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Product information

Item Weight

2.3 pounds

Product Dimensions

6.4 x 9.5 x 5 inches

ASIN

B003VZG550

Item model number

Onyx Blackjack

Customer Reviews

3.8 222 ratings

3.8 out of 5 stars

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer

No

Date First Available

June 12, 2007

Compatible Devices

Personal Computer

Hardware Interface

USB

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User Guide (PDF)

User Manual (PDF)

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Product Description

Let's face it. If you could fit one of our flagship Onyx 1640i consoles into your workspace and budget, you probably would do it. But that shouldn't mean you have to settle for the cheapest, plastic 2x2 interface available. We've spent serious time and research creating the Onyx Blackjack Premium USB Recording Interface. It delivers the same proven Onyx preamps as our other flagship Onyx products in an ultra-compact, ergonomic desktop design perfect for your home studio. Other professional features include high-end AD/DA converters, built-in DIs, phantom power and true analog hardware monitoring of inputs for hassle-free zero-latency tracking, in either mono or stereo. The USB connection provides bus-power to the Blackjack, eliminating the need for another cable run. Plus, it's Mac/PC friendly and ready for most major DAWs right out of the box. So, don't settle. Be smart and check out the Onyx Blackjack - the utmost in sonic quality and simplicity.

Boutique-Quality Onyx PreAmps

Great recordings start with high-quality preamps and you will simply not find preamps at this price range better than Blackjack’s Onyx preamps. We invested significant R&D efforts into developing our flagship Onyx mic preamps. Found on our most expensive studio consoles, Onyx pres are designed to meet or surpass expensive, esoteric standalone mic pres in terms of fidelity, headroom and transparency – as well as improved radio frequency (RFI) rejection and ultra-wide dynamic range. And with a full 60dB of available gain, would-be competitors are left in the dust.

High-Quality AD/DA Conversion

Quality doesn’t stop at the boutique Onyx preamps. The Onyx Blackjack uses Cirrus Logic® converters offering 114dB dynamic range (A-weighted) – a specification other companies sometimes charge thousands of dollars to achieve. Our preamp circuitry is aligned precisely with the onboard analog-to-digital conversion to always provide you with the most headroom and the lowest noise and distortion possible, a real sonic benefit that is often ignored on smaller interfaces.

Zero-Latency Recording

Latency is evil and must be punished. If you have recorded with digital gear, chances are you feel the same way. It’s a pesky computer-induced delay that can quickly kill the vibe of any recording session. Blackjack puts this issue to rest once and for all, featuring a true analog monitoring path directly from the preamps to your studio monitors and headphones. This means you can track while listening to the direct analog source with zero routing. Not only that, it also means you can adjust your buffer settings to maximize your computers processing ability. Oh yeah, Blackjack also allows you to track with zero latency in either mono or stereo, so you can get the right vibe when recording stereo signals like acoustic guitars and keyboards.

Professional Tools

No other ultra-compact desktop interface delivers as many professional features as the Onyx Blackjack. Both channels double as built-in DIs for direct connection of guitars, basses, keyboards, drum machines, etc. Both channels also deliver 48V phantom power, so you can use studio-quality condenser mics with no problem. The studio monitor and headphone outputs have independent level controls for maximum flexibility. Plus, the Onyx Blackjack is bus-powered via USB, so there’s no power supply to lose or another cable cluttering your workspace. It also comes with Mackie’s Tracktion 3 Music Production software, so you can get started recording right away.

Ergonimacally Inclined

Most desktop interfaces have a serious flaw: their construction. First off, most are made of cheap, breakable plastic. Onyx Blackjack features a sleek, powder-coated all-metal chassis that is truly “Built-Like-A-Tank”. You could literally use it as a hammer to smash the competition (not recommended at your local store). Second, when they are sitting on your desk, the competition lies flat, with no way to read the markings on the front panel. Have you ever accidently turned the wrong knob during your session? Not fun. The Onyx Blackjack sits with a 25-degree inclination, allowing for full view of all controls at all times, meaning more recording time and less hassle. A good idea – right?

So there you have it. An extremely simple, but very powerful desktop interface that delivers all the features you want in a design that could fit in your man purse. Small studio. Big solution. Onyx Blackjack.

