Appendix D: Usb Revisited - Mackie Onyx Blackjack Owner's Manual

Appendix D: USB revisited

USB and the Onyx Blackjack
The built-in USB interface allows for some
powerful and flexible routing. It is a 2x2 interface
allowing you to record two streams, and/or input stereo
playback from a computer and route it to the monitor
outputs [2] or headphones [11]. To use this feature
with a PC, first download the PC ASIO driver from
http://www.mackie.com/products/onyxblackjack/.
If connecting to a Mac, the interface will show up as a
2x2 device with no driver required.
The 2x2 USB routing of the Onyx Blackjack is a potent
thing to behold. Input signals are always sent directly to
the computer, yet also routable directly to monitor and
headphones using the small but powerful input monitor
knob[7].
Similarly, stereo playback and/or DAW outputs 1-2
are always routed back into the device for monitoring
and overdubbing (unless you choose to mute them in
software). Since the phones and monitor outputs have
separate volume controls, users are free to monitor
using either, neither or both. And because analog input
signals may be blended in with playback signals for
monitoring purposes – using the to mon knob [7] in the
input monitor section – overdubs can occur in real-time
without the burden of computer-induced latency.
Conversely, if you want to add and monitor computer-
supplied effects or processing to a signal, simply turn
the to mon knob [7] down, make sure the buffer size
is set relatively low and that the DAW is set to output
to the Onyx Blackjack while recording. Most DAWs are
set up this way by default, and you will simply have to
choose the Onyx Blackjack as your primary interface in
the DAW's audio settings.
Success here is partially dependent upon the
computer's speed. It needs to be fast enough
to run at low buffer sizes so that there is no
noticeable latency between the input signal and, say,
the reverb return. Be sure to review the software
requirements on
http://www.mackie.com/products/onyxblackjack/
to confirm that the latest device drivers are currently in
use.
18 Onyx Blackjack