Mackie M-Caster Live Review - a bold audio interface for DJ livestreams & podcasts

The Mackie M-Caster Live is a bold little interface, designed to improve over your phone or computer’s built-in mic for livestreaming and offer fun extras, too. It is resolutely “non technical”, maybe too much so for some users - but it’s also a lot of fun with its built-in effects, and some of the audio “contours” (such as the compressor settings) are genuinely useful. Is it the right option for DJ livestreams, though?
Read the full review: www.digitaldjtips.com/reviews/mackie-m-caster-live-audio-interface/
👉 Subscribe and tap the 🔔 to get notified about new videos on how to DJ
👉 Want our free DJ training and guides for beginners? Sign up here: www.digitaldjtips.com/join
Want more DJ info?
▶ Take an online DJ course: djtips.co/courses
▶ Read "Rock The Dancefloor!": www.digitaldjtips.com/rock-the-dancefloor/
▶ Get DJ Gear reviews & news: www.digitaldjtips.com/
▶ Join The Global DJ Network: djtips.co/global
▶ Like us on Facebook: digitaldjtips/
▶ Follow us on Instagram: digitaldjtips
▶ Follow us on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@digitaldjtips
▶ Follow us on Twitter: digitaldjtips
▶ Subscribe to our newsletter: www.digitaldjtips.com/join
#Mackie #Audio #Gear #Tech #DJTips #DigitalDJTips #MusicIndustry #DJing

[@richardwardhome]

Hi Phil, As the Business Development Manager for Polar UK, the UK distributor for Mackie, I just wanted to thank you for another great video. We appreciate the exposure and interest these videos you create bring. Thanks!

[@digitaldjtips]

you're welcome!

[@NexuJin]

For the money you spend on the M-Caster Live, I think the Mackie's own ProFX10v3 would be more bang for bucks if you are into DJ-ing and into podcasting. The ProFX10 has 10 channels input, 3 band EQ each channel, pan and FX (from 24 FX you can select) for each channel, 12 digit VU meter, 4 mic preamps and footswitch. The 4 mic preamps are useful for if you have guests over for your podcast, or if you just want to play on real hand drums and record it with your dj set.

[@SoundHypnotic]

100% agree...I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@digitaldjtips]

Yup - but Mackie are betting some people don't care for all the tech, I guess.

[@NexuJin]

@@digitaldjtips It seems to follow the longstanding trend where mixers for DJ-ing (and now also podcasting) are way more expensive than PA mixers with audio interface. I think it has to do that with them being easier to market to a specific group of users and buyers. A group that is willing to spend big bucks.

[@brongracz]

@NexuJin I wanted a mic interface primarily which I could select in dj ad my mic input and indeed something small with effects for mic so that I have a fix level in dj and only adjust or kill the mic

[@brongracz]

But I'm new and inexperienced. I see your point now that I played with it as a mixer. However 2 Chan seems enough for today: o one for the dj mixer console deck (whatever the right name) and one for the mic. I wonder if the hiss people complained about is a result of setting "gain" too high.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I got the Roland mixer - believe me - having the options to power it over USB C with power bank or adapter is much better than battery. If you're hooking this up to an iPhone with SSD, HDMI etc it will need its own power. Good to be able to choose how this is supplied.

[@digitaldjtips]

Definitely a good feature Thomas.

[@Ronniezim]

I picked up the revelator IO44 to handle a lot of this for me. I mostly use mine so that I can use a professional mic for video calls, but I can feed in my dj mixer and livestream, etc. may be worth reviewing/ checking out.

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@gabrielledavis6382]

Is it possible to use the XLR input for the DJ gear instead? Is the gain allowance any different than the instrument input?

[@moeberry3256]

Thanks Phil, good stuff

[@digitaldjtips]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@brongracz]

So I got myself one hoping I can use it with algoriddim djay ipad as usb mic interface. (Mixtour Pro doesn't have one) Didn't find it there. Off course I can route audio through it. But there is some quality loss imo. Knobs on 50% is fine enough but still a difference in detail monitoring through headphones on it and on mixtour. Any ideas as to the usb interface?

[@digitaldjtips]

Any class compliant 4-out interface would potentially work but not tried any to recommend

[@brongracz]

@digitaldjtips thx, well mackie says it is class compliant... hmm

[@Gentamoru]

I got the iRig stream a couple of months ago :)! This isn't a bad idea either, I might sell my iRig for this one xD

[@digitaldjtips]

Yours will do the job fine, though.

[@carlmorz]

where to connect camera

[@digitaldjtips]

You mean the audio output from a camera? The line input would work.

[@RenatoHarripaul1217]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@gaiinz263]

I’m not getting ANY audio into my phone, my phone is only putting audio into the device and playing thru speakers.

[@digitaldjtips]

Not sure what to suggest without being there to troubleshoot it for you, hope you've figured it out!