The sound of this interface is exceptional. Clean, clear and dynamic. The mic preamps sound like much, much more expensive units. I originally purchased this unit just for recording analog sources but have since found myself taking it around town with me soley to use the mic pres, they are really nice.

Although this interface has limited inputs (stereo or dual mono at one time) the base unit does allow for convenient switching between 4 inputs per side. Being able to quickly remove the 'pod' (as Mackie calls it) is really nice. I do wish it did have more than just 2 inputs, though. Oh! It has 6 output channels and a talkback mic! Now that's nice. One thing that was missed by Mackie on this unit is that it does not have a digital input. That would have been the cherry to top off this unit. Maybe it will be included in a future incarnation.

Anyone that has doen any type of analog recording will find the Satellite easy to use. The front panel of either the base or pod is intuative. What else is there to say.

Excellent build quality! Metal enclosure all around with solid input connectors. Smooth rotary controls and all selector buttons have a positive feel. This unit should last a loooong time. My only gripe is that the rear pod connector that attaches to the base seems like it might wear prematurely being made of plastic. Only time will tell.

Although this unit lacks many of the bells and whistles of today's interfaces, the sound quality and ruggedness should make the unit a fine value. I have seen the Satellite offered at incredible prices lately which makes this unit almost impossible to pass up.

The first unit I received had minor problems. One call to Mackie support and a replacement unit was on its way, no questons asked. I didn't even have to return the defective unit first. Upon receiving the new unit and return shipping lable, I sent the other unit back. Where does this happen anymore? Huh? I was even surprised. Way to go! Mackie.

I was somewhat skeptical about this unit before I purchased it but liked the ability to detach the pod. I do not regret my purchase though. The Satellite looks good! and it's sloped front panel makes adjusting switches or knobs easier than other units.

Recording Hobbyist, SR

Various

The sound quality of this system is comparable to many of industry standard systems. I have gained enough faith in my Satellite to where I have fun arguing with associate studios that use pro tools and winning.

The most initial most noticeable feature is the ease of track preparation for recording. There's no rerouting of buses. This feature I explain to our clients as being to their advantage which lends their sessions to be more cost efficient. The rerouting of buses can add considerable amounts of time over an extended period of time.

With the ability to use VSTs the enadability of the Satellite is endless.

The Satellite is built very well and sturdy. This unit is built to last a long time and if properly handle its ruggedness will make it last forever.

The Satellite is well worth its typical price.

I have dealt with the company in which produce the Satellite and their support was surprisingly outstanding and very helpful. I was expecting to be treated just as another number, which was definately not the case.

It's perfect

Recording Engineer

All Genre

The Satellite is built extremely well (looks really cool) and is ergonomic in my studio setup, as it rests at an angle. The unique pod aspect is going to come in handy when I take my laptop-based studio mobile. I would have liked to have MIDI in/out on the unit (surprising considering Mackie

Hobbyist

Avant Jazz/Funk and Spoken Word

sounds great on all mics and preamp works like a charm

This has everything that an amerature recording artists can ask for. I has a built-in preamp so i dont have to worry about buying extra hardware and it has talkback, which i can use to talk into the headphones of the people i am recording instead of having to yell across the room. I also teach so it gives me the ease of portability so i can record my students on the fly.

It's easy to use if you already know how to rig everything, especially if you use a dell, like me.

The steel casing prevents any dings/dents from damaging the actual product. However, the plastic knobs can be flimsy at times.

probably would run a little less after selling it on ebay, but hey, technology grows after than wallets do.

After registering you product you have extensive resources for help on the mackie website. I havnet called them yet or anything since i have no problems

For anyone running on a budget, this would be as sexy as anything gets for you.

Active Musician, Music Teacher, Recording Hobbyist

Rock, Jazz, and Everything Else

I think it sounds great. Obviously have to have good mics..

Nice features, and high quality.

The ease of use is consitent with other interfaces.

Mackie is high quality

Pretty good value

No problems.

I think this is a great product. However, firewire is dead. I just bought a new laptop.. the laptops I looked at do not support firewire

Hobbyist

all

I got this and couldn't get it to work with my system. I'm on a dell laptop PC that meets or exceeds all the system requirements. Sadly, I don't know what it sounds like. I returned it after a week of headache.

It seems like a pretty flexible unit. Enough ins, outs pre's and routing options for my purposes. The removable satellite is a good idea, albeit somewhat awkwardly executed. There's a Firewire power option if you have a 6 pin connection (not the spacesaving 4 pin 1394 found on most newer laptops). The included software, Traktion, didn't seem like anything fantastic at first glance, but I didn't bother to investigate any further since I was having trouble installing the actual unit.

