Mackie Onyx 80 10. LOW MID FREQ, 12. EQ IN/OUT Switch, 9. LOW MID EQ, 6. HIGH EQ, 7. HIGH MID EQ, 8. HIGH MID FREQ, Low EQ, High EQ, Low Mid EQ, 11. LOW EQ, High Mid EQ

8. HIGH MID FREQ

High Mid EQ

1kHz

100Hz

10kHz 20kHz

–15 20Hz

–10

–5

0

+5

+10

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.

7. HIGH MID EQ

+15

High EQ

1kHz

100Hz

10kHz 20kHz

–15 20Hz

–10

–5

0

+5

+10

This control gives you up to 15 dB boost or cut at 12 kHz, and it is also flat at the center detent. Use it to add sizzle to cymbals, and an overall

sense of transparency or edge to the keyboards, vocals, guitar, and bacon

frying. Turn it down a little to reduce sibilance, or to hide tape hiss.

When connected to the 1/4" jack, there is 20 dB of attenuation all the way down, and 40 dB of gain fully up, with a “U” (unity gain) mark at about 10:00.

6. HIGH EQ

+15

+15				This knob ranges from
+10				400 Hz to 8 kHz and
+5				determines the center
0				frequency for the HIGH
–5				MID EQ filter. This allows
–10				you to zero in on the
–15
20Hz	100Hz	1kHz	10kHz 20kHz precise narrow band of
Mid EQ Freq Sweep				frequencies you want
				to have affected by the

HIGH MID EQ.

9. LOW MID EQ
+15				This is a second mid-
+10				range EQ control that pro-
+5				vides 15 dB of boost or cut
0				centered at the frequency
–5				determined by its FREQ
–10				knob. It extends down to
–15				100 Hz, which includes
20Hz
	100Hz	1kHz	10kHz 20kHz

Low Mid EQ

the male vocal range and the fundamentals of some lower instruments (guitar, lower brass).

10. LOW MID FREQ

+15				This knob ranges from
+10				100 Hz to 2 kHz and
+5				determines the center
0				frequency for the LOW
–5				MID EQ filter. This allows
–10				you to zero in on the
				precise narrow band of
–15
20Hz	100Hz	1kHz	10kHz 20kHz

Mid EQ Freq Sweep	frequencies you want to
	have affected by the LOW
	MID EQ.

11. LOW EQ
+15				This control gives you
+10
				up to 15 dB of boost or
+5				cut at 80 Hz. The circuit
0
				is flat (no boost or cut)
–5				at the center detent
–10				position. This frequency
–15
			10kHz 20kHz represents the punch in
20Hz	100Hz	1kHz

Low EQ	bass drums, bass guitar,
	fat synth 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.

12. 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

Manual s’Owner

Owner’s Manual 11