How to Power the Mixcast 4 using USB

How to Power the Mixcast 4 using USB

In this tutorial, we'll take a look at powering the popular Tascam Mixcast 4 with USB power — something the unit does not support officially.

There are many podcast recording stations available on the market right now, and the most popular ones are without a doubt the Røde Rodecaster Pro, the Zoom PodTrak P8, and the Tascam Mixcast 4.

One major feature of the Rodecaster Pro, however, is the ability to power the unit straight from a USB connection on your computer — a feature not supported on the Mixcast 4.

But there are a couple of solutions available for those of us who want to be mobile with our podcast recording station. Let's go through them now.

Power the Mixcast 4 using USB

To power the Mixcast 4 using USB power we need to convert USB power into 12V DC with a minimum of 2.4 A of power, the latter being the area where most USB power connections fail unfortunately.

It is straight-up unusual for PowerBanks and USB adapters to carry over the 2.4 A over a 12V DC connection — most often it drops down to 1 or 1.5 A, even though the unit can be marketed as 3 A (a number they can live up to only when delivering up to 9V DC).

To summarize, our requirement for powering the Tascam Mixcast 4 using USB is a 12V DC / 2.4 A power source from a USB to a DC connection.


Supported PowerBanks

Unfortunately, many, many PowerBanks simply cannot deliver the amount of power required to power the Tascam Mixcast 4.

We have tried several different models before finding models that can power the unit — but we have found working PowerBanks that can successfully power it.

Here is the best PowerBanks for the Mixcast 4:

1. Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W

The PowerCore 26800+ PowerBank from Anker is a very solid PowerBank that can charge both your laptop and power the Mixcast 4 without any issues at all.

This power bank holds an amazing 26 800 mAh and gives you more than the required 2.4 A, making it an excellent choice for powering the Mixcast 4 for many hours.


Supported USB Power Adapters

Another challenge is finding a good enough USB converter cable that will change the USB output on the PowerBank to a 12V DC output, making it possible for us to connect it to the Mixcast itself.

Here are the best USB power converters for the Mixcast 4:

1. Røde DC-USB1

Røde DC-USB1 is made for the number one competition of the Mixcast 4 — the Rodecaster Pro — and this cheap and easy-to-use power adapter works like a charm on the Tascam unit as well.

It even has the same screw-in dimensions which make it possible to secure the DC connection just like on the Røde unit.

2. iGreely Step Up Converter Cable

The cheaper alternative is 5V 12V DC Step Up Converter Cable which is available at half the price of the Røde DC-USB1, and while it's missing the secure screw-on feature they perform the same from a power conversion standpoint.

For durability, you might want to go with the more expensive option, but if you want a cheap and quick solution the iGreely version works fine.

Conclusion

While Tascam themselves don't advertise the Mixcast 4 as a portable podcast studio, it is very much possible to use it as such with a good enough PowerBank and a simple USB converter cable that's also really cheap.

We think it's a bummer that many users think that the Tascam is limited when it just comes down to a simple workaround to get it to work flawlessly on the field.

Hopefully, this tutorial has helped you realize your podcasting dreams with your excellent podcast station Mixcast 4!

Products

ProductRead More
Tascam Mixcast 4Tascam Mixcast 4More
Røde Rodecaster ProRøde Rodecaster ProMore
Zoom PodTrak P8Zoom PodTrak P8More
Anker PowerCore 26800Anker PowerCore 26800+More
Røde DC-USB1Røde DC-USB1More
iGreely DC 5V to DC 12V USB Voltage Step Up Converter CableiGreely DC 5V to DC 12V USB Voltage Step Up Converter CableMore
Reviews

Best Speaker Simulator
Best Speaker Simulator

Find the best speaker simulator for your money — our favorite doesn't cost much at all.


Best 32-bit Audio Recorders
Best 32-bit Audio Recorders

The hype is real — 32-bit audio recording is here to stay. Here are our top picks.


Best Reverb for Orchestral Samples
Best Reverb for Orchestral Samples

Make your Orchestral Samples sound like the real deal by using the reverb effects best suited for the job. Here are our five top picks.


Best Free Piano VST Plugins
Best Free Piano VST Plugins

Looking for free virtual pianos? We've collected the most popular VSTs that are free and have a great piano sound.

Tutorials

MIDI Effect Plugin Routing in Ableton Live
MIDI Effect Plugin Routing in Ableton Live

Get started with MIDI Routing in Ableton Live — it's way easier than you might think.


macOS Virtual MIDI
macOS Virtual MIDI

Get up and running with Virtual MIDI in macOS — it's easier than you think. Here's a quick tutorial on how to activate the IAC Driver.


Spitfire Labs Something Went Wrong
Spitfire Labs Something Went Wrong

This is how you get Spitfire Labs working again if you've come across the infamous "Something Went Wrong" error.


Tube vs Solid-State Compressors: Understanding the Differences
Tube vs Solid-State Compressors: Understanding the Differences

From warmth to transparency, find the perfect compressor for your audio engineering needs with our guide on tube and solid-state compressors.


The Virtual MIDI Keyboard in Ableton Live
The Virtual MIDI Keyboard in Ableton Live

In this tutorial, we explain how to use your computer keyboard as both a MIDI keyboard and a MIDI controller.


Using Saturation and Distortion when Producing Audio
Using Saturation and Distortion when Producing Audio

Add warmth and power to your music with saturation and distortion - find your unique vintage tone!

Questions

The Limitations of Ableton Live Lite
The Limitations of Ableton Live Lite

Learn all the features and limitations of the cheapest Ableton Live version — Ableton Live Lite.


What is iLok?
What is iLok?

Here's everything you need to know about the software copy protection system called iLok.

News

Rodecaster Pro 2 released
Rodecaster Pro 2 released

Røde has released a brand new version of their popular podcast recording and mixing desk — say hello to the Rodecaster Pro 2.


New Kilohearts Effect: Nonlinear Filter
New Kilohearts Effect: Nonlinear Filter

Find out more about the new Kilohearts effect called **Nonlinear Filter**.


New Features in Ableton Live 12
New Features in Ableton Live 12

Ableton Live 12 has been announced, with plenty of new features. Let's take a look.


Ableton Live now supports M1 Macs
Ableton Live now supports M1 Macs

After a long wait, Ableton finally delivers and lets M1 users run Live natively.


Luftrum Autumn Sale
Luftrum Autumn Sale

Sound designers and plugin developers Luftrum are currently having an autumn sale.

 Music Rigs

Find the best tools when building your very own music rig, using reviews, tutorials and guides written exclusively for MusicRigs.com — for music creators, by music creators. Links to stores are affiliate links.