The Mackie PROFX12 12-Channel Compact Effects Mixer with USB Review
The Mackie PROFX12 is a perfect 12-Channel Compact Effects Mixer for solo performances and small music studios that have limited budget. It is simple to operate and has everything required to make your performance a great success. It comes with a USB interface which lets you stream music files directly from a laptop and also record the show. This mixer comes with plenty of features like three-band EQ, 6 Mackie high headroom preamps, integrated-effects and a built-in feature for directly connecting a bass or guitar. It has every tool you need to produce excellent sound in a small venue. The “Pro” in its name stands for its rugged body, small footprint and durability which collectively make it ideal for heavy usage by professionals.
Brief History of Mackie:
Mackie, a brand renowned for making high-performance recording and professional music equipment is owned by the US-based LOUD Technologies. They have been making excellent loudspeakers, mixing consoles, DAW control surfaces, studio monitors and other digital recording equipment for a long time. Mackie was named after its founder, Greg Mackie, an ex-Boeing worker who used to make guitar amps and pro audio gear in his spare time. In Mackie’s initial years, their mixers were a huge success. By 1995, the company expanded to a 90,000 foot factory. In 1996, Cal Perkins, a famous industrial designer joined the team. Thanks to the major changes he introduced in the design, Mackie’s products look great today.
Product Features in Detail:
1. The all-new 32-bit Running Man FX (RMFX™) processor has plenty of gig-ready effects available for the mixes. Unlike other mixers which require you to search through too many bizarre effects, the RMFX™ provides 16 great FX which are well known for their usability and utility. Large, medium and small room reverbs mixed with bright and warm characteristics ensure that you deliver a perfect mix. A set of practical delays and rich choruses help you create mixes without needing a 2-hour sound check.
2. The Mackie PROFX12 perfectly suits smaller performing acts where a sound engineer may not be present. The live sound toolbox has all the options like a built-in DI, plus-precision GEQ and more. Its controls are so simple that in no time you can master the mixing.
3. Just like all mixers from this brand, the PROFX12 has solid build quality. All the delicate electronic equipment is enclosed in a hard steel chassis. The side-cheeks, built of solid material, are impact resistant. This ensures that the mixer does not damaged during falls.
4. The Mackie PROFX12 is a utility mixer which could be the core of a Mackie PA system. With a loudspeaker setup, it is very simple to build an “Active” or “Passive” sound setup. You may add Mackie loudspeakers and sub-woofers to the mixer for producing great sound.
5. It includes the Traction 3 software for music production on a Mac or Windows PC. Also, you may use it worldwide due to its unique switching power-supply named Planet Earth.
6. The Hi-Z input allows you to directly connect a bass, guitar or other instruments. There is a break switch for muting all the channels which facilitates the playback between the sets. Also, on all channels, there are 3-band active EQ – 12 kHz, 2.5 kHz and 80 Hz. .
The Merits and Demerits of the Mackie PROFX12:
Overall, the Mackie PROFX12 is a perfect mixer for small bands, concerts and DJs. It does not need you to install additional drivers for the supported versions of Windows and Mac OS. However, we would have loved if it officially supported the iPad. Also, it is so compact that you can easily carry it in a small bag to concerts. Its dimensions are 17.5 x 18.5 x 7 inches; it weighs just 12.8 pounds. Some users have reported slight noise on the USB output to the computer, but this was found to be in very few models, and such models were promptly replaced by the manufacturer. The USB is sent to the computer in a single channel rather than multiple individual channels found in high-end mixers. Few people may dislike this, but this is sufficient for use in small music studios.
Thank information from www.studiorecord9.com
