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 More than eight straight days of driving, countless bad meals and a near infinite amount of straight up endurance is now over. The Mackie European Road Trip is now officially done. We saw more dealers, customers and parking tickets than ever thought possible (just kidding, Mackie finance folks).
The good news? Europe is now fully indoctrinated the ways of Onyx-i and HD. The response was overwhelming: Both dealers and customers love the new Mackie gear. The HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers were a huge hit. They offer higher-output, better sonic clarity and certainly look better than anything out there. And since they are flyable (both horizontally and vertically) they are perfect for installs. The crew certainly appreciated how lightweight they were and so is anyone who gigs around with a full PA system. Incidentally, HD subwoofers are right around the corner (HD1501, HD1801), creating a full-on HD system. Can't wait to get the reviews in for that...the whole system is simply amazing. 
The all-new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers also made big waves. Of course, since Mackie qualifies the new series to work with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools M-Powered 8, Logic, Sonar and more, it is easy to see what all the fuss is about. We thought that would be the biggest news, but were really happy to see how interested everyone was in the feature set. Customers can now choose to implement the Perkins EQ into the recording path...which was a much sought after feature. The flexibility of the FireWire routing was also a hit. You can choose to route any channels, aux or the master L/R signal. The 1220i lets you route all of these at once and the flagship 1640i features 16x16 FireWire I/O for the ultimate tape-style mixdown. Onyx-i mixers are hitting stores now, go check them out. 
 The crew is now resting, Ben has stopped pointing at things and everything is pretty much back to normal around the office. We sincerely thank the hosting dealers for showing so much support for the brand and generally being nice guys. Click on a link below to get details about that stop:  Confetti - Nottingham, UK
Digital Village - Romford, UK Andertons - Guildford, UK Star's Music - Paris, FR Home Studio - Paris, FR Bekafun - Izegem, BE Music Store Professional - Cologne, DE Music Produktiv - Ibbenbüren, DE Feedback - Rotterdam, NL 
So that's it. Although we need to give the van a rest, you can be sure there is another Road Trip right around the corner. Where will we visit next? It could be in a city near you. Will you get to meet/point at Ben in person?
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
DAY EIGHT: Feedback - Rotterdam, NL VAN CONDITION: Virtually destroyed. Only two wheels and an half a seatbelt remain. CREW CONDITION: At the brink of insanity.  Day eight marks the final stop on Mackie's Euro Road Trip. After Kent kicked Ben out at the last stop, he made his way to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Rotterdam is better enjoyed with good company, but is so rich with culture and good people that you can easily make new friends.
 Rotterdam is one of several locations for Feedback, a full service pro audio dealer. The staff was very kind and really treated the crew (and I use that term loosely) well. Kent spent the day training the staff on the new products and talking to customers that came through. The store itself is set up extremely well and fosters a great environment for playing with your favorite gear.
 As this tour has proven, the new Onyx-i mixers were received very well. Everybody is into the compact footprint of the 820i, which doesn't sacrifice on features and, of course, the flagship 1640i, whose built-in 16x16 FW interface allows users to pull off a true tape-style mixdown. Everyone wants their hands on one.
We all need a little break after this trip, but stay tuned for a re-cap. Thanks for following along.
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
DAY SEVEN: Music Produktiv - Ibbenbüren, DE VAN CONDITION: Indescribable smells, unimaginable filth CREW CONDITION: Wishes they were in Germany for Oktoberfest, but still thinking it's a really nice place   Day seven marks the second day visiting dealers in Germany. Today's stop is at Music Produktiv, arguably one of the largest and coolest retail locations in Europe. You simply cannot miss its massive orange-ness as you approach it when driving the autobahn.
And that is a good thing, because people come from far and wide to shop at Music Produktiv and participate in the many demos and training sessions held here. The crew setup the new gear in the massive live room and spent a few hours training the recording and live sound staff on both the HD Series loudspeakers and the Onyx-i mixers.  The recording guys really loved the Onyx-i series. In fact, Ben and Kent were not sure they would be able to take the mixers with them to the next stop, but they managed to pry them out of the staffs hands before packing up. The 820i, in particular, was a big hit. The staff was certain that it would be perfect for the thousands of DJs and producers that shop at Music Produktiv. They even gave a cool nickname, "Kleine geil", which roughly translates to "Little Bad Ass" or "Little Hottie." We like it.
