MusoTalk is Germany’s leading video website for musicians and producers, streaming more than 60,000 shows every month to the German-speaking audience. The site features reviews, interviews and articles written by musicians and producers and is a significant forum for the German music scene. The founder and host of MusoTalk (Non Eric) has a long history both as a producer and as a member of the musical instrument industry. He has released more than 60 club tracks on his LunaTec Trance music label alone, selling a total of more than a million albums worldwide.
There is more than a fair share of Mackie product reviews on the site, but Non Eric really had some great things to say about the MCU Pro family of control surfaces.
“I have a long and wonderful relationship with Mackie products,” remarks Non. “I bought the first Mackie 8-Bus console that came to Germany and used a Mackie 1202 for all my live shows. They never let me down once. After I moved to a software-only setup, I went for the Mackie Control Universal. I think that it is the best controller for Logic on the market. Now doing my podcast is so brilliant because it is supported by all major music software applications. Now the MCU Pro even improves on an already great controller. Combined with the C4 Pro, any software becomes as intuitive to use as hardware.”
“I am using the Mackie HR624mk2s for my work. These great-looking speakers have an excellent sound quality and gave me a very accurate and natural sound. They are easy and fun to work with,” concludes Eric.
Mackie would like to thank MusoTalk for support Mackie products over the years and look forward to providing more excellent products for review.
AES attendees this year, all 17,892 of them who made their way to San Francisco, CA, came away with something – especially those who swung by the Mackie booth.
AES has traditionally been a very recording-focused group, and the show certainly lends itself to that with tons of boutique brands and products.
Our own homerun in this department may very well have been the illustrious Hotwire VT-12. Users tired of “digital modeling” amps, or of having to drive the bejesus out of their power tubes to get their tone, were more than impressed with Hotwire’s veritable Swiss Army Knife performance. An all-tube front-end that physically rewires itself all the way to the output stage – without DSP even engaged – is a guitar amp technology that none but us have achieved to date (hence the “patent pending” note on the product page). Being able to drop your output wattage from 120 watts all the way down to 1 watt and not sacrifice an ounce of tone is nothing to shake a pick at either. A 30-watt amplifier for the on-board compression driver – for full range PA-like audio – and a built-in 60-watt amp for the external EX-12 speaker can get you into those upper echelons of performance audio when you need it. And when analog isn’t enough, you’ve got DSP for days with 96 fully-customizable onboard presets. There’s no end to what this amplifier can do, and just about everyone that visited the Mackie booth left carrying that sentiment with them.
The ProFX Series saw its first audience as well, showcasing a full feature set that the competition hasn’t touched. We uniquely offer the combination of our custom-designed “Gig-Ready” Running Man FX™, precision 7-band graphic EQ and onboard integrated USB on both models – the ProFX8 or the ProFX12. Premium Mackie mic pres and our legendarily transparent 3-band EQ make these mixers an unconquerable deal at an undefeatable price.
The ultra-light and powerful PPM Series Powered Mixers saw their second audience. People were amazed at the feather-like weight of these Class-D powerhouses, not to mention the updated features such as dedicated inline channel compression and the high-quality RM FX+™ effects with tap delay. “More Sound Per Pound” in a package like this will easily make weekend warriors and professionals alike rethink their active setups and switch toward powering a compliment of passive speakers from a powered mixer that can truly deliver the raw power needed..
For entry level show attendees, which there were aplenty, we also showcased the U.420 and U.420d “hybrid” mixers – Integrated 96kHz FireWire neatly tucked into the most compact, ergonomic and easy-to-use mixer we could possibly build. Whether you’re a DJ, podcaster, keyboardist, producer or plumber, a U.Series mixer could very well complete your next gigging or recording setup.
Other “culprits” of the show included the MCU Pro family of control surfaces – the most widely used, widely supported control surface on the planet. We had a full recording studio setup in our “stage” area featuring the complete MCU Pro line as well as a Big Knob, capable of switching listeners between the exceedingly popular MR5s and unbeatably clear-and-balanced HR824mk2s we also brought to the show.
