onyx Blackjack 2×2 USB Recording Interface is a great little box with some nice 60db boutique-quality preamps. You’ll often find it mentioned in forums and blogs across the web, and especially since this article, many people have been interested in the Onyx Blackjack as a affordable solution to power their gain-hungry Shure SM7Bs (in conjunction with a Cloudlifter). The Mackie Onyx Blackjack is a combined USB audio interface and monitor-level controller aimed at those who only need to record one or two inputs at a time, but who want the preamp and digital conversion quality of Mackie's larger Onyx interfaces and mixers.
Let's face it. If you could fit one of our flagship Onyx 1640i consoles into your workspace and budget, you probably would do it. But that shouldn't mean you have to settle for the cheapest, plastic 2x2 interface available. We've spent serious time and research creating the Onyx Blackjack Premium USB Recording Interface. It delivers the same proven Onyx preamps as our other flagship Onyx products in an ultra-compact, ergonomic desktop design perfect for your home studio. Other professional features include high-end AD/DA converters, built-in DIs, phantom power and true analog hardware monitoring of inputs for hassle-free zero-latency tracking, in either mono or stereo. The USB connection provides bus-power to the Blackjack, eliminating the need for another cable run. Plus, it's Mac/PC friendly and ready for most major DAWs right out of the box. So, don't settle. Be smart and check out the Onyx Blackjack - the utmost in sonic quality and simplicity.
Boutique-Quality Onyx PreAmps
Great recordings start with high-quality preamps and you will simply not find preamps at this price range better than Blackjack’s Onyx preamps. We invested significant R&D efforts into developing our flagship Onyx mic preamps. Found on our most expensive studio consoles, Onyx pres are designed to meet or surpass expensive, esoteric standalone mic pres in terms of fidelity, headroom and transparency – as well as improved radio frequency (RFI) rejection and ultra-wide dynamic range. And with a full 60dB of available gain, would-be competitors are left in the dust.High-Quality AD/DA Conversion
Quality doesn’t stop at the boutique Onyx preamps. The Onyx Blackjack uses Cirrus Logic® converters offering 114dB dynamic range (A-weighted) – a specification other companies sometimes charge thousands of dollars to achieve. Our preamp circuitry is aligned precisely with the onboard analog-to-digital conversion to always provide you with the most headroom and the lowest noise and distortion possible, a real sonic benefit that is often ignored on smaller interfaces.Zero-Latency Recording
Latency is evil and must be punished. If you have recorded with digital gear, chances are you feel the same way. It’s a pesky computer-induced delay that can quickly kill the vibe of any recording session. Blackjack puts this issue to rest once and for all, featuring a true analog monitoring path directly from the preamps to your studio monitors and headphones. This means you can track while listening to the direct analog source with zero routing. Not only that, it also means you can adjust your buffer settings to maximize your computers processing ability. Oh yeah, Blackjack also allows you to track with zero latency in either mono or stereo, so you can get the right vibe when recording stereo signals like acoustic guitars and keyboards.Professional Tools
No other ultra-compact desktop interface delivers as many professional features as the Onyx Blackjack. Both channels double as built-in DIs for direct connection of guitars, basses, keyboards, drum machines, etc. Both channels also deliver 48V phantom power, so you can use studio-quality condenser mics with no problem. The studio monitor and headphone outputs have independent level controls for maximum flexibility. Plus, the Onyx Blackjack is bus-powered via USB, so there’s no power supply to lose or another cable cluttering your workspace. It also comes with Mackie’s Tracktion 3 Music Production software, so you can get started recording right away.Ergonimacally Inclined
Mackie Onyx Blackjack Latency 3.0
Most desktop interfaces have a serious flaw: their construction. First off, most are made of cheap, breakable plastic. Onyx Blackjack features a sleek, powder-coated all-metal chassis that is truly “Built-Like-A-Tank”. You could literally use it as a hammer to smash the competition (not recommended at your local store). Second, when they are sitting on your desk, the competition lies flat, with no way to read the markings on the front panel. Have you ever accidently turned the wrong knob during your session? Not fun. The Onyx Blackjack sits with a 25-degree inclination, allowing for full view of all controls at all times, meaning more recording time and less hassle. A good idea – right?So there you have it. An extremely simple, but very powerful desktop interface that delivers all the features you want in a design that could fit in your man purse. Small studio. Big solution. Onyx Blackjack.