All in all, Germany has been a great place to showcase the new Mackie gear and anyone in the area should definitely stop by Music Produktiv. Just make sure you plan to spend some time there. Like we said, it's massive! 
There is but one more stop on this tour. Looks like product manager, Ben has had enough of the road and he went back to the states. Looks like Kent is one his own as he travels to Rotterdam, NL and visits the team at Feedback. We will have updates soon.
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
Day Six: Music Store Professional - Cologne, DE Van Condition: The air is infused with the smell of Chimay and Orval Crew Condition: Beleaguered, but maintaining a professional aire about them 
Ah, the road trip. Always sounds good at first, but boy are you ready to get home after a few days. However, that hasn't crept into the minds of the crew, obviously, as they are more energetic and friendly than ever. Perhaps they are growing accustomed to the European way of living. Sorry boys, but in America we have to work in August and you need to pay for your health care...so you better just forget about it.  Day six finds the crew in Germany. Specifically, they are visiting the town of Cologne. Beautiful architecture and rich culture is everywhere. But alas, the boys are here to work, so they headed straight to Music Store Professional, which is located right in the heart of downtown Cologne. As such, it sees a tremendous amount of foot traffic during the busy workday.
 The crew setup in their expansive (and impressive) demo room, which boast a complete stage and more loudspeakers than you can shake a stick at. Go ahead, shake one. Right now. They talked to a ton of customers and trained the staff on the new products. They got tons of great feedback, especially for the new Onyx-i Series mixers.
A couple of German pro audio magazines and blogger-types stopped by to interview the crew. They were really psyched to find out that the Onyx-i mixers were qualified by Mackie for use with Pro Tools M-Powered 8. It is truly big news for home recordists and touring bands alike.  After rocking the place all day long, the boys actually got to see some sights. Ben's penchant for pointing has apparently caught on... There are still two more stops on the tour, Music Produktiv and Feedback. So, please drop by if you are in the area. Otherwise, stay tuned for updates on the tour.
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
DAY FIVE: Bekafun - Izegem, BE VAN CONDITION: Baguette sleeves and empty wine bottles everywhere CREW CONDITION: Shattered emotions due to unrequited love in Paris 
Day four finds the crew in Belgium, home of everything good. Good beer. Good food. Good people. Did I say good beer? Anyway, the boys pulled up to one of the largest and full-featured retail locations they have ever seen. And it is called Bekafun.  The owner of Bekafun is named Koen Bekaert, and he made sure that the Mackie boys received a hearty welcome. Bekafun created cool custom flyers for the event even decked out their own vehicle with massive Mackie signage. The location is huge, as in multiple warehouses (one of which was nearly completely filled with Mackie gear!). There is a separate demo room (complete with fully-stocked bar...wow) next to the store that is used for education of both staff and customers. So, when the customers find out there is a demo going on, it gets packed very quickly. 
The crew gave demo after demo to people who came from far and wide to hear the new gear and just talk shop in general. The boys stayed late into the evening and only left because they needed to pack the van up for the next stop. (Although the crew did manage to work in a few choice Belgian beers at the hotel before hitting the sack).  They awoke the next morning to find out that the hotel had cut all water due to construction. So, they skipped the shower and hit the road. Gross, right?
Long story short, Bekafun (and Belgium, in general) is full of great people and great fun. It is a cool stop for any European road trip. Make sure to say hello to Koen. Heck, their might be another demo scheduled. If so, you will want to get your place in line. Next stop is at Music Store Professional in Cologne, Germany. Stay tuned, as the attempts to safely navigate through another country renowned for their beer. Good luck, boys.
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
DAY FOUR: Home Studio & Star's Music, Paris FR VAN CONDITION: Excess trash has been removed as Ben is very tidy CREW CONDITION: Frantic, with a chance of excessive pointing at things Day four starts with product manager, Ben, driving precariously through the City of Love, Paris. His driving skills are improving day by day. It would turn out to be a very busy day, as the crew had two separate stores to visit. 
 The first was Home Studio, which was very full of customers. They stock a ton of Mackie gear and should visited by any Paris-bound Mackoid. The boys set up the Onyx-i gear right in the shop window and spent time with customers explaining the features and benefits of this great new series.
 Next was a trip to Star's Music, which boasts a ton of live sound equipment. The new HD Series and TH-15A loudspeakers were right at home. The store was very busy, and there was a ton of interest in the new speakers. By the way, when you approach an HD loudspeaker in the wild, please adopt the position seen in the picture. Avoid eye contact and you should be good.