The entire VLZ3 line, our most popular mixer series to date as proven over a near-20-year track record, dominated its corner of the booth as well. To this day it seems that everyone we talk to either has or has used one of the legendary VLZ mixers, and now we offer them all the way down to the ultra-compact 802 and 402-VLZ3 model sizes. These mixers are still the ultimate analog solution in their class. Heck, they even invented the class in which they compete.
That’s about a wrap. This 3-day show was a blast for all who attended, especially us Mackoids. We enjoy meeting our customers in person, and even more, we enjoy sharing all of our newest gear with customers face-to-face. Next up: NAMM. See you there!
Redhook Brewery has a long history of making some of the finest full-bodied, hand-crafted beer in the Northwest. And it just so happens that they are just down the road from Mackie world headquarters in Woodinville, WA.
Every summer, Redhook holds a series of outdoor movies nights called Redhook Moonlight Cinema. Basically, just combine one part giant inflatable screen, two parts Mackie powered loudspeakers and 20 billion parts beer and there you go. It is really fun and a great way to spend a summer evening. This summer, Mackie and Redhook partnered to show some really cool flicks. The lineup included Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, 300, Kingpin, The Shining and Knocked Up. Like I said…fun for all…ever watched The Shining outdoors? It is an odd experience.
One night, in particular, was Military Appreciation Night and anyone with a Military ID was granted free admission, although there are no weapons permitted on Redhook’s campus. The movie shown was…Top Gun.
Needless to say, the audience was sympathetic to the epic tale of friendship and intense competition so effectively conveyed by such characters as “Maverick” and “Iceman”. In fact there was hardly a dry eye in the place when “Goose” met his untimely end, foolhardily engaging the airplanes canopy during an emergency ejection.
However, Top Gun fans will remember that good always triumphs evil and “Maverick” learns a valuable lesson. It turns out that Mackie learned a lesson also. Movies + Redhook + Mackie = Good times.
One day earlier this year, avid race fan and dedicated Mackie Tech Support Rep Nick Kristoffersen came by the graphic design department looking to get a load of Mackie vinyl decals for his rally car.
Now, all Mackie employees are loyal fans of the brand, but not all are willing to blanket their rides with Mackie decals (although you can see more than a few “running man” decals in the parking lot). Anyway, Lead Graphic Designer Jayme Delma was quick to ask why he wanted so many decals.
It turns out that Nick was scheduled to race his Subaru WRX in Cle Elum, WA for the Under The Wires Rally X event and when it came time for him to choose his race car number, he could think of no better number than 450. You know, like SRM450, the world’s best-selling portable powered loudspeaker…or SRM450v2, boasting more power, clarity and punch than ever before. But I digress, Jayme not only fulfilled his request, but had some custom vinyls created for the sweet rally car.
The day of the event came and not only did Nick roll up in the best looking car in the competition, he also brought along a pair of SRM450v2 loudspeakers for exciting turn-by-turn announcements.
Check out a little bit of footage from the event and join us in congratulating Nick on a job well done.
Beat your plug-ins and virtual instruments into submission and get $300...it's a win/win situation
The C4 Pro is the ultimate controller for Reason, Live or just about any program or plugin where tweaking parameters is the norm. It plays well with others, seamlessly integrating with the MCU Pro and Extender Pro. However, it also has a fiercely independent streak and shines as a stand-alone device. 32 V-pot rotary encoders, each with a super-bright dedicated displays ensures at-a-glance control of even the beefiest of plug-ins. Perfect for studio applications, for sure, but also allows for intense manipulation during live sets. You can even custom assign each and every knob for almost any bit of software out there. So, whether you are adding it to your existing MCU Pro setup or looking for hands-on command of your software, you can be sure that you will have ultimate control. Don’t let your software control you…get your hands on the C4 Pro and dominate your production.
