Low Mid EQ
1kHz
100Hz
10kHz 20kHz
–15 20Hz
–10
–5
0
+5
+10
+15
This is a second mid- range EQ control that provides 15 dB of boost or cut centered at the frequency determined by its FREQ knob. It extends
down to 100 Hz, which includes the male vocal range and the fundamen-
tals of some lower instruments (guitar, lower brass).
8. LOW MID EQ
n (Z
n
n




7. HIGH MID FREQ
High Mid EQ
1kHz
100Hz
10kHz 20kHz
–15 20Hz
–10
–5
0
+5
+10
+15
Short for “midrange,” this knob provides 15 dB of boost or cut centered at the frequency deter- mined by its FREQ knob (see HIGH MID FREQ
next). Midrange EQ is often thought of as the most dynamic because
the frequencies that define any particular sound are almost always found in this range. The HIGH MID EQ range (400 Hz to 8 kHz) includes the female vocal range as well as the fundamentals and harmonics for many instruments.
6. HIGH MID EQ
High EQ
1kHz
100Hz
10kHz 20kHz
–15 20Hz
–10
–5
0
+5
+10
+15
This control gives you up to 15 dB boost or cut at 12 kHz, and is flat at the center detent. Use it to add sizzle to cymbals, and an overall sense of trans-
parency or edge to the keyboards, vocals, guitar, and bacon frying. Turn it
down a little to reduce sibilance, or to hide tape hiss.
5. HIGH EQ

9. LOW MID FREQ



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

n

 

 

 

n

 

 

 

n

 

 

 

(Z

(Z

K(Z

K(Z K(

Low Mid EQ Freq Sweep

This knob ranges from 100 Hz to 2 kHz and determines the center frequency for the LOW MID EQ filter. This allows you to zero in on the precise narrow band of frequencies you want to have affected by the LOW MID EQ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This knob ranges from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

400 Hz to 8 kHz and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

determines the center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

frequency for the HIGH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MID EQ filter. This allows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you to zero in on the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

precise narrow band of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Z

 

 

 

 

 

K(Z

 

 

 

 

 

K(Z K(

frequencies you want

High Mid EQ Freq Sweep

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to have affected by the

HIGH MID EQ.

10. LOW EQ

+15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This control gives you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

up to 15 dB of boost or cut

+10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at 80 Hz. The circuit is flat

+5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(no boost or cut) at the

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

center detent position.

–10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This frequency represents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the punch in bass drums,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20Hz

 

 

 

 

100Hz

 

 

 

 

 

1kHz

 

 

 

 

 

10kHz 20kHz bass guitar, fat synth

Low EQ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

patches, and some really

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

serious male singers.

Note: Used in conjunction with the Low Cut switch, you can boost the LOW EQ without injecting tons of infrasonic debris into the mix.

11. EQ IN/OUT Switch

This is a true hardware bypass of the Perkins EQ circuitry to insure that there is no coloration of the signal if the EQ is not needed. When this button is out, the EQ controls have no effect on the signal. You can use this switch to make an A/B comparison between the EQ’d signal and the signal without EQ.

We have completely redesigned the

EQ circuits in the Onyx Series of

mixers, based on the designs of Cal

Perkins, an industry-leader in audio

engineering for over three decades and long-time Mackie collaborator.

This “neo-classic” design provides the sweet musicality of the British EQ sound, while still maintaining 15 dB of boost and cut with optimum Q and minimum phase shift (in other words, it gives you plenty of control and is pleasing to the ear!).

The 4-band equalization has LOW shelving at 80 Hz, LOW MID peaking, sweepable from 100 Hz to 2 kHz on the mono channels, HIGH MID peaking, sweepable from 400 Hz to 8 kHz on the mono channels, and HIGH shelving at 12 kHz. “Shelving” means that the circuitry boosts or cuts all frequencies past the specified frequency. For example, rotating the LOW EQ knob 15 dB to the right boosts bass frequencies below 80 Hz and continuing on

Owner’s Manual

Manual Owner’s

11