It’s been some two and a half years since Movek’s myMix burst upon the scene, introducing thousands of satisfied users to this personal cue mixing system. And now with the new myMix CONTROL remote control/configuration software, the systems just keeps getting better and more flexible. Created via Linux, myMix CONTROL is a non-platform-specific, browser-based tool for mix engineers working with performers, and integrators who want to quickly create customized setups for myMix systems in commercial or complex installations.
The System
For those unfamiliar with myMix, this networked personal monitor mix controller allows a virtually unlimited number of users to create their own stereo mix. Each individual myMix unit has two balanced line/mic analog inputs (with switchable phantom power), a Ethernet port for connecting to other myMix units and/or a full-on system with 16, 32 (or as many as you want) audio inputs from the console, adding IEX16L or IEX16L-A expanders with analog or ADAT optical digital inputs. All interfacing is via off-the-shelf 100 Mb/s networking hardware and standard Cat-5 cabling that connects each of the myMix stations. The network cabling carries all signals from the console or from the local analog inputs on any station, with all sources available for individual cue mixes. As a bonus, each myMix station also includes an SD card recorder for capturing up to 18 tracks of audio (16 individual tracks plus the stereo monitor mix) while performing. These are stored as multiple 24-bit/48 kHz time-stamped, uncompressed WAV files and can easily be transferred to any DAW program for later use or simply played back on a myMix unit for sharing mixes, rehearsing or creating a “Music Minus One”-style track for practicing parts.
CLICK TO WATCH THE DEMO ON FOH-TV
Each myMix station is about 6×6 inches square and is built into a molded ABS housing that has a rugged and quality feel. The unit can be placed on a tabletop or mic stand (mount included). Power can come over the Ethernet line or an included AC adapter. Features include a simple interface with a large backlit data input/select wheel, “soft” keys and a bright, color LCD screen that displays tracks with mix levels, pan, tone controls, DSP (reverb/delay) parameters, channel mute/solo buttons and more. Also standard is a stereo 4-band fully parametric master EQ that’s applied to the analog outputs.
The screen also offers menus for track naming, and various levels of system setup. For fast access, there are also dedicated controls for levels of the two analog inputs, along with a record switch and a global “shut this off now” mute key — a real plus when you’re dealing with IEMs! The analog outputs are balanced TRS for return feeds to the main PA or stage wedges and the 1/8-inch headphone out jack is also just right for IEMs. Speaking of earpieces, the onboard headphone amp is loud and respectably clean, and system latency is less than 3 ms. No problem here.
Each channel signal is assigned a name with each letter entered by turning the data wheel and pressing down on the wheel. The process should be familiar to anyone who has named synth or SPX90 presets and takes a while, but once entered, these are stored in memory for the next gig. Speaking of names, session (song setup) titles, profiles (mix data) and individual channel names can be pretty normal, i.e., “Bob Bass” or “Jimi Strat” and so on, rather than in some technobabble shorthand.
Individual myMix stations are automatically detected on the network and identified by their names and input channels. Each station user can select channels from the network and mix up to 16 channels to create a distinctive mix, with full local control of mix and DSP parameters. And channels are not limited to instruments or voices, as pre-recorded tracks, audio sequences or clicks can just as easily be routed into the system and made available to any player on the network.
In a typical setup (assuming such a thing exists, as myMix is easily expandable and highly scalable), such as the rig I used for this review, a feed from a house console connects to the IEX16LA Expander, a single rackspace box with two ADAT optical and two D25 analog connectors, where these 16 inputs are converted to a network stream. Note: if you want to stay entirely within the digital domain and ADAT isn’t your thing, a third-party MADI-to-ADAT converter, such as RME’s ADI-648 is just the trick to feed up to 64 channels via four IEX16-LAs.
The multichannel networked stream was routed to a Cisco 8-port 10/100 managed Ethernet switch handling up to eight myMix stations. I kept the Expander at FOH and simply ran a Cat-5 feed to the stage, using the Ethernet switch as a hub/breakout with individual Cat-5 lines connecting the myMix stations for each musician. But the key word here is scalable. The system could have been based around two 16-channel expanders and a 12-port switch for more channels and stations. Alternatively, the expanders could have been fed from a stagebox or rack of preamps on stage. Or if you really want to run minimalist, a single myMix station can function as a standalone mini-PA mixer with two analog inputs, mixing, DSP and mains out to feed a small PA — with or without a networked audio feed and/or playbacks of prerecorded tracks from the SD card. Or a larger system could function in a networked audio system routed to multiple rooms (such as classrooms) combined with local mic/line feeds and separate speakers at each location. Lots of possibilities here.
Enter myMix CONTROL
Unveiled at InfoComm 2012, myMix Control is web browser-based remote control/configuration software for myMix systems. Installation/setup is easy and fast. Simply connect the direct box-sized myMix PLUG WiFi interface to your network switch or an IEX16 unit and communicate with the system via your browser of choice on nearly any WiFi device — laptop, iPad or even an iPhone. In tests, it worked fine on all three, but be warned that the iPhone screen is very small in this application.
While anything but slick, the myMix CONTROL GUI is utilitarian, yet straightforward, with a logical menu structure that’s easy to navigate. After a quick login/password entry, you have access to all units on an entire myMix system and can open/tweak profiles and control individual units remotely on the network. Available features within myMix CONTROL include configuring/editing any connected myMix and IEX16 units; access to all units’ mix functions, global profile changes, keyboard (not data wheel) naming of profiles/channels/sessions, backup and download of all settings and the ability to do offline parameter/name/setup editing while not on the network.
The myMix PLUG interface also has a USB port for loading/storing data and files. A lockout function lets the master user restrict access to various functions on individual myMix stations, to prevent users (remember, we’re dealing with musicians here) from accidentally trashing settings, say in the admin or format card menus, while giving them full access to mix/level/DSP functions for cue mixing.
One little-known, yet handy myMix trick involves its “Send Mix to Network” function, which allows others to hear/download your particular mix. One useful application of this requires having an additional myMix station at the FOH position. Here, the engineer can individually access all the available channels, quickly create a custom mix on for any performer and then make that mix available to the unit onstage. Call it up and bingo — you’re there.
With the addition of myMix CONTROL, the well-designed, flexible myMix system just gets better. Clearly, this level of access and tweaking may not be necessary for the casual myMix user, but for integrators, installers, theatre sound and touring/production pros working on complex systems that need a little more, myMix CONTROL definitely delivers.
More info at www.mymixaudio.com.
