Euphonix MC Mix - Review by Oresti

I’ve recently begun the process of upgrading my setup and have spoken with my trusted contacts at various music gear retailers. When asking what product to go with for a new mixing control surface, the resounding answer was always the Euphonix Artist System. Euphonix, a long-time manufacturer of high-end studio consoles, has recently created a slick and sophisticated product for the project studio owner, as well as the professional recording engineer. There are two products in this “Artist System” available, the MC Mix and the MC Control. The MC Mix is an 8-fader control surface, while the MC Control offers 4-faders and an LCD touch screen for customizable controls and settings. I would like to have both, but as student without a big budget I decided to start with what I felt would be more useful for my work: the MC Mix.

I had read a lot of good reviews and positive word of mouth on the Euphonix system and I was ready to see if it would live up to the hype. All the pictures and advertisements were always so enticing and, dare I say it, sexy. Euphonix managed to incorporate that ultra-important marketing tactic into their product… it’s just an impeccably presented piece of gear. At just over an inch think and with a smooth silver finish, I couldn’t resist but thinking this was a great product from the get-go. So you might be saying to yourself, “Why does the actual look of the product matter, as long as it works?” Well, if you want to have a very presentable and clean workspace, the Euphonix system is a very good step in that direction.

Now for the hands-on setup and use of the product…After taking the MC Mix out and flipping through the manual briefly, I felt I was ready to get it connected with my MacBook and Pro Tools M-Powered. The manual mentions that it works seamlessly and requires no real software setup with Apple’s Logic Studio, but as a ProTools user, I had to go through some additional steps. Not a problem - Digidesign tends to make you jump a few hoops to do anything with your software, and that’s something I’ve just come to accept.

The control surface itself comes with two feet to raise it up a little higher, a convenient feature if you want it angled toward yourself a little bit and not right on your desk (this will definitely help avoid any spills - a nice touch). It comes with an AC power-brick adaptor, which is probably what allowed for the unit to be so conveniently small.  As far as how the Euphonix gear connects to your system, it’s all done by Ethernet. Once connected, Euphonix’s proprietary communication system, EuCon, locates your work surface and associates it with your computer. Ethernet means huge bandwidth and none of the limitations that MIDI control surfaces bump into. This also means that the resolution of automation goes up from the mere 128 segments that MIDI allows to 100-times that! This translates into smoother, more accurate interaction.

All-in-all, it took about 15-20 minutes to get the MC Mix working properly with Pro Tools. A little green Euphonix circle appeared on the top-right of my computer screen to acknowledge my successful connection and the crisp LED screen on the unit lit up with the Euphonix logo. Within minutes, I was working on a new mix very naturally.
At this point, I’ve been using the MC Mix for a couple of weeks and I can’t imagine working without it. The faders on the MC Mix glide effortlessly and respond to the tiniest movements. One nice feature, however, is that they also move only when touched by an actual finger and won’t respond to an accidental nudge by a fingernail or other object. This is usually available only on professional consoles.

The LED readout shows the track names as well as whatever option you’re altering underneath it as well. For instance, the default is the “pan” setting, which you can alter with the rotary knobs underneath the screen. You can also use the soft-keys on the left of the control surface to change what your adjusting with these knobs. For instance, you can go though your different aux sends, adjusting various reverbs and delays and work your inserts/plug-ins with the surface. I’ve only tried this feature a couple of times, and I haven’t quite gotten the hang of it, but it does actually work. You can go into an EQ for example, and alter the bands using the knobs on your surface rather than using your mouse or track pad. This allows for a more traditional feel when working with your plug-ins as well!

If you need a serious mixing setup, you can link up to four of the MC Mix’s together to create a 32-channel streamlined work surface. You can also incorporate an MC-Control into the setup to allow for more customization and options. An MC Mix runs for about $1,000 retail and an MC Control for about $1,500. I realize this could be a bit steep for many users, but I suggest going to your local dealer and using it for about half an hour to see how much it can improve your work flow. If you’re just starting out it’s probably not going to be on your priority list, but after getting settled into the recording world, you’ll realize something like the MC Mix would really expand your horizons.