The Mix Me DJ is a rare and fascinating toy-sized DJ console — or, more precisely, a mini groovebox — released around 2004. Today, it’s incredibly hard to find, making it a sought-after piece among collectors of early digital music toys.
Despite its small size, the Mix Me DJ packs an impressive amount of sound content: dozens of built-in samples, quirky sound effects, and crunchy lo-fi musical loops. The silver plastic body and six red-lit drum pads make it look like a miniature professional DJ deck — one that actually lights up like it’s ready for a party.
Design and Sound
Unlike its more advanced sibling, the Beat Square – Mix Evolution, this model’s scratch wheel performs a basic function: it triggers a single sample in either direction without reacting to spin speed. All sounds are low- to mid-resolution digital samples, resulting in that unmistakable 8-bit noise and charming distortion that lo-fi fans adore.
The console also features a small, one-octave pull-out keyboard, sliding from the body like a CD tray. It offers 10 preset instrument tones and 2 short synth loops.
The background track controls are styled after a cassette deck, with only three buttons — Play, Pause, and Stop — keeping the retro theme alive.
Backing patterns come in techno and hip-hop styles, full of playful synth textures. The tempo buttons (+/–) work similarly to a pitch control on vinyl turntables, adjusting playback speed. However, every time you load a new pattern, the tempo resets to default.
Sadly, the Mix Me DJ lacks a vocoder, a feature available in the Mix Evolution model.
Weaknesses and Build Quirks
The biggest drawback is the lack of a master volume control. Out of the box, the Mix Me DJ plays at an almost painfully loud level through its internal mono speaker.
While there are separate digital buttons to adjust the volume of drum pads and background music — and an analog knob for the AUX/CD input — the keyboard and scratch sounds always play at maximum volume.
Another issue lies in the keyboard matrix: pressing multiple keys can cause note dropouts or glitches. Still, since most samples are short and single-layered, quick chord rolls can help mask these limitations.
The console was sold under the Kid’s Com and Happy People brands in Europe, while a Kawasaki-branded version appeared in the US, sporting a different color scheme.
Main Specifications
13-key pull-out keyboard (one octave)
6 plastic drum pads with red LED backlights
Built-in mono speaker with light bass response
Up to 3-note polyphony (in practice, reliable mono)
10 keyboard sound presets (2 per button × 5 buttons)
2 additional synth loops
21 background musical patterns
Tempo buttons (+/–) with 16 adjustment steps
Cassette-style transport (Play / Pause / Stop)
Separate volume control for background and drum pads
Analog volume knob for AUX/CD input
Scratch wheel with 21 sound effect sets (3 buttons × 7 modes)
10 drum pad sound banks (5 buttons × 2 modes)
8-bit lo-fi samples with characteristic digital noise
Potex Z0829AA7111 processor (COB module, 42 pins)
Foldable carry handle
Auto-power-off function (likely demo-mode only)
AUX/CD input jack
— See also: Who Are the Mixing Engineer and the Mastering Engineer? —
Hidden Features and Popular Modifications
Inside the unit are hidden functions that can be activated using secret key combinations. These include unlocking 7 extra rhythm patterns or enabling keyboard volume control. Hobbyists and circuit-bending enthusiasts often modify the Mix Me DJ, adding:
a master volume potentiometer;
a power adapter jack with adjustable voltage;
line outputs and a switch to disable the internal speaker;
diodes to correct keyboard matrix errors;
new buttons for rhythms 22–28 and extra volume control;
pitch knobs and fine-tuning trimmers.
Such mods turn the toy into a surprisingly expressive lo-fi performance tool.
Final Impressions
Visually, the Mix Me DJ still looks stylish today — the silver body with red-glowing pads feels like something out of an early-2000s music video. The light pads flash in random rhythm, mimicking a small club setup. When one pad is pressed, the others dim for a few seconds, giving the illusion of reactive lighting.
However, the paint scratches easily, and the speaker volume can quickly become tiring. The lack of a headphone jack or main volume control limits its usability for long sessions.
Still, for collectors, retro synth fans, and anyone nostalgic for early digital sound toys, the Mix Me DJ is a true artifact of the 2000s — complete with crunchy 8-bit samples, techno loops, and that irreplaceable DIY-lo-fi charm.
