Dirtywave MX is an upcoming battery-powered hardware performance mixer with punch effects and full MIDI support.
Dirtywave’s M8 is one of the most widely used modern hardware trackers. It also boasts a huge community. Last week, the developer also released the M8 as an iOS app, making the tracker engine available to even more musicians.
Last week, a second product debuted. Alongside the app, Dirtywave previewed the MX, a new performance mixer set to launch in 2027.
Dirtywave MX
MX is an upcoming battery-powered performance mixer for the Dirtywave M8 tracker and any other electronic music gear. It looks like a shrunken DJ mixer—which, in part, it actually is. It’s made out of aluminum, like the M8.
The interface consists of two contactless hall effect-style sensor faders with LED indicators, a crossfader, ten buttons, six assignable potentiometers, and two encoders.
It offers three stereo inputs and three stereo outputs. Internally, however, the MX is an 8-channel mixer. The USB audio functionality lets you bring all 8 channels from the M8 into the mixer via a USB cable. This lets you use and combine external and virtual inputs.
The MX is not just an 8-track digital mixer; it is also a two-deck DJ mixer. With the dedicated mixer interface, you can easily assign each channel independently to deck A or B. Alternatively, you can route them straight to the main output.
Once mapped, you can control the tracks on the decks with the two faders. With the crossfader in the middle, you can crossfade between deck A and B. You can also assign it to effects, or even send MIDI CC data to other gear. For example, for transitions and more.
In the factory setting, the potentiometers have a mapped three-band EQ. You can, however, change that and assign other parameters or even control external gear via MIDI CC. A flexible MIDI matrix makes this a breeze.
Punch-In Effects
Yes, there are effects. Dirtywave MX has eight FX slots into which you can load an FX preset. Various performance FX are available: looper, filter, mod FX (flanger, comb…), amp/distortion, delay, reverb, and more.
Thanks to automatic beat detection, the effects sync with your M8’s BPM. As with Teenage Engineering devices, these are punch-in effects you trigger by pressing a button. They are fully customizable with custom min and max settings.
Don’t forget: you can also assign FX parameters to the crossfader, letting you bring effects in and out precisely. Plus, you can animate these parameters with three assignable multi-wave LFOs, with a shape-drawing option.
Connectivity
On the back, you have two stereo outputs (main, cue), three stereo inputs, two TRS MIDI IN and OUT sockets, and USB host and device. With the host, you can route audio and MIDI; the device powers/charges the unit.
On the front, you also have a stereo headphone jack, making a total of three stereo outputs. All the sockets are 3.5 mm mini jacks.
As mentioned, the Dirtywave MX offers extensive MIDI implementation via a dedicated MIDI matrix. The mixer can also send and receive MIDI. For example, you can route MIDI into the device via the MIDI In socket and send it to a USB host to sync other devices.
Dirtywave MX: First Impression
At first glance, it’s a very exciting performance mixer. It reminds me of the concept of the Teenage Engineering EP-136 K.O. Sidekick but more powerful. Especially, the extensive MIDI implementation is a great deal.
I’m not an M8 user myself, but I can imagine this being a super useful tool for those who are.
Dirtywave MX is still in development. Price and availability are TBA but planned for 2027.
More information here: Dirtywave
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