The advantage using the Tyros5 mixer is that if you want to save settings unique to the mixer, this can only be done using the mixer. The Mixer saves a MIDI file that can be loaded at a later time. In terms of mixer functions, I find external mixers a bit easier to use (with real knobs). But that said, if one is saving a song, saving the mixer settings that you customize can then be later recalled along with the song.