Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 vs Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface
Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 vs Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface compared — specs, features, and which one to buy for your setup. See the full breakdown on CreatorConfig.
The Ruling
Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 or Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface? Get the Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface, narrowly.
The Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface wins Creator Features — but only just, and the rest of the chart is close.
At a Glance
Where each one actually leads
Every axis is scored out of 10 from the catalog specs below. The scores are relative to the products on this page, so a 10 means “best of these”, not “perfect”, and two identical columns mean the catalog genuinely cannot separate them. Axes the catalog holds no figure for on both sides are left off entirely rather than guessed at.
| Category | Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 | Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Resolution | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Mic Inputs | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Monitoring | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Creator Features | 5/10 | 10/10 |
| Connectivity | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Power | 10/10 | 10/10 |
The Split
What each one wins
Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2
Desktop audio interface intended for creator workflows, microphone input, monitoring, and clean signal routing.
It gives up loopback to the Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface. The two are priced the same, so price does not decide it.
Leads on
- Nothing on the spec sheet goes this one’s way.
Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface
Desktop audio interface intended for creator workflows, microphone input, monitoring, and clean signal routing.
On paper the Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface takes loopback (Yes). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. The two are priced the same, so price does not decide it.
Leads on
-
LoopbackYesNo
Loopback routes computer audio back into the stream without a second interface or cable.
Where they’re identical
These 12 specs are the same on both of them, so none of it is part of the decision.
- Connection Type usb-c, xlr, trs
- Operating System windows, macos
- Sample Rate 192kHz
- Bit Depth 24-bit
- Phantom Power Yes
- XLR Inputs 1
- Headphone Outputs 1
- Direct Monitoring Yes
- ADAT Expansion No
- MIDI I/O None
- Bus Powered Yes
- TRS Outputs 2
The Record
19 specs, grouped by area
A group is won by whoever takes more of its rows outright. Specs the catalog cannot rank are shown but never decide a group.
Bottom Line
Who each one is for
The Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface is the pick on the specs the catalog holds, but “better on paper” and “right for you” are different questions. Each case below names what the product is actually good at and who that suits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 and Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface?
The clearest difference is loopback, which the Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface has and the Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 does not. Across the catalog's specification sheet the two differ on 1 spec. They match on 12 specs, including connection type, operating system and sample rate. Two audio interfaces from Mackie and Steinberg, each taking a different approach to audio quality and I/O flexibility.
Which is better for streaming, Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 or Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface?
Get the Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface, narrowly. The Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface wins Creator Features — but only just, and the rest of the chart is close.
What do the Mackie Onyx Artist 1x2 and Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface have in common?
Both share 12 specifications in the catalog, including connection type (usb-c, xlr, trs), operating system (windows, macos), sample rate (192kHz) and bit depth (24-bit), among others. None of those is a reason to pick one over the other.