Music

Beautiful mini audio mixer comes with not-so-attractive price tag

Beautiful mini audio mixer comes with not-so-attractive price tag
Despite its palm-friendly proportions, the TX-6 packs in a host of useful features for mixing on the go
Despite its palm-friendly proportions, the TX-6 packs in a host of useful features for mixing on the go
View 5 Images
Despite its palm-friendly proportions, the TX-6 packs in a host of useful features for mixing on the go
1/5
Despite its palm-friendly proportions, the TX-6 packs in a host of useful features for mixing on the go
The TX-6 boasts an OLED display, sleek aluminum housing and inviting-but-tiny knurled control knobs
2/5
The TX-6 boasts an OLED display, sleek aluminum housing and inviting-but-tiny knurled control knobs
Stylishly simple channel faders and track selectors, plus a funky power switch to the side
3/5
Stylishly simple channel faders and track selectors, plus a funky power switch to the side
The TX-6 can be used as a 32-bit/48-kHz USB audio interface
4/5
The TX-6 can be used as a 32-bit/48-kHz USB audio interface
Headphone monitoring, aux out and cue feature, six 3.5-mm audio input channels plus USB-C
5/5
Headphone monitoring, aux out and cue feature, six 3.5-mm audio input channels plus USB-C
View gallery - 5 images

The masters of minimalist styling at Sweden's Teenage Engineering have added a feature-packed but tiny pro audio mixer to the company's lineup, which packs built-in sounds, beats and sequencing and can also serve as a USB audio interface.

The palm-friendly TX-6 field mixer wears clean and smooth CNC-machined aluminum housing and measures just 90 x 62.5 x 15 mm (3.54 x 2.46 x 0.59 in), though a 6.3-mm audio adapter increases the length to 102 mm and the encoders raise the height to 23 mm.

The six-channel stereo mixer – though users could opt to use it as 12-channel mono – sports its own three-band equalizer, rocks custom-designed faders and encoders, features a 48 x 64-pixel monochrome OLED display, and comes with a bunch of filters, an adjustable compressor and eight digital effects to apply at will, including reverb, chorus and delay.

Out of the box, the sweet-looking knurled control knobs are used to tweak EQ but each one can be individually programmed to custom parameters and settings. Channel volume levels can be monitored on the LED VU meters, an included DJ mode enables crossfading between channel five and six and there's even an instrument tuner.

The TX-6 can be used as a 32-bit/48-kHz USB audio interface
The TX-6 can be used as a 32-bit/48-kHz USB audio interface

There are six stereo inputs and three stereo outs, the device benefits from a quad channel Burr-Brown analog-to-digital converter, a Cirrus Logic amplifier for the main and auxiliary outputs, and a Cirrus Logic DSP with smart codec for the cue feature.

Teenage Engineering has also included a rechargeable battery for up to eight hours of continuous per-charge use and a built-in sound generator with four oscillator waveforms and four synth drums to generate grooves while out and about.

The TX-6 can serve as a 32-bit/48-kHz USB audio interface with MIDI capabilities as well, Bluetooth LE is cooked in for wireless control of BT MIDI devices, it's MFi compatibility with iOS devices and it supports microphones on headphones too. Optional accessories include a carry pouch, strap and cables.

Tiny in stature and built to last, the TX-6 comes with a rather high price tag of US$1,199. The video below has more.

TX–6 overview

Product page: TX-6

View gallery - 5 images
3 comments
3 comments
BlueOak
That’s damned cool in a James Bond sort of way, regardless of the crazy $1,200 price. But hard to take a company name like “Teenage” seriously.
Brian M
Really has anyone at the company bothered to ask an audio engineer or even a typical user such as musician, film maker, DJ or U tube channel user. The connectors are non-standard for most pro or amateur inputs such as guitar, microphone etc. (think .25" jacks or XLR), or how about phantom power for mics?

Maybe a separate remote input box and multi core connecting cable to mixer might have been the answer.

The electronics seem interesting, its just the total lack of practical usability that lets them down in a very big way, Lots of good small mixers out there with a lot lower price tag, they are of course bigger but for very good reasons!

Perhaps a revamp, put the electronics into a box with decent standard connectors and use a smartphone/tablet as the main control surface, now that would be interesting.
White Rabbit
@BrianM - You're right on the mark. This is an expensive toy, not a working mixer. Sure, you can carry it in a pocket, but only until you want to use it!
Soundcraft and Behringer both make remote digital mixers with similar features and (mostly) standard inputs, that sell for less than 1/2 the price.