 After a busy day, product manager Ben toured the city. He took all sorts of fine pictures of historic locations and monuments. However, his trip to the Louvre was particularly inspiring.
The next stop is September 22nd at Bekafun in Izegem, Belgium. Come by if you are in the area. Afterwards, offer to take Ben out for beer and frites. He loves them.
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
DAY THREE: Andertons, Guildford UK VAN CONDITION: Smells of bangers and mash CREW CONDITION: Also smells of bangers and mash   Andertons' is easily one of Britain's largest outlets for musical gear, with a great online store for web purchases. It's a great shop with a very enthusiastic staff. Our crew rolled up bright and early, ready to demo the latest Mackie gear.
The boys set up the Onyx-i rig in Andertons' mixer room and there were plenty of interested people. People loved the feel and look of the new series and really appreciated the fact that it is compatible with virtually EVERY DAW out there. No, really...check it out. The PA room was the perfect venue for the HD Series loudspeakers and the TH-15A. The HD speakers get really loud, so its always nice to have an isolated place to really crank them up.  The store was busy and there was a lot of customer interaction, but the guys were able to give one-on-one demos to every staff member. So, if you are near Guildford, you can count on the knowledge of their staff.
After the goodbyes were said, product manager Ben was left to his own devices. He was tasked with driving a van that seated the driver on the left, but had to manage driving on the left side of the road. With the narrow streets he was about to face in Paris, this would prove to be a test of Ben's driving skills. Plus, to get there, he needed to load the van onto a train that would traverse the Eurotunnel to France. We wish you the best of luck, Ben. Drive safely! The next stop is a double-stop, as we will visit both Star's Music and Home Studio in Paris. Stay tuned.
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
DAY TWO: Digital Village, Romford UK VAN CONDITION: Curly Wurly and Jaffa Cake wrappers are beginning to pile up CREW CONDITION: Getting a little giddy, but still in good spirits  This stop landed the boys at Digital Village, which boasts several popular locations throughout the UK. Along with their online store, Digital Village is a powerhouse dealer for everything pro audio and beyond.  The Romford location is massive, filled with everything you need (musically speaking, of course). The Mackie Boys setup the HD Series loudspeakers and the new TH-15A in the Live Sound Room and laid out the new Onyx-i Series mixers in front of a massive wall of studio monitors. They spent all day providing demos of the new gear for all the staff and a ton of customers who came out. The staff was great and were really interested in the technology behind the new Mackie gear. 
Be sure to check out Digital Village's site, they have some great deals. The next stop is at Andertons in Guildford, UK. The boys will be there from 10am - 4pm. Will you be there? Plan on being at any of the stops? Email us at news@mackie.com and we can get a photo of you with the crew and van. Cheerio!
 Mackie is on the road in Europe, showing off the all new Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers and the HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
Day One: Confetti Studios, Nottingham, UK Van Condition: Clean and fresh Crew Condition: Invigorated and eager Confetti Studios is part of the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, a unique establishment which houses progressive learning alongside commercial recording studios and pre/post film and TV companies.
  It's an awesome location with the primary purpose of audio/video production education for people of all ages. The crew spent the day giving demos to both the students and the teachers. They set up all the gear and students could listen and ask questions while they waited for their class to begin. The staff, in particular, had a ton of great feedback and genuinely loved the new gear.
So, be sure to check out Confetti's site and learn about their innovative program. And be on the lookout for info from the next stop. Will you be there? Plan on being at any of the stops? Email us at news@mackie.com and we can get a photo of you with the crew and van. Till next time!
 You've undoubtedly seen many a movie glorifying one the great American traditions: The Road Trip. Well, one of our executives was apparently watching one of these fine films and came up with a great idea. He said, "Let's go on a road trip, but in Europe!" He obviously hasn't seen the Euro-skewed version of these films but, whatever, we have gear to show the world.