Here's where I get to rant. I'm on a Dell laptop with a four pin firewire. I got this unit to connect only once and never again. I then got it to work ONCE on a mac. Mackie said the firewire connection might have been defective so they rushed me a replacement. I had the exact same problem with the replacement! The light on the unit wouldn't even go on to indicate there was a firewire connection. I tried everything I could think of over the course of a week (with both units side by side) to get it to work, no dice. If I had to guess, it seemed that it was either a driver issue (since it connected to my mac ok) or something to do with using a 4 pin firewire port (and not a 6), but nothing that could be fixed. I don't think my setup is anything I would call "exotic"- it's just a Dell laptop. It should have worked or Mackie should be clearer about system requirements because I am at a loss here.

BUILT LIKE A TANK! Made almost entirely of thick aluminum and therefore much heavier than it looks (10 lbs). It's also larger than the picture suggests (breadbox comparison is strangely appropriate here). The connection between the satellite and the dock is this weird pin array that looks easily bendable/ breakable if the satellite slides into the dock wrong, it might just die one day from frequent use. Other than that I don't think anything on this unit will break from wear/tear anytime this century. I can't speak for anything that goes on inside since I couldn't get it to work. The fact that it only worked *once* using a pc, and only worked *once* using a mac, and then have the same thing happen with the replacement is VERY fishy to me.

This seems like a good deal for a cool I/O, if you can get it to work. Some of the stuff in the "studio" package looks really shoddy. If I needed those things I definitely would buy better items individually. Also remember that if you can't get it to work on your system, it's going to cost you a lot of money to send it insured back to Zzounds They don't normally pay for return shipping unless it's "defective".

On the one hand, Mackie customer service was most excellent in their handling of this dilemna. They rushed a replacement unit no questions asked. I didn't have to send in the original first. Shipping was totally covered both ways. On the other hand, not much was done to attempt to fix the problem over the phone (though i'm not sure how much could have been done since we never figured out the problem). They told me to turn it on, plug it in, etc and since that didn't work they offered to replace it. Which is awesome but time consuming. In the end they both went back.

I have enough paperweights doorstops etc.

Sound Artist, 10 years exp.

Other Other Other

The preamps sound ok. They aren't stellar, but they're not terrible either. Unfortunately, for some (if not all), you won't be able to tell unless you use 48k or 96k as the 44.1 and 88.2 settings HISS like crazy.

Breakout box is nice for live shows. A/B monitoring, support for 5.1 surround. 2 headphone jacks. ONLY TWO CHANNELS! You cannot input the preamps and line-in separately in the software. There's NO room for expanding this... ever. No s/pdif, no ADAT, nothing. 2 channels are all you will ever get with this unit.

There are 2 buttons to enable "instrument". You have to push both to make it work, which is completely unnecessary. The volume button, even after firmware updates (claiming to fix it) will not turn down completely. The audio from the A output bleeds into the B output.

Built very sturdily. Unfortunately, the various problems this unit has completely overshadows this.

Do yourself a favor and save up a little more for a vastly superior product. You will thank yourself when you don't have to deal with all these problems.

I had to RMA my first one. The second came back exactly the same way, but I wasn't offered a warranty for the second unit. Thus, I'm out of luck. Oh, and the new unit now buzzes randomly.

It's absolute junk. I wish I would have gotten something else. You live and learn I guess.

Recording Engineer, Drummer, (Active Musician)

Rock, Metal, Progressive, Experimental, Electronica

the mic pres are very clear and transparent beautiful!

everything you need, docking-undocking, why didn't someone else think of this? 1 caviat, there are no digital inputs or outputs( except firewire) examples, s/pdif, optical, aes/ebu, etc.

very easy, all the controls are very straight forward. tracktion isn't to bad either

PERFECT, STEEL, indestructible

i don't know, although i've heard it's good

gray, but curvy, looks good on my desk

hobbyist, live technician

Various

amazing clear sound with a touch of warmth. Very professional sound.

All the basic feature a newbie would need plus a few extras as you expand your setup

doesnt get much easier than this, plug it in off you go

solid as a brick

i picked up this unit for 399 AU so it is comparable to other products in this price range however considering this unit has the same preamps as Makie's high end mixers i consider it the best choice in this price range by far.

havent needed it yet hope i never will. I did however download a firmware and a driver update which halved my lowest latency to 64 samples (around 1ms) very happy about that.

wtf? ok if i was an 1/4 inch or a XLR i would definitely want to plug my self in. cold black sexy steel!

I bought this a few weeks ago, I create training for online delivery and this product have very good sound from the mic pre's. I use it with a Heil PR40 and the sound is fantastic. One interesting thing is that I have to turn the gain up all the way to get a good signal & I am not sure if this is an issue but the sound is great Oh, as a side benefit the sound from my Taylor guitar is very good as well

Overall very good but I would like to see secondary digital in and out.

Almost too easy. I would like to see a better pc program to control the device but once its steup it just works...

Lots of metal...

Value seems good but I really don't know

Don't know

Not sure about the sex appeal but the unit is very user friendly and the fact that I can do remote recordings without having to unhook my home setup is a great value add. Fits the bill for me very well

Active artist

All