The Onyx 1220i from Mackie is an 12-channel audio mixer with a built-in FireWire computer audio interface. It features a meticulously designed audio mixer section with flexible capabilities for both the studio and the stage. You can tap into the power of computer recording in new ways with its deep DAW integration. The fact that the 1220i is fully compatible with Pro Tools M-Powered 8 software really makes it a full-featured audio tool that can adapt to any situation.

Each of the 4 mic channels on the 1220i features a 3-band Perkins EQ with a sweep and a boutique-quality Onyx mic preamp, and the 4 stereo channels all feature 3-band EQ. There are 2 aux sends for monitor mixes on stage, headphone cue mixes in the studio, and for effect sends. Every one of these channels (including the aux sends and the master) can be routed through the FireWire interface into the DAW of your choice. You can even return 2 channels from your DAW back into the 1220i and integrate them into your mix.

There are some interesting capabilities in the computer integration aspect of the 1220i. If you have any good sounding effects that you use with your DAW software, you can easily integrate them into your mixes. For live sound, you can have your computer connected and route an aux send to your DAW, apply the effect in your software, and route the wet signal back into the mixer. You can record individual tracks in your DAW, and record the master mix outputs separately.

The first two channels on the Onyx 1220i feature a button that transforms the input into an instrument-level DI. This is ideal for recording guitars and basses. It includes a full-featured talkback section with a built-in microphone that enables you to communicate with artists from the control room of your studio, or through monitors with musicians on stage. It's no accident that Mackie is one of the most heavily relied upon manufacturers of recording and sound reinforcement equipment, and the Onyx 1220i is among the most versatile pieces of gear they've ever produced.