+1

these used to be $400!!!!!!!! they dropped the price down to 200 to be more comptetive, i guess they are just looking to unload all these fast... 170 is a SICK price for a FW interface... and the onyx preamps are better than anything else at the same price.

Wouldn't you know it...
I got mine home, opened the box and found out that it had been used and returned (and repackaged quite poorly, although some schmuck at GC made the outside of the box look brand new...)

Well, mine was broken. Somebody had obviously bought it and discovered it was defective and returned it and GC put it back out for sale.

The did have 1 last unit in stock that was in a factory sealed box but I'm saving that one for my intern since he's interested in buying it later this week.

Oh well...darnit. I just need a simple 2 channel interface for one of my down and dirty rigs. I guess I'll keep looking.

Ah, the Walmartization of America!

That sucks!

bent wrote: Ah, the Walmartization of America!

That sucks!

Oh...don't get me started!

I've got a love/hate relationship with guitar center for that very reason. I've avoided going into a WalMart for 10 years now (proud of it!). I'm glad to hear that there's finally a chink in their armor! Did you hear that they're actually starting to hurt themselves (Wal-Mart that is?) That new stores that are being opened are actually encroaching on existing stores' business so much that it's forcing them to possibly.....shut down some Wal-Marts???

Damn...

Anyway - back to GC. I love that the guys give me great deals and that I can always count on taking it back if it sucks. It's just that I hate that they're pedalling so much crap and so many suckers (I mean...."Recording Engineeers" and "Producers") are buying it!

But that's another rant that's been covered on these pages numerous times...
GRRRRR....

So Jeremy u actually picked one up, that is cool. I hope they still have one left for me!

Yeah...
There were 2 left. The floor sample and a sealed-in-a-box one.

Here's hoping.

Hey jeremy I found a package that includes the Onyx Satellite and M-Audio Speakers

(Dead Link Removed)

Not worth it...

The cables are cheap...the stand is a generic (same could be had for $29 where ever you go), the mic is mediocre at best, worthless at worst and the monitors are the lowest/crappiest M-Audio has to offer.

Save up a little bit on the monitors, get the Mackie. I'll teach you how to make the cables and you're much further along than with a combo like this...

Why, why... Oh, god, why does every POS package deal from GC and MF include a friggin' Marshall mic???

:evil: :evil: :evil:

Just a thought. Anyone tried this out yet?

(dead link removed)

Incidentally, I own an Onyx Satellite and although it does a good job and sounds better than many prosumer products out there, I was disappointed at the build quality. One of the input selector buttons stick and one of the volume pots doesn't feel level. As though it was mounted slightly askew.

I haven't bothered to return it for a newer one. I'm afraid I may get something worse in the trade.

I fear that although Mackies designs are generally well thought out, it seems the quality control at the factory is not so good. This isn't the first I've heard of QC issues with Mackie lately. I hope it's a trend that will end soon.

Don't get me wrong I like the unit but I doubt that I would risk a purchase from Mackie in the near future unless indications show a change for the better.

hueseph wrote: I fear that although Mackies designs are generally well thought out, it seems the quality control at the factory is not so good. This isn't the first I've heard of QC issues with Mackie lately. I hope it's a trend that will end soon.

Don't get me wrong I like the unit but I doubt that I would risk a purchase from Mackie in the near future unless indications show a change for the better.

i've heard horror stories all over, too.

i have had each of the small-format Onyx mixers ... 1220, 1620, 1640 .. and i havent had a single problem with any of them. all the knobs feel comfortable, faders are all the same, no bad ins/outs, etc.

i also own a set of Mackie SRM450 speakers for my PA. overnight at a festival last summer, one took a spill.. the whole speaker stand and srm450 had been knocked over by the wind!! i was terrified that i had lost a $700 speaker, but i picked things up and it worked fine.