Purchase a Mackie C4 Pro from an authorized U.S. Mackie Dealer between October 1, 2008 and November 15, 2008 to qualify for a $300 rebate. Your rebate must be postmarked no later than November 30, 2008 to be eligible. Mail this fully completed rebate coupon along with the original box UPC codes and a copy of your receipt (keep the original) to the address below. (If you bought a floor demo, you must send a copy of a store-printed receipt that indicates "no box")
U.Series mixers are truly innovative. Here are some reasons why:
Plug It In, Turn It Up—Simple layout allows for instant recording and mixing
Big Features, Little Mixer—No other mixer in their class features such a rich array of mixing tools
Ingenious Connectivity— 24-bit/96kHz FireWire I/O with “Loop Thru” allows for impressive (and simple) routing for recording and performing with your laptop
4 high-headroom stereo line inputs for keys, synths, drum machines...
Mackie designed RIAA phono preamp for a turntable
3-band “full-kill” active EQ on every channel
Stereo aux send for a monitor mix or effects
Built-in DI for acoustic guitar, bass, etc.
2 Mackie mic channels Premium with 3-band, mid-sweep active EQ
2 high-headroom stereo line inputs with 3-band “full-kill” active EQ
2 RIAA phono preamps for turntables, complete with 30mm crossfader
YOUNG SONGWRITERS REACH FOR STARS WITH ONYX SATELLITE
The Experience Music Project (which now also includes the Science Fiction Museum) has been in Seattle since 2000. Housed in a completely unique 140,000 square foot Frank O. Gehry-designed space, the EMP takes on the status of “sculpture" as often as it does “building".
EMP blends interpretative, interactive exhibits with cutting-edge technology to educate visitors about the history, development and execution of anything musical. There’s a ton of rare artifacts and memorabilia…check out their exhibitions. It is a truly unique place and an equally unique experience when you visit.
Part of the EMP’s education-driven mission involves educational camps for young teens. Specifically, they conduct Teen Artist Workshops, which take place in the summer and are for teens going into 8th through 11th grades. Whatever musical interests the teens have, there is a workshop that will help them to develop that skill. Teens receive one-on-one training from industry professionals and each session culminates in a final project or event that showcases creativity through music.
Photo by Rick Barry, courtesy of EMP|SFM.
Mackie was asked to get involved with a Songwriting Workshop this summer where students explore various songwriting styles and spend the week writing and recording their own songs. Mackie armed the teens with Onyx Satellites and Tracktion 3 for recording purposes. The Satellite is perfect for educational endeavors. The Onyx mic preamps sound great and the integrated monitor control section makes it an all-in-one solution for anyone who needs a small interface. Plus, the dual headphone outputs make it very easy for students to pair up and record.
Tracktion 3 is also great for students, as the single screen interface is very easy to learn and use.
Musico Pro, an industry-leading magazine for Spanish-speaking musicians, recently got their hands on Mackie's HRmk2 Series Studio Reference Monitors (the HR624mk2 & HR824mk2). See why the HRmk2 Series is the perfect reference monitor, no matter what language you speak.
C’mon, you know you like to play it. Somewhere in your house (perhaps tucked away in the basement or not-so-oft used closet) rests your Guitar Hero III axe, with obvious signs of wear on the first four buttons…expert is hard, yo. You might claim that it is your nephew’s, left behind during the last visit. But we know better, heck, we might have played you online a time or two.
The time has come and you need to be ready to rock. Guitar Hero World Tour comes out this fall (Activision’s website says 10.26.08), and Mackie is all over it. Mackie is, once again, the EXCLUSIVE loudspeaker system for Guitar Hero. We are the ONLY loudspeaker and stage monitor on EVERY stage in EVERY venue.
Not only that, you can also have your character (oh yeah, GHWT has an awesome new “create your rocker” feature) wear a classic Mackie logo tee or even ink him/her up with a sweet “Running Man” tattoo…now that rocks!
Guitar Hero World Tour has greatly expanded, adding a vocal and super-sweet drum controller (with elevated cymbals…awesome).
Use the player below to check out two killer game promos, one of which focuses on the unique new drum controller. We also included footage from a GHIII Tournament that Mackie held during the 2007 NAMM Show. Watch as this young prodigy totally kills “Through the Fire and Flames” on expert, no less. Impressive.