Features

Two boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps with class-leading fidelity and dynamic range
High-headroom design with ultra-low noise and distortion
Professional 24-bit recording/playback via 2x2 USB
High-end Cirrus Logic® AD/DA converters with 114dB dynamic range (A-weighted)
True analog hardware monitoring of inputs, in mono or stereo, for easy zero-latency recording
Compatible with most major DAWs
- Logic®
- SONAR™
- Cubase®
- Ableton® Live
- Final Cut Pro®
- ...and more
- Built-in DI on each input for direct connection of guitars, basses, etc.
- 48V phantom power for use with studio-quality condenser microphones
- USB bus-powered, eliminating need for separate power cable
- Separate studio monitor and headphone outs with independent level control
- Sleek, ergonomic “Built-Like-A-Tank” desktop design
- Includes Tracktion 3™ Music Production Software for Mac or PC
  Software Requirements
  For PC
  - Microsoft Windows 7 32 / 64, Vista 32 / 64 RTM or XP SP 2
  - Pentium 4, Celeron or Athlon XP processor
  - 512 MB RAM
    For Mac
    Mac OS X 10.4.11 – 10.6.4
    G4 processor
    512 MB RAM

Top Brand: Mackie

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	Buying options	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart
Price	—	-20% $279.00 List: $349.00	$129.99	$299.00	$69.00	-12% $175.29 List: $199.00
Delivery	—	Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15	Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14	Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14	Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14	Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15
Customer Ratings	3.8222	4.445	4.3317	4.61,600	4.49,810	4.6858
Value for money	—	4.4	4.0	4.4	4.3	4.3
Sound quality	—	4.1	4.1	4.5	3.9	4.5
Tech Support	—	3.3	3.6	4.1	3.4	4.0
Quality of material	—	4.8	5.0	—	3.9	4.6
Easy to use	—	3.6	4.2	4.0	—	—
Sold By	—	Kellards	IK Multimedia	Amazon.com	Amazon.com	Tech Haven.
number of channels	2	2	—	2	2	2
hardware interface	usb	usb	usb	usb2.0	usb	headphone
connectivity tech	USB	USB	USB	USB	USB	USB
model year	—	—	—	2021	2021	2021
style	Recording Interface	Portable	—	2-in/2-out with 76 Compressor	Interface only	Single

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5

222 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers like the performance, sound quality, and ease of use of the audio midi interface. For example, they mention that it works flawlessly, the mic pre-amp sounds clear, and it's built like a tank. That said, they also appreciate the value for money.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

66 customers mention53 positive13 negative

Customers like the performance of the audio midi interface. They say it works spectacularly, the OEM driver works nicely, and it gets the job done. Some mention that it works well enough for voice-over, and over dubbing works perfectly. It also works under Linux and Windows.

"...UPDATE: I am no longer using the SM57 mic. The Onyx is a great unit for that mic. However, I've upgraded my studio since then...." Read more

"...that this audio interface does everything it says it does and it does it properly. I have absolutely zero complaints as far as something not working...." Read more

"This is a great interface. It is well build and gets the job done - UNLESS you decide you want to stay current and use Windows 8 on your computer...." Read more

"...The hardware is built great and is definitely the highlight of the product...." Read more

62 customers mention45 positive17 negative

Customers like the sound quality of the audio midi interface. They mention that it sounds great, the mic pre-amp has sounded clear, and has a very low noise floor. Some say that the new drivers it works well with almost no noise.

"...It has a much lower noise floor. I also want to mention that the sample rate of Onyx is 44.1 and 48kHz. This is fine for most uses...." Read more

"...The mic pre-amp has sounded clear through my listening of my mic, but I don't do any recording with it so I'm not the best judge of strength..." Read more

"...I can easily get a really strong and natural sounding signal. This box is definitely built like a tank! My AudioBox feels very cheap in comparison...." Read more

"...4. I do get a bit of background noise and a slight decrease in quality...." Read more

58 customers mention46 positive12 negative

Customers like the quality of the audio midi interface. They say it's built very well, solid, and has zero noise or hum. Customers also appreciate the sturdy knobs and great feel to them. Overall, they say it has quality design and performance.

"...have actually tried to take them off in the past, but they are secured extremely well...." Read more

"I really wanted this to work out. The thing is built like a tank, and it has a great configuration for a desktop USB audio interface...." Read more

"...These preamps were the main reason I purchased this unit and their quality and overall rugged construction of this unit is quite welcome." Read more

"This is a great interface. It is well build and gets the job done - UNLESS you decide you want to stay current and use Windows 8 on your computer...." Read more

25 customers mention25 positive0 negative

Customers find the audio midi interface very simple to use and install. They say it works flawlessly with their iMac and is convenient that it is powered through USB. Customers also mention that it comes with easy to work with software.

