Mackie desk, Mini Mac and Core Audio

[PeteVicary]

Hi

I am new to this site but I wonder if someone could help me. I currently use a Mackie Onyx 1620i desk with built in audio interface connected to my 10 year old Mac Pro running Logic X via Firewire.

I am going to upgrade my computer in the new year to a top of the range Mac mini. My question is: If I also buy the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire converter lead to go between the Mac & Mackie, will my computer still automatically recognise the desk as Core Audio. Basically, I really want to continue using my desk.

Regards

Pete

[Forum Admin]

Hi and welcome to SOS Forum.

The definitive answer on this would probably come from forum member desmond but your new Mac Mini would come with the latest macOS (Catalina) installed.

As far as I am aware, the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter will still work fine under Catalina, and if the Mackie is indeed using Core Audio (and not a dedicated driver), your new Mac Mini should recognise it as an interface.

[zenguitar]

You need to check on the Mackie site. Support for earlier generations of their FireWire devices stopped several versions of Mac OS back. They have a handy table on their support pages listing driver support for each model and OS’s.

Andy

[fatbenelton]

I thought the onyx drivers had been abandoned too so defo worth checking.

[ConcertinaChap]

If the Onyx is a class compliant device (i.e. doesn't need specific drivers to be installed) I should have thought it would work without any issue.

CC

Edit: just had a look at the manual for the 1620i and it says "Mac OS X contains built-in drivers, so no software installation is required". So I think you're home and dry.

[Forum Admin]

Edit: just had a look at the manual for the 1620i and it says "Mac OS X contains built-in drivers, so no software installation is required". So I think you're home and dry.

That's what I was trying to say.

[slouchedoverogre]

did it work? i just got an onyx 1620 with the firewire card and got the firewire to thunderbolt adapter , but the computer doesnt see the interface.
IM SAD!

[al_diablo]

As I understand it- There are 2 variants of the mackie desk. One has serial numbers starting with 204 and is class compliant, the other with 003 and is not.

I've read reports from people who are using the 204 serial number models with thunderbolt adapters and no issue.

I bought one second hand hoping to get firewire working but although it works perfectly as a mixer it doesnt show up as an interface. The previous owner had the same issue so I think my particular one that has a broken firewire card.

[jrags]

did it work? i just got an onyx 1620 with the firewire card and got the firewire to thunderbolt adapter , but the computer doesnt see the interface.
IM SAD!

What adaptor did you get to convert firewire 400 to thunderbolt? I've got a 003 serial number and want to give it a shot, but I can't even find an adapter.

I also found this knowledgebase article, but reading it seems to think that the 003 serial number is the newer model.

[jrags]

I actually did it. Here's the gear flow:

Mackie 1220i (30 serial number)
--> Firewire 800 to 400 cable
--> Other World Computing Thunderbolt 2 Dock
--> Thunderbolt 2 cable
--> iMac 2015 running MacOS 10.15 Catalina

Audio goes in and out of the computer and mixer just fine. No drivers or software hacks needed!

[emphor]

For the record (and in case anyone else spends three days searching the internet for the answer), I have successfully connected my Mackie ONYX 1220i (serial number starting with 204) via FireWire to my 2012 iMac running 10.15.7 (Catalina - via external USB drive).

The set-up:
• FireWire 400 cable to Sonnet FireWire 400 to 800 adapter
• Sonnet FireWire 400 to 800 adapter to Apple FireWire 800 to Thunderbolt adapter
• Thunderbolt adapter to iMac

THE KEY INGREDIENT was downloading the "Onyx I Drivers 016_Onyx_820i_1220i_1620i_1640i Setup" from Mackie https://supportloudtech.netx.net/loud-public/#/asset/17482. After this was installed my Mackie appeared as an inout / output device.

Cheers, Matt

[Andrew Zloty]

Hey All I know this is and old thread but wanted to post for anybody looking. I got the original Mackie Onyx 1620 with firewire card new sooooo many years ago. This thing works better that ever even in 2021! No drivers needed. Over the years I've found that any issues I've had where limitations of the processing on the computer, not the Mackie. As my processing increased I got less jitter, Which was minimal to begin with, but now is just never happening... I started with a single core G5 and the Mackie drivers... that ran but sometimes had issues connecting and some jitter here and there when doing a lot... then went to a single core i5 and that was fine, maybe once a year I would have some jitter in an aggregate setup of 22 channels with a mix of firewire, USB etc. but now, no issues what so ever... I have a firewire 400 to 800 cable and a firewire to thunderbolt 3 adaptor on a 6 core i7 Mac mini running Catalina. What a bang for the buck, so many options. I even run several quality channel strips to the line in's. This is a very solid piece of gear.

[theurbanist]

Hello everyone - I have a recently acquired Mackie 820i, very nice desk, works very well as a mixer.

I'm trying to connect it to Ableton Live as an interface. The Mac (running Catalina 10.15.7) can see the desk in the sound preferences as an onyx-i (0950) and when I play the various synths and drum machine routed through it the levels show up.

I have set up the onyx-i 0950 as an audio interface in Ableton's preferences but when I arm the tracks in Ableton I see no levels and do not hear audio back through the desk. Incedently I do hear audio if I use the test tone.

I can't think what i'm doing wrong - does anybody have any bright ideas? Thanks!

[Steviepabrupt]

Hi

I am new to this site but I wonder if someone could help me. I currently use a Mackie Onyx 1620i desk with built in audio interface connected to my 10 year old Mac Pro running Logic X via Firewire.

I am going to upgrade my computer in the new year to a top of the range Mac mini. My question is: If I also buy the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire converter lead to go between the Mac & Mackie, will my computer still automatically recognise the desk as Core Audio. Basically, I really want to continue using my desk.

Regards

Pete

Well, I've read through this thread, and wondered if anyone knew where I can get a Mac Driver link for my Onyx 1620i Firewire that actually has a download at the end of it. My Onyx device is seen by the Firewire port in my Mac Mini, running Catalina, in the Mac System Information section, but the Core Audio Midi Setup application won't see it. Mackie have also kindly emalied me and said good luck finding any support. So here I am, in 2022 wondering why a decent piece of audio tech is rendered uselss on my Mac. Incidentally, I've tried it on another Mac running Mojave, and downloaded what Blackird driver I could find on the Mackie site, and it just says 'Nope' not compatable with this operating system, on both Macs. And the link further down this thread for the drivers, no longer works. My serial number also starts with 204... Then I found this Japanese website.
https://mackie-jp.com/mixers/onyxiseries/drivers/
I downloaded and it works with Catalina. I'm so bloomin happy.
Go for it guys.

[wrdc26]

THANKS for this post. Here I am in early 2026 with a 1640i (204 Serial Number) and an old unused 2012 MacBook Pro. That Japanese link still works! I got the driver and got the Mac (OS Yosemite) talking to the 1640i no problem. Only problem is that the OS is so old I can't sign into my Apple ID and re-download a latest compatible version of Logic Pro X. So I'm upgrading the old computer to Catalina right now and will re-install the Japanese drivers and report back. I want a legacy recording system so bad, and these 1640is are SUCH capable mixers. Thanks again.

[wrdc26]

Just here to give an update. The 1640i is working flawlessly on a late 2012 MacBook Pro and 2011 Mac mini (16x16). Sincere thanks to all here for the information and expertise in this thread.

[Eddy Deegan]

Just here to give an update. The 1640i is working flawlessly on a late 2012 MacBook Pro and 2011 Mac mini (16x16). Sincere thanks to all here for the information and expertise in this thread.

Good to know the information is still helpful, and thank you for confirming