LOADS OF SRMv2 REVIEWS. SOME GOOD, SOME REALLY GOOD
The SRMv2 Series (SRM350v2 & SRM450v2) has re-opened the eyes (well, ears) of many professional live sound engineers. It seems impossible to maker perfection perfect-er, but the Mackie gurus have done just that. The new SRMv2 Series has more power, clarity and punch than ever before, plus they have shed some serious pounds. Check out the latest reviews, then head to the store for a listen. What does it feel like to have your ears re-opened? It feels good, trust us. Like a cotton swab for your mind. Seriously.
SAVE $150 WHEN YOU BUY A PAIR OF SRM450V2 LOUDSPEAKERS!
Purchase a pair of SRM450v2s from an authorized U.S. Mackie dealer between Sept. 1, 2008 and Oct.15, 2008 to qualify for a rebate. Your rebate must be postmarked no later than Oct. 31, 2008 to be eligible. Download the official rebate coupon and mail the fully completed rebate coupon along with the original box UPC codes for both speakers and a copy of your receipt (keep the original) to the address below. (If you bought floor demos, you must send a copy of a store-printed receipt that indicates "no box").
Mail completed rebate coupon to: MACKIE REBATES-ATTN: SRM450v2 Rebate, 4936 Verdugo Way #338, Camarillo, CA 93012
* Limited to one pair of SRM450v2 speakers only per household. Attempts to redeem this rebate more than once will result in disqualification from rebate promotion. Valid to U.S. residents only. All checks will be mailed within 8-10 weeks from the time your request is received. LOUD Technologies Inc. will not honor delayed submissions due to dealer's being out of stock . Submissions received incomplete, inaccurate or without proper documentation will not be eligible. All requests and submitted materials become the property of LOUD Technologies Inc. and will not be returned. LOUD Technologies Inc. is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incorrect, incomplete, illegible or postage due requests or requests that are not properly submitted for any reason. Such requests will not be honored. Keep copies of submitted materials for your records. Please see downloaded rebate coupon for rules and regulations.
I think the phrase “…at least it’s a dry heat” makes sense most of the time. However, it did not offer much comfort when attending the 2008 New Media Expo in Las Vegas, which took place August 14-16. Daytime temps of over 100 degrees everyday ensured that you stayed in the convention center (or casinos) for as long as possible and kept all outdoor activities to a minimum. That seemed to work out well for the 2500+ attendees, who were fine hanging out in the lobby, tapping away at their laptops after visiting booths and attending workshops.
The New Media Expo is in its fourth year, catering to content creators and promising to arm them with the knowledge and networking necessary to not only improve the quality of their content, but hopefully expand their audiences and get some money in their pockets.
A large portion of the attendees were podcasters and, as such, spend a large part of their time recording audio. Mackie was there to not only show off the U.Series Production Mixers and MR Mackie Reference Monitors, but also served to educate people who were just starting out, or have produced their show using only the most modest of tools.
There were a lot of people whose studio consisted of a USB mic and a pair of computer speakers or headphones, and when podcasting was in its infancy, this may have served them well. However, times have changed. People are making money podcasting, and it only stands to reason that quality audio production would not be far behind. Many people were interested in making the wise move to a hybrid mixer. The U.420d, with two mic pres, two stereo line channels and great price point was definitely a crowd pleaser. The hip crowd loved the unique form factor, and the FireWire “loop-thru” feature was a huge success. With this feature, a podcaster could hook up with an interviewee on Skype, bring that audio into the U.420d, combine it with their own mic and send the whole mix back to the computer for recording. This was a revelation to many and a perfect solution to their problems.
Mackie’s MR5 monitors were also a huge hit. Besides letting the attendees listen to their favorite music through the pair, Mackie Product Manager Matt Redmon and Communications Lead, Ryan Cassady, explained the other benefits of using a reference monitor with flat frequency response. A podcaster cannot assume their audience is only listening through headphones. As new media grows, the audience becomes more sophisticated and a content creator must be sure that their mix will translate well on any playback system. Once that light bulb went off, people could really see the value of the MR monitors, which you can get for around $300 a pair at any US authorized Mackie dealer.