"...No issues at all. Good quality sound. No Clicks, No Latency. Simple and Perfect for what I want it for...." Read more

"...The build quality is nice, and setup on a computer is flawless...." Read more

"...If anyone wants a very simple, very easy to useinterface but don't mind if its not super loaded with features,..." Read more

"...Real easy controls to use and it unplugs and stores easily when not in use if you don't want it taking up space on your desk...." Read more

16 customers mention16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the value of the audio midi interface. They say it's a great budget interface, with absurd quality and price.

"Based on low cost and surprisingly good performance I feel Mackie's Onyx Blackjack deserves a five star rating...." Read more

"...The interface itself is an easy five stars. This thing is awesome for the price, but these type of products extend past hardware alone and because..." Read more

"...So why 4 stars? A few reasons: First, the price point is pretty choice...." Read more

"...AND I CHANGE MY RATE FROM 1 TO 5 BECAUSE IT'S VERY GOOD QUALITY AND PRICE." Read more

10 customers mention10 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the audio midi interface. They mention that the slanted ergonomic design is really helpful, and the unit is well-built. They also appreciate the beautiful machinery and the silky smooth knobs.

"...The knobs are nice and simple. Everything feels great.Unfortunately, it only lasted about a year...." Read more

"...Very solid, looks great, sound great, inspires confidence, and if you care about looking like a pro, it does that too." Read more

"...Clean, transparent, uncolored. And for $99, for Heaven's sake!..." Read more

"...Great sound, great design. Simple and effective.I" Read more

14 customers mention9 positive5 negative

Customers are mixed about the latency of the audio midi interface. Some mention that they were able to get relatively low latency, with good performance, and as low as 3ms output. However, others say that it has some pretty bad latency issues that pop up every once in awhile, with crackly and intermittent performance.

"...No issues at all. Good quality sound. No Clicks, No Latency. Simple and Perfect for what I want it for...." Read more

"...The major negatives are that it has some pretty bad latency issues that pop up every once in awhile. It works great if I only do one thing at a time...." Read more

"...This overall good performance is allowing me to get as low as 3ms output latency in Reason 8--great for tracking and virtual instruments...." Read more

"...thing are absolutely fantastic, clear and concise audio with zero latency monitoring. For the price, you can't beat this Mackie Blackjack...." Read more

15 customers mention4 positive11 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the drivers of the audio midi interface. They mention that the support is awful, the drivers are useless, and the company has failed to create Windows 8 compatible drivers.

"...One big issue Windows drivers are crap." Read more

"...Mackie has failed to create Windows 8 compatible drivers, and has no plans to do so...." Read more

"...for Signal/Overload LED's on the inputs, but very sensitive, no needed drivers (at least for the Mac environment), all-metal and built like a frickin..." Read more

"...If you do any research you will see that this device was plagued with driver issues which were completely ignored by Mackie for almost a year...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

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BlueSky

For Mac, a SM57 and a home studio, it's Perfect

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2011

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

I was worried from reading the other reviews that I would have problems. (including reviews outside of Amazon)
After doing a lot of research I realized that it was probably the right fit for what I want.

I have a MAC Power Book - OS 10.6.6
I had been using only the 1/8th inch jack on the side for input and that, obviously, wasn't cutting it.

I wanted to use an electric guitar and a near field mic for vocals - specifically a Sure SM57
- because I'm recording in a place where I can't control the outside sounds and if I want to get a clean sound without a lot of background noise
and a low noise floor, I knew I would need the less sensitive and more directional mic.

The Sure SM57 needs a pre-amp that generates at least 54db to 60db, because it's a dynamic mic.
The Mackie Onyx Blackjack 2x2 USB was the only USB box I found who's pre-amp was that strong.

Since I have a MAC there was no "driver" problems talked about in other reviews.

I plugged the box in, went to the System Preferences >Sound > switched the "Audio In" to Onyx Blackjack, started up "Logic" and it worked instantly.
No issues at all. Good quality sound. No Clicks, No Latency. Simple and Perfect for what I want it for.

I tested it on Electric Guitar and then vocals with the SM57, and with some larger diaphragm mics.
It does the job I want it to do, and I give it 5 stars.