So, we gathered up our finest Mackoids and our latest gear, put them on a plane and said our goodbyes. They will visit European dealers and draw a crowd in nine different European cities over the next couple of weeks, providing demos of all the newest Mackie gear. Here are the scheduled stops for the tour: September 16: Confetti - Nottingham, UK (10am - 4pm) September 17: Digital Village - Romford, UK (10am - 4pm) September 18: Andertons - Guildford, UK (10am - 4pm) September 19: Star's Music - Paris, FR (10am - 1pm) & (2:30pm - 7pm) September 22: Bekafun - Izegem, BE (1pm) September 23: Music Store Professional - Cologne, DE (1pm - 6pm) September 24: Music Produktiv - Ibbenbüren, DE (2pm - 6pm) September 25: Feedback - Rotterdam, NL (no specified time) Here is what you can expect to see when you come meet the team: Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers combine the benefits of a powerful computer interface with the tactile, hands-on control of a premium analog mixer. Qualified by Mackie for use with all major DAWs including Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8*, the Onyx-i Series opens up a new world of options for anyone interested in computer recording. In addition to an ultra-high quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire recording interface, Onyx-i mixers offer professional analog features like boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps, classic “British-style” Perkins EQ and pre/post assignable aux sends, all of which can be flexibly routed via integrated FireWire. A better way to record — Onyx-i. To record professionally these days, you need the hands-on control and routing of a premium mixer, a stellar, high-resolution interface and the ability to work with any DAW. Problem Solved. - Premium Recording Mixers with 24-bit/96kHz FireWire
- Qualified by Mackie for use will all major DAWs, including:
- Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8
- Logic®
- SONAR™
- Cubase®
- Ableton® Live
- Boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps
- Perkins “British style” EQ on every channel
- Flexible FireWire routing, including aux sends and pre/post EQ assignment for all channels
- Stereo playback from DAW, returned to control room or into channel for integration into mix
- Full 16x16 FireWire channel streaming for ultimate DAW integration (Onyx 1640i only)
Check out the website for more details *The Onyx-i Series Mixers are qualified by Mackie for use with Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8. Mackie will release a driver (via www.mackie.com) together with full details of how to use the Onyx series with Pro Tools M-Powered 8 in the coming weeks. HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers deliver up to 1800W of peak system power via ultra-efficient Class-D Fast Recovery™ amplification. Revolutionary high-definition audio processing elevates the audience’s experience by combining the power of precision crossovers, time correction and patented acoustic correction for unparalleled clarity and performance. System tuning and custom transducers by EAW create an optimized system that can be easily configured for your application using the integrated 3-band EQ with a sweepable mid. The sleek, all-wood cabinet design is pole-mountable and flyable, providing flexible mounting options for touring or installation. Elevate Your Experience with HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers. Check out the website for more details So there you have it. A bunch of no-good-nicks touring around Europe in a van, visiting dealers and attracting crowds. Who among those in Europe will witness High-Definition Live Sound for the first time? Who will be the first to use Mackie hardware with the world's most popular DAW? You will have to wait and see. We will post photos and cool info from every stop along the way.
Mackie today announces the launch of its Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers, delivering premium analog features, tremendous flexibility and built-in 24-bit/96kHz FireWire I/O. Onyx-i FireWire mixers can be used with all major DAWs, and is qualified by Mackie for use with Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8*, offering those users a host of new hardware options. “There are real benefits when using an analog mixer as a front end to your favorite DAW,” said James Woodburn, Mackie product manager. “Those who have been intimidated by digital recording will love the familiar layout and feel of a mixer. Those who are already into it will enjoy increased flexibility and speed.” Woodburn concludes, “Onyx-i mixers are the ideal combination of interface and mixer for anybody who needs the best of both worlds…simply put, it’s a better way to record.” The new Onyx-i Series mixers feature extremely deep FireWire integration and a host of proven, high-quality analog features like Onyx mic preamps and Perkins EQ. Users can choose to implement the Perkins EQ into the recording path at the push of a button, and can also choose to record auxes, groups (1640i) and the master L/R signal. The flagship Onyx 1640i incorporates a massively flexible 16x16 FireWire interface, allowing the user to return up to 16 DAW channels right back into the channel strips for a true tape-style mixdown. “Since we built the FireWire interface right into the heart of each mixer, Onyx-i offers a significant increase in performance and value over the older Onyx Compact Series where the FireWire was an additional cost option,” remarked Woodburn. The Mackie Onyx-i Series (820i, 1220i, 1620i and 1640i) will be available globally in September 2009. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALL-NEW ONYX-i SERIES FIREWIRE RECORDING MIXERS * Onyx-i Series Mixers are qualified by Mackie for use with Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8. Mackie will release a driver (via www.mackie.com) together with full details of how to use the Onyx-i Series with Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8 in the coming weeks.
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More than eight straight days of driving, countless bad meals and a near infinite amount of straight up endurance is now over. The Mackie European Road Trip is now officially done. We saw more dealers, customers and parking tickets than ever thought possible (just kidding, Mackie finance folks).
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
