How to connect an external audio device to Mixlr Studio
Connect an audio interface or USB mixer to Mixlr Studio to use professional audio equipment in your broadcast.
External audio devices — such as audio interfaces and USB mixers — let you connect professional microphones, instruments, and hardware mixers to Mixlr Studio. Once your device is connected and recognised by your computer, it will appear as an input source in your Mixlr Studio channel settings.
Before you start
Make sure your device is connected to your computer before opening Mixlr Studio.
Keep your drivers up to date. Out-of-date drivers are one of the most common causes of audio devices not being detected. Before setting up your device in Mixlr Studio, check the manufacturer's website and install the latest drivers for your equipment. This applies to both Windows and Mac.
Select your external device in Mixlr Studio
1. Open Mixlr Studio and log in.
2. Select the source selector at the top of the input channel — this shows Select Source if nothing is connected, or the current input name if one is already set.
Tip: To add a second input channel alongside your existing channel, select the + icon in the channel area and choose your audio device.
3. Your external device will appear in the list of available audio input devices. Select it.
4. Speak, play, or send a signal through your device — the level meter on that channel should respond.
Device not appearing in the list? Check that it's connected and powered on, then quit and relaunch Mixlr Studio. If it still doesn't appear, check that your drivers are up to date.
Choosing the right channel
When you select an external device, you'll be given a choice of channels. Stereo pairs are listed first (for example Channels 1 and 2), followed by the individual mono channels. Mixlr Studio can't tell what you've plugged into each socket, so the right choice depends on your setup:
One microphone or instrument. Select the mono channel matching the input it's plugged into, for example Channel 1 for input 1. Listeners will hear it centred, through both of their speakers or headphones. Selecting a stereo pair here would put your voice in one ear only.
Two separate sources, such as two microphones. Add a second input channel with the + icon and give each its own mono channel (Channel 1 and Channel 2). You can then set their levels independently. A channel already used by another input is marked "(in use)".
A stereo source. For a stereo source such as media player, or the main mix from a hardware mixer, select the pair of channels those two outputs are connected to.
A USB mixer with a main mix. Many USB mixers send the main mix to the computer on a specific pair, but which pair varies between manufacturers and can often be changed in the mixer's own software. Check the manual, or select each pair in turn while sound is playing and watch the level meter respond.