Way back in 1986, a record by U.S. songwriter Michelle Shocked became a cult hit. The album was called Texas Campfire Tapes and it was the first album from Michelle Shocked, who later went on to have a massive hit with her song “Anchorage” taken from her Short, Sharp Shocked album.
The Texas Campfire Tapes album was recorded on a Sony Walkman Professional. Shocked was playing an impromptu set around a campfire at the Kerrville Folk Festival, in Texas. The album was released by Cooking Vinyl and reached the top spot on the British independent record chart. The recording is a classic example of how time, place and spontaneity can conspire to make something rare and special.
Almost 40 years on from the release of The Texas Campfire Tapes, technology has moved on massively and the Sony Walkman Professional is now to be found mostly in technology museums. Today we have digital recording technology but what would you use if you wanted to capture such an impromptu and atmospheric recording today?
Well, you could always use a portable digital recorder from a brand like Zoom or Tascam. Alternatively, you could strive for a slightly better result by using a couple of good condenser microphones for voice and guitar. But how would you do all that in the middle of the Texan countryside, while sitting around a campfire?
The answer to that question could be a new device from Mackie, the U.S. audio brand founded back in 1970 by Greg Mackie, a self-professed audio nerd and closet rock and roller. Recently, the company was acquired by Australian audio brand RØD, maker of some of the world’s best-selling microphoness and podcasting gear. Mackie also makes excellent quality recording equipment that’s both affordable and well regarded in the industry.
The Mackie MobileMix is a portable analog mixer that can be powered using a USB power bank or adapter, which means it could be used almost anywhere to lay down studio-quality tracks that can then be recorded with an analog tape recorder or some kind of digital recorder. You could even use a Sony Walkman Professional if you still have one.
The MobileMix can handle up to eight separate input channels via two XLR/Combo inputs with Hi-Z switches for plugging in a guitar or other instrument, such as a keyboard. Both XLR channels have 48V Phantom Power and each benefits from a high-pass filter that can be toggled on or off with separate buttons.
Channels 3/4 on the MobileMix function as two mono signals or a stereo input. Channels 5/6 use a 3.5mm TRRS input for something like a digital recorder, headset or even a smartphone with an analog jack. Finally, channels 7/8 consist of a stereo and two-way Bluetooth channel so you can stream a backing track from a phone or even take phone calls if the mixer is being used as an outside broadcast desk. The Bluetooth feature also includes Mix Minus, so if you do take a phone call, the caller won’t hear themselves as an echo.
All of the channels have a rotary gain control with Unity set as the central detent. The first four channels also have rotary controls with shelving EQ at 12kHz and 80Hz, so you can tweak the treble and the bass to get just the right tone. The EQ circuits are based on the designs of Cal Perkins, an industry leader in audio engineering. The EQ gives a classic British sound while keeping 15dB of boost and cut. The Channels each have a Level control for setting how much goes into the main mix.
The MobileMix also has an FX feature with a choice of Plate, Hall and Reverb settings. The amount of FX can be adjusted separately for each channel although only one of the three settings can be applied at any one time. The Reverb is great for applying to a guitar or you might want to put a small amount of the Plate FX onto some vocals. It works well and can be applied to all channels except the Bluetooth. There’s also a Master FX Level control that can adjust the amount of FX applied over all the channels.
A 3.5mm stereo output is provided with a volume setting for the mixer’s main headphone output. There are also two additional headphone outputs for musicians or performers to be able to monitor their performance with the full mix going to each. The Mix Level can be set independently for both monitor outputs and there’s also a blend rotary control that creates a unique blend of inputs ideal for recording overdubs.
Once the mics are set up and all the levels set correctly, the final mix can be controlled using the Main Mix rotary control and there’s a secondary output for sending the mix to a camera or a digital recorder via a 3.5mm TRRS jack. That output can be set to either Line Out or Camera level. That output also has an input channel for sending a signal from a phone or recorder so there is the possibility to mix down and build multiple tracks.
The levels of the inputs can be monitored using peak meters set across two columns with four LEDs in each. The aim is to try and keep the levels on the first two green LEDs with the occasional excursion into the amber LED. Clipping is happening whenever the red LEDs are activated so the levels need to be turned down.
Finally, the Mackie Mobile Mix has two main outputs for the Left and Right channels set at Line Level. The outputs are for 1/4″ balanced or unbalanced TRS connectors. This signal could be fed into a PA system, power amplifier, portable speaker or even a serial effects processor.
The Mackie MobileMix is small enough to pop in a messenger bag and it can be powered from a 5V battery or power bank, making it an incredibly versatile tool for mobile recording. However, what the MobileMix doesn’t have is a USB interface for recording directly to a computer, as you can with something like the RØDECaster PRO. Imagine what this little thing could do if it did have a USB interface and an SD slot for direct recording, just like the RØDECaster PRO.
The build quality of the MobileMix feels sturdy and the designers have managed to squeeze so many features into such a small space and there’s not even a menu or a screen to select any of the options. This is a purely analog mixer and I like it a lot for that. The microphone preamps are excellent and have a very low floor noise. The quality of the sound, especially the FX function, is spot on and means you really can do some creative recording with the MobileMix.
On the underside of the MobileMix there’s a removable plate that opens to reveal a space large enough to accommodate most smartphone power banks. A short USB-C cable is also supplied which can plug into a port inside the battery compartment for powering the MobileMix when away from a mains power outlet. Incidentally, the MobileMix does ship with a USB power adapter but the unit is quite fussy when using other types of USB power supplies. I found it wouldn’t power up using some of my high-power USB supplies but it was very happy with a basic Apple iPhone charger.
One last little feature worth a mention is the built-in slot for holding a tablet or smartphone, which you might use to play backing tracks or even to record on via the headphone jack. It’s a handy little feature and the battery powered MobileMix is the perfect portable mixer that can be used almost anywhere.
Verdict: The Mackie MobileMix is a fabulous little portable mixer that offers a top-notch recording facility that is almost completely analog except for the Bluetooth channel. The MobileMix is so versatile and, in the right hands, it could produce some amazing mixes for live recordings. It would also function well as a podcast mixer or a remote broadcasting desk. I can’t wait to see what effect the RØDE acquisition will have on the Mackie product lineup as both these brands are innovative and have a lot to offer each other and their customers. If you want to be able to record almost anywhere and you love an analog mixer, the Mackie MobileMix offers great value for money and exceptional flexibility, no matter where you are.
Pricing & Availability: The Mackie MobileMix is shipping now and costs $229.99.
More info: mackie.com
Features:
- Runs on USB power from rechargeable batteries, adapters and powered USB ports
- Dedicated mix output for recording to smartphones, tablets and DSLR cameras
- Bluetooth input/output with Mix Minus technology for recording and streaming at the same time, including phone calls without echo.
- Two mic/instrument inputs with XLR and 1/4″ combo connectors, Hi-Z, low cut and 48V phantom power.
- Stereo input for keyboards and other line-level gear.
- Two-way TRRS connector for a second smart device or camera.
- Three different Reverb types with level controls per channel.
- Two mix outputs with separate level controls for PA systems, monitors and more.
- Headphone output with level control
- Compartment for USB battery (sold separately).
