Bizarre MIDIPLUS audio interface mimics a makeup case

Taiwanese manufacturer Midiplus, normally known for perfectly reasonable and utilitarian low-price MIDI gear, has one very odd product making the rounds. As part of their “fancy” series, Midiplus have fashioned an audio interface as an mock eyeshadow palette, literally dubbed MIRROR.
I feel obligated to write about this just to stop all the people sending it to me, so – against my better judgment, here we go.
The “SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR FEMALES” is so far not going over well with women producing music, based on social media impressions and conversations I’ve had. Implying that women need their audio interface to look like a makeup kit is about the worst imaginable marketing.
That obvious point aside, I’m struck by just how weird this thing is. Under the hood, it’s a perfectly normal audio interface – it’s a 24-bit, 192kHz audio box with mic in (with preamp and phantom power), and two headphone outs (apparently independent). There’s also a guitar input and something labeled “phone” – which seems to just be a minijack in.
Midiplus, if you want to repair that damage, I’d be happy to review one, as I’d certainly travel with this myself for the novelty factor alone.
No. And “for females”? Just… really, really, no.
It’s the case itself that gets odd, along with the profoundly strange, broken English ad copy. As a makeup kit, the device is sadly non functional: those are just dials in the shape of eyeshadow palettes, not actual eyeshadow. (Opportunity missed.) But the mirror at least works, flipping open and lit by an LED lamp (5500K, say the maker).
But yes, be ready for more of this sort of strangeness from OEMs as manufacturing costs plummet and designers get … creative. At a recent Musikmesse there was a manufacturer hawking audio interfaces covered in fake fur, a pricey sequined backpack kit, and a sales guy dressed as a magician.
The MIRROR isn’t along in the “fancy” line Midiplus are unleashing on us; there’s also a VINTAGE model. That one at least is absent the sexist ad copy, but crosses visual cues from a cassette tape, a practice amp, and a radio, and has some sort of live waveform display.
The other “fancy” model.
Anyway, all this gets me thinking. See, I may have to respond to MIRROR by making my own CDM jetlag/tour emergency kit. Mirror and LED, yes. But I’m also imagining some cover up for the dark circles under my eyes, a bit of hair pomade, and a built-in USB hub with various Rekordbox-formatted USB sticks, plus a Raspberry Pi running a looper/effects unit so if my luggage gets lost I can still do a live PA set.
I’m only half joking. I may have to actually make this thing. I’m slightly fatigued of being confused for an extra from The Walking Dead each time I travel more than two hours. So, with actual working makeup (which MIRROR lacks), my product will help me to LOOK AT THE BEAUTY ONE IN THE MIRROR. Oh, hi there.

And yes, generally speaking, if you think of marketing a product to “females,” please … don’t market it that way.
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