This article is written by Toru Hoshino, a jazz bassist and instructor based in Japan who teaches online lessons to students worldwide. In this article, he reviews a cheap, simple audio interface that’s especially handy for bassists filming “play-through” videos.
Why the GO:MIXER is worth using for “play-through” videos — and why it’s especially good for bassists. This is a hands-on review based on my own experience.
If either of these sounds like you, this one’s worth a look:
- Playing bass through an amp at home gets you in trouble with people around you
- You want a simple mixer but don’t want to spend much
Contents
What Is the GO:MIXER?
The GO:MIXER is an audio mixer built specifically for smartphones.
The setup here is:
iPhone → GO:MIXER → Bass
Connect it this way, switch your iPhone to video recording mode, and it automatically captures a clean line-in recording alongside your video — it’s a genuinely great little tool.
GO:MIXER Q&A
Does it need batteries?
No batteries or adapter needed. It just works as-is.
Does it need a dedicated app?
No app required. It just works as-is.
Is there any audio/video sync lag?
I personally haven’t noticed any.
Can it record in stereo?
Yes — connect it and you can record your performance in stereo right away. With multiple inputs, the GO:MIXER can mix and record mics, instruments, and media players together.
Does it work with Android?
For the most part, yes, though some Android devices have had compatibility issues. Check the manufacturer’s support page for details.
Can multiple people play through it at once?
Yes. It has plenty of input jacks, so you can plug in multiple instruments and play together.
Other Advantages of the GO:MIXER
Extremely Lightweight
It weighs about 100 grams — genuinely light.
No Amp Needed
Playing through an amp at home gets you in trouble with whoever you live with. But a headphone amp alone means you can’t make a “play-through” video.
That’s exactly the gap this fills:
iPhone → GO:MIXER → Bass
Connect headphones or earphones to the GO:MIXER, and you get to practice with amp-like sound, with no amp required.
Downsides of the GO:MIXER
No Power Supply, Since It Runs Off Your Phone’s Jack
Because it draws power through your phone’s port while you’re filming, your battery drains steadily the whole time. Long recording sessions might be tough if your phone’s battery is already low.
Why I Recommend It Specifically for Bassists
If you record straight from your amp into your phone’s built-in mic, ambient noise and muddiness are common problems — even if you’ve dialed in a great amp tone, the phone’s mic often just doesn’t capture it well. Bass tends to get buried more easily than other instruments to begin with.
That’s where the GO:MIXER comes in — plug into the jack, and it automatically produces a clean line-recorded video. Highly recommended for bassists.
You can find it here: https://amzn.asia/d/6G6CC3D
Good gear takes care of your sound — what’s harder to fix on your own is everything happening with your hands before the signal even reaches the mixer.
Want Personalized Feedback on Your Playing?
This is exactly the kind of thing that’s hard to fix alone — and where having a teacher makes all the difference.
At Line on Bass, I offer an online lesson service where you send me a video of your playing, and I give you specific, detailed feedback — every single day if you want.
Students from around the world are using this to fix exactly these kinds of issues and steadily improve their jazz bass skills.