Mackie Onyx 400F

It replaces my old Delta 1010 and allows me to enjoy the preamp in addition to the line inputs.
Utlisation in Home-Studio for recording synths and recording.
My current configuration:
Motherboard MSI Neo2-V (MS-7108)
Pentium 4 to 3.06 GHz
1GB DDRAM
Maxtor 80 GB HDD (8Mb Cache)

Software:
Cubase SE3 and SoundForge 7.

Connected equipment on:

A Roland JP8000 ... immediately ...
A Mackie 1402 mixer is used for routing over monitoring.

UTILIZATION

The installation was no problem. Having installed the sound card integrated on the motherboard eliminates the need for error messages when installing a new Mackie Onyx 400F.
The Beta version 2.06 is available on the website of Mackie (www.mackie.com)
The configuration of the console is simple and classic:
A source is output with the option to group sources and outputs.
There is also the configuration window standard (frequency, buffer, SPDIF ...)
The manual did not served. Except to know how to install
the map (Installation of drivers first and then connect the rack)

GETTING STARTED

No particular problem except the loss of FireWire sync from time to time.
(Problem with the 2.6 update but does not impact the operation)
My applications are used with this card and Cubase SE Soundforge 7.
I'm just the audio on it and I do not use synths.
---------!!!!!!!!!!----------
Updated - 18/03/2007.
The move to Cubase SE3 can improve the stability of the synchro firewire. The PC and the card remained in operation over 72 hours: Always the sound in Cubase.

OVERALL OPINION

Almost a year of use
I appreciate the diversity of the inputs and the type of connection (firewire PCI instead: this makes the card compatible with all type of PC or mac ...)

Before I tried this card:

- Maxi Sound 64 Home Studio
- Maxi Studio ISIS
- DELTA 44
- DELTA 1010

With the experience I would do this choice.

8 Analog I / O and 2 / O numriques (RCA)
Midi in / Midi out
4 pramps Onyx, switched 48V common
4 Inserts
Wordclock
2 headphone outputs
1 CR
2 FireWire connection to a PC / Mac, for a second expansion card.

Miss the ADAT (not for me, but it should be noted).

UTILIZATION

No pb

GETTING STARTED

Never had a pb in recording sessions or even for costs.

Some bp dconnexions PERIOD during non-use, with drivers 3.1 rgl
An example of stability ever since.

OVERALL OPINION

Mackie Onyx 400F ... I use this card for over a year now and frankly it would gain more be known.
Pramps cleans, latency is fine, stable ... it lies well above (IMHO) the price of competing equivalent.

I had the opportunity to test Prsonus, M-Audio, Yamaha consoles, 00x Digi Mbox and Digi ... b and I keep my Mackie.
The report qualitprix is ​​excellent.
For a diffrence audible quality to have at least double the price.

Exprience with, you will do again this choice?
Yes, yes and re-yes. Sincrement, I do not change the sound card unless you go on the "heavy" (sound card dedicates the routing, converters DDIS, pramps ...).

I do not put even when the max score because everything is perfectible!

I was looking for a pro sound card without the sub for an RME Fireface 400. excellence converters, Onyx pramplis, the reputable brand Determines have my choice. It's a little known but trs card performance, not least in terms of connectivity (insert on pramps 4, 2 headphones, output + "control room" Volun indpendante with physics, we almost no need for a "Big Knob"!).

I installed it on my old PC (Intel P4, 2.67 GHz, 1024 MB RAM, XP Pro) until the new Mac ... Yes I'm sick of Logic 5.5.1, but I can not do without!

UTILIZATION

The instal. XP was done without problem, fast and simple. I thought galrer, but not at all. We will see what a given Mac, but I'm not worried.

GETTING STARTED

I could rduire ASIO buffer size to half of my old card (ECHO MIA MIDI).

The fact that I now turn to a physical mixing console, however, forced me rgler the delay of the buffers, Fawn what my bass parts are synchronous with the arrangement for example. Something I had never had before.

OVERALL OPINION

The sound? dtail more, more precision in space and Stereo sound, much more dynamic sound, both input and output. In short an excellent qualitprix my opinion. If I had the money, I would probably buy RME. But 630, I think it worth in this CATEGORY. In fact, it's all mtal, chassis and knobs, everything is pro ... no plastoc 2 balls!