Mackie - Press

MACKIE INTRODUCES ONYX: A NEW FAMILY OF PREMIUM ANALOG MIXERS FOR THE DIGITAL ERA

Mackie shows flagship small-format mixers, which boast FireWire I/O, Perkins EQ, Onyx mic preamps, striking industrial design, at NAB

April, 2004 - Las Vegas, Nevada - NAB - Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Mackie is issuing a powerful reminder of their critical role as the inventors of modern-day compact mixer technology with the introduction of Onyx; a new family of FireWire-capable analog consoles designed specifically to bring the best of analog into the digital era.

"We can't think of a more appropriate way to celebrate 15 years of Mackie innovation than to redefine the category that we created," commented Ken Berger, Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at LOUD Technologies Inc. "Like the original CR1604, the new Onyx mixers continue the Mackie tradition of bringing high-end performance within the reach of working professionals."

The Onyx 1220, 1620 and 1640 incorporate the latest advances in hallmark Mackie technologies like extremely low-noise microphone preamps and circuitry, tremendous durability, plenty of direct instrument inputs, and combines them into a modern footprint that includes a FireWire option for integration into any computer-based system.

The entire Onyx family derives its name from the inclusion of Mackie's Onyx mic pre-the next generation in low-noise microphone preamp circuitry based on the legendary XDR mic pre found in Mackie's award-winning compact mixers. They also feature an all-new EQ circuit, developed especially for the Onyx line by industry veteran Cal Perkins, and an appealing new industrial design and layout that are representative of higher-priced "boutique" gear.

Three small-format mixers make up the Onyx line. The Onyx 1220 is a 12-channel (4 mic/line inputs and eight line inputs) mixer with 2-buses and a three band Perkins EQ with sweepable midrange. The Onyx 1620 is a 16-channel (8 mic/line inputs and four stereo line inputs) mixer with 2-buses and a four-band Perkins EQ with dual sweepable midrange. The Onyx 1640 is a 16-channel (16 mono mic/line inputs) mixer with 4-buses and a four-band Perkins EQ with dual sweepable midrange. Like Mackie's popular 1604-VLZ Pro, the Onyx 1640 also includes a rotatable I/O pod that can be easily configured for rack or desktop use, keeping the unsightly collection of cables hidden.

Bridging the link between analog and digital, each Onyx mixer includes an upgrade slot for an optional FireWire card. Dan Steinberg, Product Development Manager for the Onyx line explains, "Professional and project studio owners, as well as gigging musicians will all appreciate the FireWire option. It allows them to output a combination of direct outputs (from every single input channel on the mixer) and the L-R mix directly into a FireWire equipped computer, and, at the same time, return 2 channels of computer audio back to the mixer for monitoring through the control room/phones matrix. In this way, Onyx mixers are an ideal front end for a digital audio workstation, or portable multitrack interface for live recording with a laptop computer."

Mackie's Onyx mixers will begin shipping in Q2, 2004. Suggested retail prices are $639.99 for the Onyx 1220, $919.00 for the Onyx 1620, and $1539.99 for the Onyx 1640 (all prices in USD). The optional FireWire card has a suggested retail price of $499.99 USD. All three models, as well as the optional FireWire card are currently on display at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, booth number SL5913.

Key Features of Mackie Onyx Small Format Mixers:

Balanced analog direct outs for every channel via DB-25 connection
Selectable instrument inputs on first two channels - no DI box needed
Premium Onyx mic preamps:
- Four on Onyx 1220
- Eight on Onyx 1620
- Sixteen on Onyx 1640
Perkins EQ
- 3-band with sweepable midrange on Onyx 1220
- 4-band with sweepable midrange on Onyx 1620 & Onyx 1640
· Individual four-segment meters on all channels
24-bit 96kHz FireWire option for streaming up to 18-channels of multitrack audio to a computer and at the same time return 2 channels back to the mixer for monitoring
Aux sends with individual Pre/Post switches
- Two on Onyx 1220
- Four on Onyx 1620
- Six on Onyx 1640 (Solo on all aux sends)
Built-in talkback section for use with internal or external microphones
True hardware EQ bypass
"Planet Earth" compatible power supply
Individual 48v Phantom Power switches on all mic inputs
Linear taper 60mm fader
4-bus architecture for flexible subgrouping of channels (Onyx 1640 only)

About Mackie
Mackie, a LOUD Technologies Inc. brand, is known worldwide as a leading developer and marketer of high-quality, affordable professional audio systems. Mackie products can be found in professional and project recording studios, video and broadcast suites, post production facilities, sound reinforcement applications including churches and nightclubs, retail locations and on major musical tours. For more information visit: www.mackie.com.

Mackie is a registered trademark of LOUD Technologies Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including those described above and the following: changes in demand for the Company's products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacity, difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.