UPDATE: I am no longer using the SM57 mic. The Onyx is a great unit for that mic. However, I've upgraded my studio since then.
Now I'm using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i/2 2nd Generation. It has a much lower noise floor. I also want to mention that the sample rate of Onyx is 44.1 and 48kHz. This is fine for most uses. However, most mastering these days is preferred to be done in 96kHz. If you intend to have your music professionally mastered you should record it in 96kHz, and the Onyx is NOT the right USB interface for that.

45 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Good audio interface, but there isnt anything about it that makes it great

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2016

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

I recently bought this as a replacement for my old audio interface. Let me start off by saying that I do not use this audio interface expecting professional studio results. I simply use this audio interface to run my microphone for podcasting, streaming, and playing with friends. I will occasionally record instruments, but its just to get ideas put down quickly.

With all that being said, I want to start off by saying that this audio interface does everything it says it does and it does it properly. I have absolutely zero complaints as far as something not working. The build quality is nice, and setup on a computer is flawless. Honestly on some computers you dont even have to predownload drivers, as your computer will do it automatically as soon as you plug in the interface.

Anyways, on to the reasoning behind 3 stars. As I just mentioned, the interface does its job. But thats it. It doesnt go above and beyond. It comes with small little nuances, and this interface is basically a living definition of "average".

Ill start off will all the little nuances Ive had with it.

1. Condenser mics absolutely work well, but I found that on some of my high quality condensor mics I have to turn the gain up all the way up. All my low quality and low power condenser mics do not have this problem, but it does result in lower quality recording.
2. This interface is obviously tailored and geared at home pc desk setups. What i mean by that is that the only input in the front is the headphone input. This allows the rest of the cables to be routed behind a desk and concealed well so the desk can look nice and cable free. Except the problem is that the interface is at an angle. So even though all the cables plug in at the back, you can still see them jutting out since they are angled upwards. A bit counter intuitive.
3. Ive only run into this problem 1 or 2 times before, but in my case ive had the recording issues just because the usb wasnt sitting in a perfect position in the PC. All it took was a little jiggle and it worked again. I can see this being pretty annoying for anyone with a pc with a hard to reach usb connection input.
4. I do get a bit of background noise and a slight decrease in quality. Obviously its considerably less than something like a usb mic, but ive used other interfaces like tascams and presonus usb interfaces that gave me slightly higher quality.

In conclusion, this interface is good. Its decent. But there is nothing about it that would convince me to absolutely pick it over other high quality usb interfaces.

Helpful

Matt

Fantastic for music listening and VOIP

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2015

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

I bought this to use in conjunction with my JBL LSR305s studio monitors and Audio Technica ATH2100 microphone. I don't do any music recording, I only use this for recreational listening and voice comms as well as the occasional stream. If you are looking to buy this for home music editing/recording save yourself the time and read the next review.

-Build Quality-
Superb! The casing is very sturdy and has a nice heft to it. The rubber feet on the bottom don't quite 'stick' to the desk like I would like, but they won't be wearing out and coming off. The knobs are made of a high quality plastic and turn smoothly. I have actually tried to take them off in the past, but they are secured extremely well. The slight slant for the controls is also ergonomically pleasing and a nice change to the usual front facing controls most interfaces use.

-Drivers-
As soon as I plugged the thing in it was recognized and my computer was downloading the necessary drivers. With a lot of audio interfaces the drivers can be a hassle, but luckily Mackie has done an excellent job here. I am currently running windows 10 as well, so I am thrilled to see it supported.

-Audio Quality-
I have noticed no hissing or interference through my JBL LSR305s or my DT990s even when listening for it. The DAC Mackie is using in here appears to be of decent quality which is nice to see. I also appreciate the inclusion of TRS outputs for the studio monitors on such a budget audio interface. The mic pre-amp has sounded clear through my listening of my mic, but I don't do any recording with it so I'm not the best judge of strength here.

Compared to other options in the price range I think Mackie has knocked it out of the park with this one, highly recommend for anyone needing to power a XLR capable mic and studio monitors.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Billy

Funktioniert top

Reviewed in Germany on May 24, 2019

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

Hab das Teil nur gelegentlich in Betrieb. Läuft unter Windows 7 aber top.

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fredericmisik@yahoo.es

Sólido, compacto, con buen sonido y muy fácil de instalar. ¡Que mas esperar!