We also had a decidedly more professional setup, consisting of an Onyx1220 (w/ FW card), a pair of HR624mk2 Studio Monitors and an MCU Pro. Since the crowd was a real mix, from noob to pro, there was also a lot of interest in this station. The ability to multi-track record out of the Onyx was a really strong selling point and the monitors sounded excellent, of course.
We even gave away a couple of U.420d mixers, which was a sure crowd pleaser!
Besides manning the booth, Matt Redmon was also tasked with conducting two separate on-site workshops. In these discussions, he outlined what hardware would be needed for a serious audio production rig. From mic to ear, he explained
the benefits and drawbacks that a consumer faces when choosing the right hardware and software for their applications. He also walked them through Tracktion 3, showing them how easy it is to get a session going, lay down a music bed and export the whole mix for distribution.
We would have to say that this event was a huge success. Everyone who attended is sure to benefit from increased production capabilities and marketing. There are undoubtedly many blogs out there giving you a play by play, so be sure to search those out. Everyone was networking like crazy, proving once again that what happens in Vegas, does not necessarily STAY in Vegas!
Seattle has long been known as a hot-spot for music. However, grunge died long ago…where does that leave Seattle? The annual Capitol Hill Block Party is the answer. For the past five years, several blocks of one of Seattle hippest neighborhoods is transformed into a multi-stage festival that feels more like an outdoor club and less like the dusty, mosh-laden festivals that take place around the country every summer. Even with the 20,000+ crowds, one gets the sense that this is a party for Seattlites, which is a far cry from overcrowded Bumbershoot.
For this event, we gather all available Mackoids from the office and transform the group from cubicle nerds to professional production crew, working two 15+ hour days to pull off one of the largest shows in the region. You can find tech support members running the Vera Stage. You will see our Business Director running monitors. One of our Product Managers, the Copywriter and our Product Requirements Manager patched the main stage on both days. It is really quite amazing that we are able to pull off such a large show, when our normal routine is full of meetings and spreadsheets. Anyway, enough about us.
The Main Stage was the place to be this year. We used Onyx 4880s at the FOH and monitor positions, and there was no missing the SRM450v2s that were lined up as front fill speakers. Our sister brand, EAW was also well represented, as the main stacks were comprised of a large amount of KF750s and SB1000zs. This awesome system was well fed, dining on the gourmet sounds of several groundbreaking groups over the course of the two-day event.
Here a list of the bands that rocked the main stage:
Mackie also sponsored the Vera Stage, which highlights emerging artists, most of which have never played a venue of this caliber. The Vera Stage was fully decked-out with a TT System32. With the new software update, you can use the DS3232 Digital Snake as a splitter, sending the same signals to TT24s at both FOH and monitors. Check out the FOH/Monitor split situation at the TT System32 page. The main featured a healthy dose of the Mackie Tetrad line (S408/S410s) and was more than enough for the venue. SRM450v2s were used as stage monitors.
Mackie created and ran the VIP area, which featured some free beer and booze for whoever could get in. There were couches for relaxing and even a couple of Xbox360 stations featuring Guitar Hero III. Not bad.
So, get online and check out reviews from the show and give some support to the involved artists. It was a hell of a time and Mackie is super proud to have been involved (yet again) with what is arguably the best block party in the entire free world.
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MusoTalk is Germany’s leading video website for musicians and producers, streaming more than 60,000 shows every month to the German-speaking audience. The site features reviews, interviews and articles written by musicians and producers and is a significant forum for the German music scene. The founder and host of MusoTalk (Non Eric) has a long history both as a producer and as a member of the musical instrument industry. He has released more than 60 club tracks on his LunaTec Trance music label alone, selling a total of more than a million albums worldwide.
The 
Musico Pro, an industry-leading magazine for Spanish-speaking musicians, recently got their hands on Mackie's 
The 
Purchase a pair of 
We also had a decidedly more professional setup, consisting of an 
Seattle has long been known as a hot-spot for music. However, grunge died long ago…where does that leave Seattle? The annual 
