Mackie Speakers Go Around the World in Eight Days with Windfield Productions

Denver, CO - For Dano Goforth’s Windfield Productions, there’s no such thing as a typical
show. The Denver-based company handles everything from corporate events and
seminars to festivals and religious occasions. And on any given day you may find Goforth
loading his Mackie systems into a C-17 military jet for a USO tour in the Middle East.
“We’ve been using Mackie gear for years, on tours all over the world,” says Goforth. “I’m
a fan of the SRM450s – we’ve used them since the beginning of the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq, on everyone from Toby Keith to Joan Jett, and they’ve been great workhorses
under some pretty brutal conditions.”

Oklahoma country music superstar Toby Keith talks with Quartermaster Seaman John Mendez while touring the bridge of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Keith is on his 10th tour with the United Services Organization, performing for deployed service members around the world. Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary S. Welch)

Goforth recently upgraded Windfield’s inventory to include Mackie’s HD1221
loudspeakers. “We use the 1221s on pretty much everything,” says Goforth. “It’s an
incredibly versatile box. I’ve used them for mains, for monitors, for side fills, all kinds of
stuff. We’re also using the new HD1501 and 1801 subwoofers. They sound great and
they’ve proven to be exceptionally durable. That’s important for the kind of tours we
do.”

As Goforth points out, “portability” takes on a different perspective on military tours.
“Loading in and out of Blackhawks, C-130s or C-17s, a lot of times space is at a real
premium,” he says. “The gear has to be compact, easy to handle, and able to take a
beating and work in all kinds of climates and conditions.”
Some tours include additional shows on even smaller transport. “On some of these
outpost tours, we’ll do a big show one night and then take a smaller system – just a
couple of our SRM450 boxes on sticks, and the same thing for monitors – and do shows at
one or two smaller forward operating bases,” says Goforth.

The shows present a wide range of performers, and the HD’s versatility has already
proven itself. “The last tour went around the world in eight days with Kix Brooks, Robin
Williams, Louis Black and Lance Armstrong,” says Goforth. “That was the first tour we used
the HDs on, and everyone really loved them.” “I stick with Mackie gear because it’s compact, reliable and sounds great. And the stuff holds up in a war zone – what more can you ask?”


Image borrowed from  BAM's blog
Story provided by Marshank

Mackie Onyx BlackJack USB Interface Review

The Mackie ONYX BlackJack is a rugged bus-powered USB audio interface that is small with great sound quality and versatile monitoring, making it an ideal portable companion to a laptop but equally at home in a fixed location such as a personal studio.

Mackies ONYX BlackJack offers the quality preamp so recognized in their higher priced line of Onyx Mixers, but for a lot less money. The BlackJack features two Onyx preamps, having mic/line inputs on combination XLR / ¼” jacks, 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 Onyx preamps are designed to go beyond standalone microphone preamps in headroom, transparency, and fidelity. Additionally, the Onyx preamps have a full 60db gain, improved radio frequency (RFI) rejection and an ultra-wide dynamic range. Onyx preamps rival even the most expensive boutique mic preamps for sound quality due to the Cirrus Logic converter. Power for the circuitry comes from the USB port, so there’s no need for a separate PSU. The 24-bit Cirrus Logic converter is capable of a 114dB dynamic range (A-Weighted), which is way beyond the signal-to-noise spec of most studio gear. The BlackJack performed well with sampling rates of up to 95kHz, and the playback quality has proven to be excellent. Importantly, the gain staging within the unit means that the preamp circuitry is correctly matched to the A-D conversion, to sustain headroom while minimizing noise and distortion. Zero latency recording is possible by routing the input directly into the monitors and into the computer simultaneously, reducing any audible delay from player to computer (allowing the computer buffer to be directed towards the CPU). It also allows you to track in mono or stereo. 

The Blackjack works with both Mac and Pc computers and compatible with all the major DAW software (except those limited to a manufacturers own hardware). I f you are running Windows, users are advised to to download and install the latest ASIO driver from www.mackie.com/products/onyxblackjack for optimal performance. The Blackjack comes bundled with a copy of Mackie’s Tracktion 3 software, an amateur friendly introduction into computer recording if you’re not already familiar with another DAW.

Bottom line, there are less expensive interfaces on the market, but overall, comparable interfaces do not possess this sound quality. In fact, many of the USB interfaces that are three times more expensive don’t offer the headroom and fidelity that Mackie’s Onyx BlackJack does.  Finally, the BlackJacks compact portable and durable design and reasonable price point earns a 4.5 star rating out of 5 stars.

Mackie Onyx BlackJack Features

• ·         Industry standard 24-bit recording/playback on USB with 2in/2out audio. Bus powered. 
•            Two high-quality Onyx mic preamps with superb fidelity and dynamic range
• ·         48V Phantom Power to use with Condenser Microphones
• ·         True Analog monitoring of inputs for zero latency recording
• ·         Built-in DI on each input for direct guitar/bass connections
• ·         Premium Ciruss Logic AD/DA converters with 114 db dynamic range

Available Now at www.OnlyFactoryDirect.com

Mackie's Onyx BlackJack Recording Interface Review

Mackie ONYX Black Jack

The Mackie ONYX BlackJack is a rugged bus-powered USB audio interface that is small with great sound quality and versatile monitoring, making it an ideal portable companion to a laptop but equally at home in a fixed location such as a personal studio.  

Mackies ONYX BlackJack offers the quality preamp so recognized in their higher priced line of Onyx Mixers. The BlackJack features two Onyx preamps, having mic/line inputs on combination XLR / ¼” jacks, 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 Onyx preamps are designed to go beyond standalone microphone preamps in headroom, transparency, and fidelity. Additionally, the Onyx preamps have a full 60db gain, improved radio frequency (RFI) refection and an ultra-wide dynamic range. Onyx preamps rival even the most expensive boutique mic preamps for sound quality a good part due to the Cirrus Logic converter. Power for the circuitry comes from the USB port, so there’s no need for a separate PSU. The 24-bit Cirrus Logic converter is 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 sustain headroom while minimizing noise and distortion. Zero latency recording is possible by routing the input directly into the monitors and into the computer simultaneously, reducing any audible delay form player to computer (allowing the computer buffer to be directed towards the CPU). It also allows you to track in mono or stereo.  Overall, comparable interfaces do not possess this sound quality, and audio interfaces that do typically cost ten times as much as the Mackie Onyx Blackjack.

The Onyx Blackjack’s overall design is rugged and due to the unique 25 degree angled structure making it easy to see the controls, extremely user friendly. On the front there are five knobs, two gain (-20dB to +40dB), one “To Mon”, Monitor, and Phones knob. The gain knobs are linked to an LED light that remains green to show a healthy signal and blinks red when it is experiencing overload. The Monitor knob offers Mute to Max control with a Mono/Stereo button. The “To Mone” knob sends the input signal directly to the monitor outpurs for no-latency, analog monitoring. The Monitor and Phones knob also is Mute to Max with a 48V Phantom power button to drive condenser mics and then a headphones ¼” jack port to the far right. The sensible lay-out of the components, add to the usability of this unit. The back of the Onyx Blackjack has a USB port, R/L Monitor Outputs for balanced or unbalanced ¼” jacks, and two XLR & ¼” combination mic analog inputs. This unit is built like a tank and we give the overall usability an A+.

Overall the Onyx BlackJack is considered a real bargain and a very affordable interface and delivers both superior sound quality and flexibility. If you want to make high quality recordings this is the unit for you.

Available Now at www.OnlyFactoryDirect.com for only $149.99 with FREE SHIPPING in the main 48 states.