Features
- Two boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps with class-leading fidelity and dynamic range
- High-headroom design with ultra-low noise and distortion
- Professional 24-bit recording/playback via 2x2 USB
- High-end Cirrus Logic® AD/DA converters with 114dB dynamic range (A-weighted)
- True analog hardware monitoring of inputs, in mono or stereo, for easy zero-latency recording
- Compatible with most major DAWs
- Logic®
- SONAR™
- Cubase®
- Ableton® Live
- Final Cut Pro®
- ...and more
- Built-in DI on each input for direct connection of guitars, basses, etc.
- 48V phantom power for use with studio-quality condenser microphones
- USB bus-powered, eliminating need for separate power cable
- Separate studio monitor and headphone outs with independent level control
- Sleek, ergonomic “Built-Like-A-Tank” desktop design
- Includes Tracktion 3™ Music Production Software for Mac or PC
Software Requirements
For PC
- Microsoft Windows 7 32 / 64, Vista 32 / 64 RTM or XP SP 2
- Pentium 4, Celeron or Athlon XP processor
- 512 MB RAM
For Mac
- Mac OS X 10.4.11 – 10.6.4
- G4 processor
- 512 MB RAM
Features
- Two boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps with class-leading fidelity and dynamic range
- High-headroom design with ultra-low noise and distortion
- Includes Tracktion 3 Music Production Software
- High-end Cirrus Logic AD/DA converters with 114dB dynamic range (A-weighted)
- True analog hardware monitoring of inputs, in mono or stereo, for easy zero-latency recording
Mackie's Blackjack is the smallest interface yet to feature their acclaimed Onyx mic preamps.
The Mackie Onyx Blackjack is a combined USB audio interface and monitor-level controller aimed at those who only need to record one or two inputs at a time, but who want the preamp and digital conversion quality of Mackie's larger Onyx interfaces and mixers.
The unit is designed for desktop use, and Mackie's designers have clearly gone for simplicity, quality and very robust packaging. The folded‑steel case has a built‑in rear leg so that it sits at a sensible angle on the desk, and all the connections are kept at the back, out of the way.
The Blackjack works with both Mac and PC computers and is compatible with all the major DAW software, other than those software products tied to the manufacturer's own hardware. While the Blackjack is class compliant and will work without the need for drivers, PC users running Windows are advised to download and install the latest ASIO driver from www.mackie.com/products/onyxblackjack for the best performance.
The Blackjack comes with a bundled copy of Mackie's Tracktion 3 software, which provides a pretty painless way to get into computer recording if you're not already wedded to a particular DAW.
Ins & Outs
The Blackjack features two Onyx preamps, having mic/line inputs on 'combi' jacks/XLRs, with individual DI switching for using the line jacks as high-impedance inputs, and switchable global phantom power. The monitor outputs are on balanced quarter‑inch jacks, governed by the Monitor level control, and there's a headphone output and accompanying level control on the front panel.
The only thing missing is an S/PDIF digital input; you may not need it very often, but they come in handy for importing DAT tapes or other digital formats.
Features
At the rear, we find a USB connection, a pair of monitor outputs on quarter‑inch jacks and the two 'combi' jack/XLR inputs.
The Onyx mic preamps, which have simple metering in the form of a dual‑colour signal/overload LED, are the same as those used in Mackie's Onyx‑series mixers, and our reviews of these products have always included favourable comments about their sound. There is no pad or low‑cut filter on this version but there's plenty of headroom, and impressive signal transparency with up to 60dB of gain. Mackie claim their Onyx preamps rival the most expensive boutique mic preamps for quality. While we probably wouldn't go quite that far, they certainly are impressive.
