The Mackie ONYX16 is a premium 16-channel analog mixer designed to deliver high-fidelity sound and versatile connectivity for musicians, podcasters, home studio owners, and live sound applications. Built around Mackie's renowned ONYX microphone preamplifiers, this mixer provides transparent, low-noise gain that captures the full detail and dynamic range of any source, from delicate acoustic instruments to powerful vocal performances. The intuitive channel strip layout offers comprehensive control for each input, including 3-band EQ with a sweepable mid-frequency for precise tonal shaping, and auxiliary sends for creating monitor mixes or applying external effects. The mixer's fully analog signal path ensures warm, musical sound quality, while its robust construction with a steel chassis and tactile controls guarantees durability and reliable performance in both studio and mobile environments.

A standout feature of the ONYX16 is its integrated multi-track USB audio interface, which bridges the gap between analog mixing and digital recording. The USB connection allows each of the 16 input channels to be streamed individually to a computer as separate tracks, providing unparalleled flexibility for recording live bands, podcasts with multiple participants, or complex studio sessions. This enables users to capture a pristine, isolated recording of every microphone and instrument for detailed editing, mixing, and processing within Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software after the performance. Simultaneously, the mixer can receive a stereo return from the computer for monitoring, making it a complete centerpiece for hybrid analog-digital production workflows.

The mixer offers a flexible routing matrix with dedicated stereo aux returns, a powerful 7-band graphic EQ on the main outputs for room tuning, and balanced XLR main outputs alongside unbalanced RCA tape outputs. Its onboard monitoring section includes a high-quality headphone amplifier with dedicated level control. The Mackie ONYX16 successfully merges the immediate, hands-on control and sonic character of a classic analog console with the modern convenience of computer-based multi-track recording. It is an ideal solution for content creators, worship teams, and project studios seeking a single, professional-grade unit that can handle everything from front-of-house mixing to sophisticated multi-track production without compromising on sound quality or functionality.