Reviewed in Spain on November 19, 2017

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

Me encanta ! Compacto (Mas pequeño que los FOSCURITE correspondiente en gama), de aspecto muy sólido por su carcaza en aluminio y con un sonido excelente! Se alimenta via USB. Con lo cual con enchufarlo al PC/Mac ya está!. Y para mi eso es un plus sin duda. Lo hace mucho mas fácil de llevar a donde sea sin que tener que tirar de regletas etc. El otro punto a su favor e que los XLR y Jack están detrás. Par mi se me hace mucho mas cómodo. Nada de cable que pasa por encima de la mesa. Va detrás y por debajo de la mesa.... Pero claro eso dependerá de cada uno y de como plantea usarlo.

En definitiva. Lo recomiendo. Nada que envidiar de sus competidores! Y lo digo por haber probado algunos.

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AmazonRocks

Really high quality sounding interface for the price, but a little tricky setup for Windows user's as others have mentioned

Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2017

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

Warning for Windows User's:

Initial setup was a bit difficult on Windows 10. The Mackie driver is fairly out of date and the minimum ASIO Buffer Size it would let me set was 256 samples. This was still low enough to record live guitar/vocals, but considering I have a fairly powerful PC I expected to be able to set the buffer size a lot lower for less latency. Seems like the out of date driver did not mesh too well with Windows 10 and for some reason I couldn't get the buffer size lower without a bunch of clicking and distorted noises. I was able to download ASIO4ALL for free and that worked a lot better after tweaking it for a while. I was able to get an ASIO buffer size as low as 64 samples without any clicks or distortion. The live instruments/vocals have no detectable delay at all below 128 samples on my setup. Even with ASIO4ALL, things can still be a bit buggy and not always work. I found restarting my computer and trying different USB ports seemed to fix any issues. Would be nice if Mackie updated their driver's so everything would work smoother, but if you don't mind spending a couple hours figuring it out it works great once you get everything set up! Anyone having trouble getting it working on Windows 10 is welcome to message me for help.

Apple User's:

I also have a Macbook that I initially tried setting it up on. Plugged it in and it worked right away since Apple has their own built in drivers. Highly recommend the Onyx Blackjack if you have a Mac, set up shouldn't be an issue for you and it works great!

Quality:

The physical construction of the interface is very solid. It should hold up for a really long and feels like a piece of professional equipment. The sound recording quality is very good. I have tried running an SM58 (dynamic mic) for vocals and that worked well. I have also run an AT2035 (condenser mic) for vocals and recording acoustic and that works even better from my experience. Much crisper/clearer sound with the condenser mic, just remember to have the phantom power turned on for the condenser mic to work! An electric guitar plugged directly into the interface with the Hi-Z switch engaged also sounds very good. I've also recorded electronic drums using the interface, which also sounded very good. Since you have two inputs you can record the electric drums in stereo, which is a really nice feature to have!

2 people found this helpful

C2000

自分にはこれで十分です。

Reviewed in Japan on April 8, 2017

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

MacBook Proにて使用しています。
Macの場合は専用ドライバーが必要無く、インストールの手間や設定といった面倒は無く繋げてすぐに使えます。
MIDI I/Oが無いのと、他社製品によくあるWeb配信等に便利なループバック機能はありませんが、それらの機能は必要無いと割り切っているなら十分使えます。
また入出力端子が全てリア側についているという点が気に入っています。
他社の同クラスかワンランク上の製品のほとんどはフロント側にモニター可能の入力があるため、個人的にあまり取り回しが良くないといった印象を受けます。

2 people found this helpful

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Client d'Amazon

Compacte et efficace

Reviewed in France on July 11, 2016

Style: Recording InterfaceVerified Purchase

De taille très compacte, cette petite interface USB est parfaite pour une configuration mobile, par exemple :

- maquettage guitare-chant, duo guitare, etc : un switch Line/Hi-Z permet d'adapter l'impédance et se passer d'une DI pour brancher une guitare ou basse.
- enregistrement piano ou clavier : deux entrées pour les deux canaux gauche-droite.
- captation d'ensembles acoustiques avec 2 micros sur alimentation phantom, ou même captation de concert en combinant micro d'ambiance et sortie de console.
- enregistrement de podcast : un micro voix et une seconde source audio sur le deuxième canal

Possibilité d'y brancher des enceintes de monitoring en jack en plus d'un casque, chacun avec son potard de niveau de sortie.
Pas de problème de drivers pour Windows 10. Fonctionnement parfaitement et stable, testé avec succès sur SoundForge, Cubase, Nuendo..
Matériel robuste et qui a l'air fiable sur le long terme.

2 people found this helpful

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Mackie Onyx Blackjack 2x2 USB Recording Interface

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