Radio is all about mobility. We’re finding new ways to deliver audio from the field via smaller and smaller connected devices, but we still need to attach more than a single microphone. You need a compact mixer.

For our comparison, we looked at models that had two microphone inputs, although we found units that only had one. (One manufacturer’s smallest model started at four mic inputs.) The mixers below also have larger brothers in their series.

All the mixers have stereo outputs. Some have effects or monitor sends. The models with sends could be set up to provide a main feed on one channel and a mix-minus on the other. All models offer some EQ. The two-band choices have sweeps at 80Hz and 12kHz. When a third midrange band is offered it is centered at 2.5kHz.

All these models have external power supplies. In another installment of Side by Side we’ll look at battery-powered options for total mobility.