Roland AIRA MX-1 Mix Performer In Depth

The Roland AIRA MX-1 Mix Performer was one of the most interesting introductions at the 2015 NAMM Show. The MX-1 is a deep, powerful device, though, that’s hard to understand from an overview from the NAMM Show floor.

In this video, via SweetwaterSound, Roland Group Strategy Manager Brandon Ryan provides an in-depth look at the MX-1 and how it differs from traditional mixers. 

Key differences between the MX-1 and traditional mixers include:

  • The MX-1 is a mixer, but also an high-resolution audio interface and control surface;
  • It’s intended as a ‘nerve center’ for modern electronic music performance, rather than as a standard mixer;
  • Support for MIDI, mix sequencing and tempo-based effects is integrated deeply; and
  • It is tailored to mixing both digital and analog audio.

The Roland AIRA MX-1 is expected to ship in March 2015. For more info, see the Roland site.

21 thoughts on “Roland AIRA MX-1 Mix Performer In Depth

    1. Too bad those USB host ports are AIRA only. If they allowed class compliant it would be a game changer. Exciting device but at the same time stale. No Sale!

    1. There is EQ of every channel, here’s the line from the product page at Roland.

      Per-channel Tone/Filter knob with ten kinds of EQs, filters, and isolators

  1. Would totally buy this if it could group tr 8 channels and allocate to different channels on mixer – without first having to go through a DAW. Seems like such an obvious feature.

  2. Elektron could learn a thing or two from this. The immediate mixer features/number of inputs on this combined with the sampling and sequencing of the octatrack would basically be my dream production+performance centrepiece.

  3. Very similar to the Korg Zero series, at less than half the weight and price, and the audio driver was shady.

    18 individual audio OUT from a DAW to each of the MX-1 mixer’s channels simultaneously, is that what this can do?

  4. This is honestly the most awesome thing I have seen from Roland in my time producing (after jupiter 8 came out) and something I would love to have and didnt realize. I think the masses are unaware the full capabilities of this thing and I didn’t watch the video but the Aira guy who is in all the videos told my friend at NAMM that this (although it doesn’t list as a audio interface per say) has a feature u guys either don’t realize exists or aira man made it up lol. He said if u open ableton all the units plugged in via USB that have track routings (tr 8) can be sent to ableton (along with all the other ins just minus the track routing as it will obviously just be 1 cable) run through effects then routed back to the mixer. Dope. Imagine Push with x number of tracks on ur mx1 being run through vsts then back and an analog 4 + analog rytm (add an aira product or two if you want to thank them for this awesome piece of gear or just because u like to waste money as anyone with a nice laptop and ableton obviously don’t require aira stuff) And you got an epic live set rig.

  5. iam sold pretty much, but i dont need the four aira tracks as i dont plan to buy them.
    so if they bring a driver update to make those four channels usable without having to buy in their line iam in.
    just let us make fx/sub groups etc, just make it usable.

    and also 6 input channels for a device that should be the “synth-brain” of someones studio is extremely weak. AT LEAST eight inputs (stereo) would be needed to make a mixer the brain of anything.
    in my case of course.

    elektronn, its your turn, what about an addon to the octatrack with similar formfactor.

  6. Hi!,
    has anybody used a line mixer to the stereo in or digital in to tackle the lack of inputs??? Is this “solution” working good?

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