At the 2015 NAMM Show, Keith McMillen Instruments has introduced the K-Mix – described as a ‘next generation audio interface and programmable mixer’.
The KMI K-Mix is a genre-blurring device. It’s a powerful control surface, like many of the company’s previous devices. But it’s also a hardware mixer and an 8 in/10 out audio interface.
Here’s what Keith McMillen has to say about the new K-Mix:
I needed a very special mixer that did not exist – a fully programmable MIDI controlled ultra high quality portable mixer.
To play live in a group without a sound-man, not having a mixer that could do all of this was heart breaking. K-Mix had to be capable of tying all of my needs together, from live inputs to USB interfaces, and operate as a fully programmable stage mixer.
Key Features:
- The K-Mix builds on the power of KMI’s previous controllers, offering precision tactile control.
- Robust build quality – because it has no moving parts, K-Mix can be transported without the fear of breaking off a fader or knob.
- K-Mix preamps are engineered to provide ultra-accurate gain.
- The K-Mix is fully programmable and offers built-in effects processing.
- It can be used as a hardware mixer or an audio interface and mixer in a digital setup.
- 8 balanced inputs
- 10 outputs (8 balanced)
- Up to 24bit/96kHz
- Micro-USB connector for Audio and MIDI digital I/O
- Mini-USB for DIN with KMI Expander
- 8 channel faders (75mm)
- 12 LED indicators per channel fader
- 1 master fader with 24 LEDs
- MIDI position CC output on all faders
- 4 rotary controls (360°)
- 16 LEDs per rotary
- MIDI position CC output on all rotaries
- 9 Channel Select Buttons
- 4 Bank Select Buttons
- 17 Function Buttons
- MIDI note output on all buttons
- +48V phantom power
- EQ, Compressor, Gate Reverb
- Up to 8 channel surround support
The Keith McMillen Instruments K-Mix is priced at US $599. See the KMI site for more information.
Next years paper weight, long live mackie.
Couldn’t agree more!! Looking forward to that!!
No headphone output?
To me this is a quite fatal mistake…
The 10 outputs are assignable 8 plus stereo headphone.
It says it has 10 outputs. (8 balanced). So there must be a stereo headphone jack making a total of 8 + 2 =10 outputs.
at 0:18 you can see there is a headphone button in the lower right corner. also there appears to be a headphone jack on the front edge right under the headphone button.
Please just tell me I can connect a midi usb converter to it so I can use it with my external gear,
i imagine the kmi expander works with it, giving physical midi
So good! You can plug a Phono input into it as well apparently.
Presumably there’s a headphone jack there somewhere, it’s just not listed or shown, but is implied by the two missing output channels.
This is very awesome. A digital SURROUND mixer with full MIDI and slider automation, built in EQ/gate/compressor per channel, and a reverb send, and all inputs and outputs are balanced. And it can work as a USB audio interface as well as a standalone performance mixer.
How many digital mixers have integrated surround panning support for multiple surround configurations?
This looks absolutely killer for doing multichannel output work, and being able to sequence it.
The headphone jack is on the front lower right corner under the headphone button in the lower right corner. Pause it at 0:18, you can just make it out.
I see it now! Knew it had to be there somewhere.
Awesome concept but not sure if I could get down with using pads to mix- if they made a version with faders and knobs I’d be much more interested.
Mixing with digital preamps and their annoying dB steps while being controlled by the miserable 127 MIDI velocity values on a completely flat 75mm strip silicon surface will never be as mixing with a proper warm and smooth curve of an analogue preamp and the help of a real touchable physical fader or knob!!
Man I wonder if they could use the USB to add an audio I/O expander instead if midi. A bank of 8 more would make this a dream for live use with sends and returns for hardware effects.
This is an interesting product, but it seems to straddle the project studio and gigging musician market. The $599 price point is high for a project studio. As for gigging, it has only 2 XLR inputs.
In addition, while I know they are “moving parts”, I like the feel of faders: I’ve used them for years and I trust them. The iPad-like touch sensors are cool, but I guess I’m just too set in my ways.
Lack of ultra hot (10 Mohm or more) inputs makes it useless for me… Interesting idea! I do wish more mixer builders would include ultra hot inputs, piezos love them… Saves the need for outboard gear and they just cannot be that tough to build in…
Hi All,
I thought I’d respond to some of the posts here, before I pack up and head home from NAMM. #1 our inputs can take up to +28DBV signals. Not sure exactly what that is in ohms, but it’s a pretty hot signal.
Also, we definitely have a headphone in– there are 10 discreet inputs, counting the headphones!
We’ve also done a lot of work on our sensors, to make them extremely sensitive– you barely have to touch the faders if you want max sensitivity.
Feel free to e-mail matt (at) keithmcmillen.com if you have more questions.
Thanks,
Matt
Head of Marketing, Keith McMillen Instruments
You lost me with “completely incompatible with Windows in every way period.” It’s a shame. I had my credit card out, and luckily read the manual before pulling the trigger.
HaMatt I was hoping I am a proud customer
Of kickstarter quneo+qunexus
I have a complaint about the sensitivity of quneo
Where it say quote pressure sensitive
Which u have mash it to my finger ache
Doctor told me to get rid of it cause of my diabetes
I love y’all products it just
We need thicker! Pads
Please tell Keith was
I’m really looking forward to this mixer! What are my options if I want to buy this in Australia? Would KMI ship to Oz?
Cheers…
Do note, everyone, that this product is entirely incompatible with Windows based computers. While many people use Macs (including me for gigging), some of us use Windows machines for workstations. I was ready to go, read the manual and saw that and was very disappointed.
HI Andrew,
I just wanted to briefly address launching K-Mix without Windows compatibility. We have made the K-Mix class compliant, so that no drivers are needed. However, Windows does not, at the moment, support audio over USB 2. We are currently hard at work on a driver for Windows machines, but in an effort to get the K-Mix out into the world as quickly as possible we launched with just the class compliant implementation and, as such, Windows users will have to wait a couple of months before there is a workable implementation for their machines. Thank you for your continued patience, we’re going as fast as we can (we really want Windows compatibility ASAP too!).
best-
Tom @ KMI