Mackie’s Big Knob and Onyx mixers and pre-amp now shipping

Just six months after introduction at the NAMM show in Anaheim, Mackie announced today that significant dealer shipments of the innovative Big Knob Studio Command System, as well as the Onyx 1220 and 1620 Premium Analog Mixers, are underway. These products will be available for purchase at Mackie dealers in the United States and Europe by mid June. Dealer shipments of the larger Onyx 1640 are scheduled to begin in July 2004.

“We are particularly proud with how quickly these products moved from concept to full production,” commented Ken Berger, Sr. Vice President of Marketing for Mackie. “The whole process took less than one year, proving a level of efficiency that is a testament to the talented product development, and engineering teams here at LOUD Technologies, as well as affirmation of our incredibly responsive, and efficient global operation.”

Berger continued, “In true Mackie fashion, these products represent a significant leap forward for the entire industry, offering innovative features and new functionalities that have simply never before been available — at any price. Big Knob, for example, defines an entirely new product category, providing much needed functionality to the modern computer-based studio. And the Onyx mixers, with their premium mic pres and FireWire option, absolutely redefine what a modern analog mixer should be.”

The Mackie Big Knob Studio Command System is a compact monitor switching, source selection and communications box for DAW-based studios. Its unique name is inspired by its most prominent feature – a large, convenient volume knob that provides easy access for precise level adjustments. Also handy are three buttons for quick switching between three sets of studio monitors, a built-in Talkback microphone, Input Source Select for up to four different stereo sources, dual headphone outputs with an independent headphone mix bus, as well as Mono, Mute and Dim switches. Big Knob has a suggested retail price of $384.

Deriving their name from Mackie’s new Onyx premium mic pre, the Onyx family of premium analog mixers includes the Onyx 1220, 1620 and 1640. All three models incorporate the latest advances in hallmark Mackie technologies like extremely low-noise microphone preamps and circuitry, tremendous durability, plenty of direct instrument inputs, and combines them into a modern footprint that includes a FireWire option for integration into any computer-based system. The Onyx 1220 ($639 MSRP) and 1620 ($919 MSRP) are currently shipping to dealers in the United States and Europe.

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