Smartphone Mixer Control: Mobile Mixing in Your Pocket

Smartphone mixer control puts basic mixing capability on devices everyone already carries. While tablets provide larger interfaces for detailed work, smartphones offer convenient quick access for level checks, monitor adjustments, and mobile verification. Understanding phone-based control’s strengths and limitations enables appropriate application.

What Smartphone Control Offers

Quick adjustments without returning to the console become possible with phone-based control. Checking levels from the audience, adjusting monitors from stage positions, or making small tweaks during songs.

Convenience of always-available devices means mixing capability is always at hand. No separate device to charge, carry, or leave somewhere.

Multiple team members can connect simultaneously. The monitor engineer’s phone for monitors while the FOH engineer’s tablet handles main mix.

Interface Limitations

Smaller screens restrict the amount of information displayed. Full mixer overviews require scrolling or layer switching.

Touch targets must be larger on phones for accurate control. This reduces the number of controls visible simultaneously.

Fat-finger mistakes become more likely on small screens. Precision adjustment is more difficult than on larger touch surfaces.

Landscape orientation typically works better than portrait for mixer interfaces. This maximizes horizontal space for fader layouts.

Available Apps

Manufacturer apps designed for phones provide optimized interfaces. Behringer X Air and Midas MR series apps provide phone-friendly interfaces for their respective mixers.

Some apps scale between phone and tablet, adjusting interface appropriately. Others offer separate phone-optimized versions.

Mixing Station offers consistent interface across iOS and Android phones with support for multiple mixer brands.

Stripped-down apps focus on essential functions—faders, mutes, basic EQ—omitting complex features inappropriate for small screens.

Practical Applications

Monitor adjustments from stage positions represent ideal phone use. Standing next to a performer, adjust their monitor send directly based on their feedback.

Level verification while walking the audience ensures consistent coverage. Quick fader adjustments correct problems discovered during walkthrough.

Emergency adjustments during equipment failure at main console allow continuation when primary control is unavailable.

Quick mutes between songs silence stage noise without returning to FOH position.

When Phones Work Well

Simple mixing tasks with limited scope suit phone control. Adjusting a few faders, muting channels, or checking levels all work fine.

Secondary control alongside primary tablet or console operation extends capability without replacing primary interface.

Limited-channel mixers where everything fits on screen reasonably make phone control practical for complete operation.

Casual or backup scenarios where precision mixing is not critical can tolerate phone interface limitations.

When Tablets Work Better

Complex mixing requiring simultaneous adjustment of multiple parameters benefits from larger interface.

Detailed EQ work needing precise control over parametric bands is difficult on small screens.

Primary mixing responsibility during critical shows warrants the better interface tablets provide.

Extended mixing sessions cause less fatigue on larger displays.

Network Setup

Phone control uses the same WiFi infrastructure as tablet control. The mixer connects to a wireless router; the phone connects to that network.

Phone WiFi performance varies between models. Newer phones generally maintain more reliable connections.

Battery consumption during active WiFi mixing is noticeable. Consider charging or battery availability for extended events.

5 GHz WiFi networks generally perform better for mixing. Check phone compatibility with 5 GHz bands.

Combining Phone and Tablet

Use tablet for primary mixing, phone for mobile monitoring. Each device serves its strength.

Different team members use appropriate devices. The monitor engineer on stage uses their phone; FOH engineer uses tablet from mix position.

Phone backup when tablet battery dies keeps control available. Transition to phone continues operation.

Workflow Tips

Configure the most-used functions for quick access. Monitor sends on main screen for monitor adjustment from stage.

Learn the specific app’s phone interface. Gestures, shortcuts, and navigation may differ from tablet version.

Practice operating the phone app during rehearsals. Familiarity under pressure comes from experience.

Keep the phone secured during use. Dropping the phone mid-adjustment disrupts workflow.

Reliability Considerations

Phone notifications can interrupt mixing app operation. Enable do-not-disturb mode during shows.

Incoming calls interrupt WiFi apps. Silence the phone completely during critical periods.

Multiple app conflicts—switching to check messages then returning to mixer—can cause connection issues.

Battery management matters more on phones than tablets. Mixing apps consume power; ensure adequate charge.

Accessibility Benefits

Band members who are not audio engineers can adjust their own monitors through simple phone interfaces. This self-service reduces demand on the mixing engineer.

Personal monitor mixer apps from systems like Behringer P16 enable individual monitor control from phones.

Simplified interfaces with only essential controls make self-service practical for non-technical users.

Clear labeling and intuitive design enable effective use without training.