A while back I was sent a sample set of the No Mix Up’s label set. At first I was a little skeptical – after all, I’ve been using board tape and sharpies for over two decades. However, as I lived with the product for a while I became a fan.
The idea behind the labels are simple enough – nicely engraved plastic labels (color coded) set on a velcro surface. The velcro used seems to leave no residue or mess. They can be used anywhere you can imagine – consoles, personal monitor mixers, jack locations, etc. The versatility is limited only by your imagination. These labels give you the easy ability to not only identify something by a number, but now a name – and you can do so at both ends of the cable! However, what makes the system so nice is as patches (or uses) change, you can simply pull up the label and apply it at the new location.
In a church where the channel assignments are changing – or perhaps the vocalists/band changes from service to service – it’s easy to quickly track with the change.
It’s also nice to be able to label all of your stage jacks with No Mix Ups, and then simply tell you volunteers on stage to plug into the “Kick Drum Channel” or the “Electric 1”, etc. However, unlike permanent labels, if you make a patch change in the system, it’s as simple as peeling the label from the velcro and re-applying in the new location. These easy to read, color coded labels will certainly add a layer of organization and ease to your setup.
One of the places these labels excel is when used with an Aviom personal mixer. I find these are always a bit of a hassle. The No Mix Ups makes labeling easy. First, you have to setup a template (or scrawl with handwriting over each of the small sections). Then you have to duplicate this for every mixer on stage. Then the unthinkable – you change the patch. Now every one of the mixers have to be updated. It’s a real pain. No Mix Ups has labels (see image for this article) that fit perfectly on the Aviom personal mixer. Order one set for each of the mixers and you are good to go. Patch change? Simply peel up the label and affix the proper label in it’s place. This one solution alone makes the system worth it for me.
Is this the right system for everyone? Probably not. But it certainly has it’s advantages. For instance, in my church I’d likely use this on the Aviom’s and probably half the channels on the console. We have most of our channels fixed from service to service, but we add certain instruments and commonly change vocalists. Having the No Mix Ups labels for these needs is a perfect fit for me. Other people will prefer the flexibility it offers in changing stage patches. Still others will use it for their own specific needs.
The quality of the labels is good. I did find the text a little less defined on a couple of times, but this was not the norm. Initially, I thought the price seemed a little high, but as I thought about what I was getting and how I’d use them, it actually works out to be a good deal.
One real nice feature is the expansion packs. If you do orchestra’s, or large drum kits, or other specialized needs – there’s an expansion kit for that. Similarly you can also order custom printed labels.
Overall, I’d rate this product a 4 out 5. Check them out by visiting NoMixUps.com
For more ideas on how to use this product, check out the video below: