Mackie Onyx Satellite Firewire System
by Chris Hafner | Published September 2007 | In the Mix Archives

If you're working with live instruments, you don't always have a home studio with good enough sound quality to record, or you might be on the road a lot and portability is important. If that sounds familiar, I can't recommend the Mackie Onyx Satellite system enough. Well-known for their mixers and premium pre-amps, Mackie created an all-in-one recording system that is fully mobile - meaning you can take it over to that prima donna singer's house, plug it in and get a professional-quality recording without waiting for them to show up in your studio - and gives a fantastic bang for the buck.

The Onyx Satellite uses FireWire which relays data several times faster than USB and also eliminates the need for a power source, as it draws power directly from the computer it's plugged into. It comes in two parts: the "base station," which ideally remains plugged into your studio "work" computer. When you want to record on-location, you simply detach a docking "pod" (it actually does function much like an iPod, though it doesn't really look much like one), which isn't much bigger than your hand. Back in the base station, the pod gains a few more capabilities: a separate XLR connector and several TRS and TS connectors for each channel. This is in addition to the base station's six channels of analog outputs. It even has a built-in Talkback mic that you can route into a control room for communication with musicians behind soundproofing. Also included are AKM 24-bit/96kHz analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters.

I've always been prepared to take the good with the bad when you get a package like this, but to be honest, I couldn't find anything in this system that didn't meet my expectations. I've heard reports of mic noise, but I found quite the opposite: the mics give a wonderfully clear sound recording.

The Onyx Satellite System is compatible with both Windows XP and Mac OS X 10.3.9. Be advised that Apple is upgrading their FireWire protocol, and a patch is required with early releases of OS X 10.4 (though it takes about 5 seconds to download from Apple). With a PC, you'll need the included drivers, though with Mac OS X, this thing is total plug'n'play - and even moreso since this comes with Tracktion 2 music production software (it works with all ASIO and Core Audio drivers - so Cubase, Reason, Garage Band and just about every other music production software is supported right out of the box). You really need nothing but the Onyx Satellite System, a computer and instruments to go!

Remember the old days when only multi-platnium artists were rich enough to have a good home studio? Computers these days are fast enough and have enough memory to make reasonably professional quality recordings at home, and a device like this brings us another step closer to getting that pro sound without going broke.

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