Audio mixer

The Audio mixer provides a centralised view of all audio-capable inputs in a project — media inputs, microphones, Audio Channel Strip submix buses — presenting them in a familiar mixer-style layout that makes it easy to monitor levels, apply adjustments, and balance multiple signals in real time.

Unlike configuring audio directly from each input, the mixer brings everything together in one place so you can quickly compare, tweak, and refine your mix.

Accessing the audio mixer

Four ways to open the audio mixer:

• Click the audio-mixer button in the scene-preview toolbar.
• Choose Layout → Audio Mixer from the main menu.
• Press Ctrl + M to toggle between the Compositor and Audio Mixer layouts. See Keyboard shortcuts for more key combinations.
• Choose Windows → Audio mixer in its own window to open it on a second screen instead of in the main window. See Detached audio mixer window.

Mixer strips

Each strip in the Audio mixer corresponds to one audio-capable input. Whenever a new audio-capable input is added to the project, it automatically appears as a strip — the mixer always reflects the current state of the project's audio sources without extra configuration.

Tip — Reorder audio strips

The order of mixer strips always matches the order of inputs in the Inputs & Scenes tab. To reorder strips in the Audio mixer, simply reorder the inputs under the Inputs & Scenes tab — the mixer updates automatically.

Tip — Hide audio strips

To hide an audio strip from the mixer without disabling its audio, enable Hide in the input's Audio options. Helpful for keeping the mixer uncluttered when dealing with many sources.

From each mixer strip you can

• Monitor levels via the VU meter.
• Adjust Gain (volume) with the fader.
• Control Pan (stereo balance).
• Mute / Solo the input.
• Enable Pre-Fader Listening (PFL) for monitoring.
• Adjust auxiliary sends to Audio Channel Strip submixes.

These controls overlap with the Audio options available on each input, but the mixer presents them in a more traditional mixing interface. For advanced functions — such as rerouting audio to different stereo pairs or detailed per-strip configuration — use the Channel Strip Inspector or the input's own Audio options.

Audio Channel Strips

An Audio Channel Strip is a virtual input that acts as an audio bus (or submix). Unlike other inputs, it has no source of its own — instead, it receives audio sent from other inputs in the project. Useful for:

• Grouping multiple sources under one fader.
• Creating independent monitor mixes.
• Setting up parallel-processing workflows.

Channel Strips appear in the mixer with the label STRIP and an orange waveform icon.

Sending audio to a Channel Strip

1. Click the Sel button on the Channel Strip you want to route audio to.
2. The other strips turn dark green and display send faders.
3. Drag any input's send fader to set how much audio is sent to the Channel Strip. The Up and Down arrow keys give finer control.
4. Click Sel again to exit routing mode.

Toggle input open/close

Clicking the buttons at the top of each strip toggles the corresponding input open or closed in the Inputs & Scenes view, so you can jump from a strip to its source without leaving the mixer layout.

Context menu

Right-click any mixer strip for the per-strip context menu:

Warning icons

Warning icons appear on mixer strips to alert you when an issue has occurred during operation.

Channel Strip Inspector

The Channel Strip Inspector is a panel on the right side of the audio mixer. Click any strip and the Inspector updates to show that strip's controls and audio configuration:

From the Inspector you can:

• Toggle Solo, PFL, and Mute (PFL only audible when audio preview is active), mirroring the controls on the strip and input itself.
• Trim level gain, remap stereo channels, adjust delay.
• Configure the advanced processing chain — Mapping, Gate, Low-Cut, EQ, Compressor, Limiter.

See the Channel Strip Inspector page below for the full reference.

Automixer

The Automixer manages a group of live speech microphones for you, automatically fading down mics that no one is talking into so only the active speaker stays fully open. It keeps panels, round-tables, interviews, and conference floors clean and consistent without anyone riding faders by hand.

Open the Automixer window with the button in the top-right corner of the AUDIO MIXER panel header, next to the Channel Strip Inspector:

For the full reference, see the Automixer window page.

Detached audio mixer window

The mixer and the Channel Strip Inspector can be moved into a window of their own, so the mix can have a screen to itself. Click the detach button in the top-right corner of the AUDIO MIXER panel header, next to the Automixer button, or choose Windows → Audio mixer in its own window, which carries a check-mark while the mixer is detached.

Detaching hands the main window back to the Compositor layout, so the mix and the scene can be worked on side by side instead of one replacing the other.

The detached mixer is the same mixer, not a copy: strips, meters, sends, routing and the Inspector all behave as they do docked, and everything stays live while the project plays.

Four ways back:

• Dock Back in the detached window's toolbar.
• Windows → Audio mixer in its own window again.
• Closing the detached window.
• Asking for the mixer in the main window — Ctrl + M, Layout → Audio mixer, or the audio-mixer button in the scene-preview toolbar — brings it home rather than opening a second one.

Loading another project docks the mixer automatically, since the strips describe the project that is being replaced. In Performance mode the window stays where you put it and shows a notice in place of the strips until performance mode is exited.

Processing workflow

For more on the internal audio-processing pipeline — input chain, mixer strip, layer audio, scene audio — see Audio processing workflow below.