Mic Ins; Line Ins; Stereo Line Inputs; Insert Jacks - Mackie ONYX Series Owner's Manual

4. Mic Ins

This is a female XLR connector that accepts a
balanced mic or line level input from almost any type
of source. These Onyx mic preamps feature higher
fidelity and headroom rivaling any standalone mic
preamp on the market today. These circuits are
excellent at rejecting hum and noise.
Professional ribbon, dynamic, and condenser
mics all sound excellent through these inputs.
The mic / line inputs will handle any kind of level
you can toss at them, without overloading.
They are wired as follows, according to standards
specified by the AES (Audio Engineering Society).
XLR Balanced Wiring:
Pin 1 = Shield (ground)
Pin 2 = Positive (+ or hot)
Pin 3 = Negative (– or cold)
NEVER connect the output of an amplifier
directly to a Onyx's input jack. This could
damage the input circuitry and we wouldn't
want that now, would we?

5. Line Ins

These 1/4" jacks share circuitry (but not phantom
power) with the mic preamps, and can be driven by
balanced or unbalanced sources at almost any level.
You can use these inputs for virtually any signal you'll
come across.
To connect balanced lines to these outputs, use
a 1/4" Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) plug. "TRS" stands
for Tip-Ring-Sleeve, the three connection points
available on a stereo 1/4" or balanced phone jack
or plug. TRS jacks and plugs are used for balanced
signals and are wired as follows:
1/4" TRS Balanced Mono Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Hot (+)
Ring = Cold (–)
10
Onyx Premium Analog Mixer with Multi-Track USB
2
SHIELD
HOT
3 1
COLD
SHIELD
1
3 COLD
2
HOT
RING SLEEVE SLEEVE RING TIP
TIP
RING
TIP
SLEEVE
To connect unbalanced lines to these outputs,
use a 1/4" mono (TS) phone plug, wired as follows:
1/4" TS Unbalanced Mono Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Hot (+)
NEVER connect the output of an amplifier
directly to a Onyx's input jack. This could
damage the input circuitry and we wouldn't
want that now, would we?

6. Stereo Line Inputs

The stereo line inputs are designed for 1/4" TRS
balanced or 1/4" TS unbalanced signals. They may
accept any line-level instrument, effects device, CD
player, etc.
If you are connecting a mono source, use the left
(mono) input, and the mono signals will appear
on both sides of the main mix.
To connect balanced lines to these inputs, use a 1/4"
Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) plug. To connect unbalanced
lines to these inputs, use a 1/4" mono (TS) phone plug.
Wiring diagrams for both connectors are presented to
the left and above.
NEVER connect the output of an amplifier
directly to a Onyx's input jack. This could
damage the input circuitry and we wouldn't
want that now, would we?

7. Insert Jacks

These unbalanced 1/4" jacks are for connecting
serial effects processors such as compressors,
equalizers, de-essers, or filters.
The insert point is after the gain control and low
cut filter, but before the channel's EQ and level.
The channel signal can go out of the insert jack
to an external device, be processed and come back
in on the same insert jack.
To do this requires a standard insert cable that must
be wired thusly:
Tip = send (output to effects device)
Ring = return (input from effects device)
Sleeve = common ground
ring
(TRS plug)
tip
sleeve
This plug connects to one of
the mixer's channel insert jacks.
SLEEVE SLEEVE TIP
TIP
TIP
SLEEVE
SEND to processor
tip
ring
RETURN from processor