SO, for all those stories i've heard .. my Mackie gear has held up fine. just take care of it, i guess

Jeremy sez:

Did you hear that they're actually starting to hurt themselves (Wal-Mart that is?) That new stores that are being opened are actually encroaching on existing stores' business so much that it's forcing them to possibly.....shut down some Wal-Marts???

Walmart, Super Walmart, Super Duper Walmart...

One on every corner!

Good God, man, when will it end?

What you're saying is music to my ears!

No kidding.

I live in a town of less than 20,000 people. Within 5 miles drive, I can get to 3 Super Wal-Marts and 2 regular Wal-Marts. Friggin ridiculous!

Oops..I'm hijacking my own thread...my bad.

Cucco, were you still looking for the Onyx Satellite??

I know of a few sites where they are around $170. I'm actually considering purchasing one myself.

I'm new here and this site has been extremely helpful. I have learned a lot from reading thru the forums.. thanks to all who take the time to post.

I have plenty more questions and I'm going to try and make sure everything is posted in the relevant category.

Back to the topic at hand... let me know if you want a link for that.

Edit: Just looking at the Alesis IO2 2-channel 24/48 USB interface. It runs for around $150. I'm assuming that Mackie's pres sound a little better? Plus, there is the difference of firewire vs usb ... but with only 2 channels I dont think it makes much of a difference. Right now I'm leaning heavily toward the Mackie. I don't need much really.. just want to record some songs solo style.. possibly guitar and mic at the same time. My PC has both firewire and USB ports. Plus, I already have recording software. Unless someone stops me, I'm buying this thing today...

Walmartization?
Uh.. I guess we germans must consider ourselves lucky then :)
After eight luckless years Wal-Mart announced to give up on trying to become a (or THE) big player on the Market in Germany last year.
They sold all of their 85 "Supercenters" in Germany, which hadn't been able to produce any profits. Wal-Mart officials stated that german consumer-habits simply don't fit to the Wal-Mart Philosophy... ehhehehe.. too bad for them.
Good for us.

Anyway, back to topic. Here in GE, the Satellite is 170EUR=$270, which is a bit too expensive in comparison to all the cheaper USB-Units.
Well, ok, this is FireWire, but it still records only two channels separately, so I consider it only as a Entry-Level unit that will be abandoned after one or two years of use, either because the owner needs more channels, or is not interested in recording anymore.
And for entry level units, there are cheaper thingies out there that will do the job well enough for the first few years.

haha.. yea i can see moving on to bigger things in a few years...

maybe there is an advantage to the dollar going down! (Satellite for $170 in the US compared to $270 in GE)...

I am fresh out of the water.. just getting into recording. The idea that I can spend around $300-400 and be ready to go is enjoyable. I'm not really expecting amazing results... just a clean guitar tone with good vocals...add in a drum track and bass line..maybe throw in some cello .. is that too much to ask?? lol

i have the musical equipment.. now i just need the computer hardware..

so basically, I'm thinking all I need is the Mackie and a good mic ...arg thats a question for a different section of the forum.. ( E/V ND767?? ) did i say that??

nichtrauscher wrote:
Well, ok, this is FireWire, but it still records only two channels separately, so I consider it only as a Entry-Level unit that will be abandoned after one or two years of use, either because the owner needs more channels, or is not interested in recording anymore.

That's a silly thing to say. I know several producers that have advanced well past 'entry level' but still have no need of more channels as they don't record drum kits or full bands.

I do record drum kits and full bands, using my desktop DAW with 16 inputs... but my laptop + Satellite is rather more convenient when I want to record a choir on location, or make a simple desk recording of a gig.

Don't forget that the Pod unit of the Satellite can be used on its own as a pair of mic pre-amps, which allows me to add another pair of Onyx pres to my 1620 mixer... well worth the current entry price just for that IMO.

FWIW my Satellite has been working well for over a year now; the only issue was with the little 4 pin to 6 pin firewire adapter they included in the box, which didn't work. Not a big deal really.