Conversion is via highly specified Cirrus Logic chips, and power for the circuitry comes from the USB port, so there's no need for a separate PSU. These 24‑bit Cirrus Logic converters are capable of a 114dB dynamic range (A‑weighted), which is way beyond the signal‑to‑noise spec of most studio gear. Importantly, the gain staging within the unit means that the preamp circuitry is correctly matched to the A-D conversion, to maintain headroom while minimising noise and distortion.
An important feature is the Input Monitor knob, which mixes the input signal with the DAW return mix for simple latency‑free 'source' monitoring. This means that you can set larger buffer sizes when recording without suffering that annoying delay in the headphones. Just remember to turn software monitoring off in your DAW to avoid hearing direct and delayed sound at the same time! A Mono button puts the input-monitored signal into both left and right phones and speakers if preferred; otherwise channel one is heard on the left and channel two on the right.
In general, the technical spec is similar to what you'd expect from a Mackie console, except, of course, that the frequency response is dictated to some extent by the sample rate used. You can run the Blackjack at sampling rates of up to 96kHz, and it delivers a 15Hz to 22kHz response accurate to 0.2dB. At 44.1kHz, you still get a 15Hz to 21kHz range. The frequency response of the preamps and other analogue components extends some way beyond this, with the preamps being only 0.2dB down at 50kHz. The converter dynamic range is inevitably greater than the noise floor of the circuitry, but again the circuitry performs pretty much as you'd expect from a Mackie mixer, with a generous input headroom up to +10dB in mic mode and +25dB for the line inputs.
Testing
Plugging the Onyx into my Macbook Pro, I launched Logic Pro and immediately found the Blackjack available as a named input source — no drivers, no fuss. As with most mic preamps that use standard potentiometers, the useful mic gain does tend to be bunched into the last one third of the gain control's travel, but that didn't present any problem, as I set the gain for a speech test at a 96kHz sample rate. The playback quality was excellent, so I repeated the test at 44.1kHz. There was a small but discernible difference between high and low sample rates, the higher rates seeming to give a fuller, slightly smoother sound that some might describe as more 'analogue'. The difference is quite subtle, and is in line with what I've heard from other mid‑priced interfaces, so it is down to the individual to decide whether the extra fidelity is worth trading against half your computer's track playback and plug‑in count. I can't really ascribe a specific tonal character to the Onyx preamps — they just sound clean and musical to my ears.
Mackie Onyx Blackjack Latency Chart
Music playback through the Blackjack was also to a high standard, even at 'normal' sample rates, with a full but well‑controlled low end and smooth, extended highs. The headphone output delivers plenty of clean level, too.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that this simple and very affordable little unit delivers both on sound quality and convenience, in a package that's as robust as you could wish for. I had no problems with USB whining in the background, and unlike some of the lighter plastic interfaces on the market, it didn't fall off the desk as soon as I plugged in a mic cable!
Other than an S/PDIF input, there's really nothing more you could ask for in a basic interface, and while there are cheaper alternatives, once you add in the cost of a monitor controller/headphone amp and take into account both the mechanical and audio quality, the Blackjack starts to look like a real bargain.
Alternatives
There are many similarly sized interfaces available, including the less costly Presonus Inspire (which is Firewire‑based), but nothing I've used yet has matched this combination of a good-quality interface with practical monitoring in such a robust package.
Pros
- Built from steel, just like a Mackie mixer.
- Good audio quality.
- Tracktion 3 software included.
Summary
The Blackjack is an irresistible combination of chunky‑but‑compact hardware with exactly the right facilities for basic recording to a high standard.
Mackie Onyx Blackjack Latency Checker
information
£210 including VAT.Loud Technologies Europe +44 (0)1494 557398.
Mackie Onyx Blackjack Latency Test
$199.Loud Technologies +1 425 892 6500.