Getting Started; Read This Page; Instant Mixing; Zero The Controls - Mackie Onyx 1220 Owner's Manual

Getting Started

READ THIS PAGE!!

Even if you're one of those people
who never read manuals, all we ask
is that you read this page now before
you begin using the Onyx 1220. You'll
be glad you did!

Zero the Controls

1. Turn down the channel GAIN, AUX, and Fader con-
trols, and center the channel EQ and PAN controls.
2. Set all push button switches to their "out" positions.
3. In the output section (right hand side), turn all the
rotary knobs "down," the switches "out," and the
MAIN MIX fader down.
4. Turn the POWER switch off.
Connections
If you already know how you want to connect the Onyx
1220, go ahead and connect the inputs and outputs
the way you want them. If you just want to get sound
through the mixer, follow these steps:
1. Plug a microphone or other signal source into
channel 1's MIC or LINE input.
2. Plug in the detachable linecord, connect it to an AC
outlet, and turn on the Onyx 1220's POWER switch.
3. Connect cords from the Onyx 1220's MAIN OUTS
(XLR connectors on the rear panel and 1/4" TRS
connectors on the front panel) to your amplifi er.
4. Hook up speakers to the amp and turn it on. If the
amplifi er has level controls, set them however the
manufacturer recommends (usually all the way up).

Set the Levels

To set the channel GAIN controls, it's not even neces-
sary to hear what you're doing at the outputs of the
mixer. If you want to listen while you work, plug head-
phones into the PHONES jack on the front panel, then
set the PHONES knob about one-quarter of the way up.
The following steps must be performed one channel at
a time.
1. Push in the channel's SOLO switch.
2. Play something into the selected input. This could
be an instrument, a singing or speaking voice, or
a line input such as a CD player or tape recorder
output. Be sure that the volume of the input source
is the same as it would be during normal use. If it
isn't, you might have to readjust these levels during
the middle of the set.
3. Adjust the channel's GAIN control so that the LEDs
on the RIGHT meter stay around "0" and never go
higher than "+7."
4. If you'd like to apply some EQ, do so now and return
to step 3. Remember to push in the EQ IN/OUT but-
ton or the EQ controls won't do anything.
5. Disengage that channel's SOLO switch.
6. Repeat for each channel.

Instant Mixing

1. Leave the microphone plugged into channel 1 and
connect a keyboard, guitar or other instrument to
channel 2. Be sure to "Set the Level" for channel 2
as described above.
2. To get sound out of the speakers, turn up channel 1
and 2 faders to the "U" mark and slowly turn up the
MAIN MIX fader to a comfortable listening level.
3. Sing and play. You're a star! Adjust the faders for
channels 1 and 2 to bring your voice and your
instrument up and down to create your own mix.
• For optimum sonic performance, the channel and
MAIN MIX faders should be set near the "U" (unity
gain) markings.
• Always turn the MAIN MIX fader and CONTROL
ROOM knob down before making connections to
and from your Onyx 1220.
• When you shut down your equipment, turn off the
amplifi ers fi rst. When powering up, turn on the
amplifi ers last.
• Never listen to loud music for prolonged periods.
Please see the Safety Instructions on page 2 for
information on hearing protection.
• Save the shipping box! You may need it someday,
and you don't want to have to pay for another one.
That's it for the "Getting Started" section. Next comes
the "Hookup" section that shows you some typical ways
that you might use the Onyx 1220 in real applications.
After that, you can take the grand tour of the mixer,
with descriptions of every knob, button, input, and
output. We encourage you to take the time to read all of
the feature descriptions, but at least you know it's there
if you have any questions.