Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteConnect your microphone and other sources to the mixer, connect the mixer’s USB audio connection—or a supported mixer output through an audio interface—to your computer, then select that computer audio device in OBS and verify the routing with a recording before you go live. The full path is sources → mixer → computer audio device → OBS → YouTube. A mixer is useful for hands-on control and multiple sources, but it is not required for every stream.
What you need—and what the mixer does
A mixer combines and controls audio sources before they reach the streaming computer. Depending on the model and how its USB routing works, the computer may receive the mixer’s stereo main mix, separate channels, or selectable inputs. Do not assume which one applies: check the manual for your exact model. YouTube lists mixers and multiple microphones as possible equipment for encoder-based streams (YouTube’s encoder setup guide).
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- A mixer with a USB audio connection that supports your computer and operating system, or a suitable audio interface to carry the mixer’s output into the computer.
- Microphones and other sources with connectors and signal levels compatible with the mixer’s inputs.
- Streaming software such as OBS, plus headphones for monitoring.
- A YouTube channel set up for live streaming and access to YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room.
Before connecting anything, check the mixer manual for required drivers, input power requirements, supported connection types, USB channel routing, and whether USB sends the main mix or individual channels. USB channel behavior and device names vary by manufacturer and model.
Connect the mixer to the computer
- Connect each source to a compatible mixer input. For example, use the appropriate microphone input for a microphone and a compatible line input for a line-level source. Follow the device manuals for connector and power requirements; do not enable phantom power unless the connected equipment requires it.
- Connect the mixer by USB if it supports USB audio. Use the computer port and cable specified by the manufacturer, and install the model’s driver if the manufacturer requires one. If the mixer does not provide suitable USB audio, connect a supported output to an audio interface, then connect that interface to the computer.
- Confirm that the computer recognizes the intended device. Select the mixer or interface as the audio input in your streaming software. If it does not appear, check its power, USB connection, driver, operating-system permissions, and the manufacturer’s compatibility information.
- Confirm what the computer is receiving. Speak into one microphone or play one source at a time and watch the software meter. This helps establish whether the USB connection carries the main mix or a different channel. For an interface-based workflow, Focusrite’s OBS guide shows adding an Audio Input Capture source and choosing the interface and channels (Focusrite’s OBS setup guide).
Add the mixer or interface in OBS
- In OBS, add an Audio Input Capture source to the scene that needs the mixer. Choose the mixer or interface as the device. Alternatively, select the correct device under Settings → Audio if you are using OBS’s global audio devices. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends selecting devices manually in Settings → Audio if the expected meters do not move or the wrong device is captured.
- Speak or play audio and check that the correct OBS mixer meter moves. If it remains still, confirm the selected device, mixer routing, channel mute state, USB driver, and source connection.
- Avoid capturing the same mixer feed twice. If you have both a global Mic/Aux device and a separately added Audio Input Capture source set to the same feed, disable one unless duplicate capture is intentional. A short recording can confirm whether the active routing is clean.
- Check the OBS audio track and output settings used by the stream. A source can show activity in OBS yet be absent from the stream if it is not routed to the track or output being sent to YouTube.
OBS’s audio controls and meter behavior are described in its Audio Mixer Guide.
#1 Best Overall
- [XLR Mic Input] One XLR microphone input interface is set on the gaming audio mixer, which is great to up your audio quality with your XLR setup. The XLR mixer is a stepping stone to upgrade your live streaming. Audio mixer offered built-in 48V phantom power which opens up more choices for mics. Directly use it with your condenser microphone but do not solve added peripherals. (NOT available for USB mic)
- [Individual Channel Control] Gaming audio mixer for one mic recording with smooth volume slider fader take your streaming recording to a whole new level with full pleasure. Four independent channels set on the DJ mixer give audio volume of the MICROPHONE, LINE IN, HEADPHONE, and LINE OUT channels individual control. Configurable on the PC audio mixer instead of just operating on your game or streaming software.
- [Mute and Monitor] The front mute and monitor buttons but not at the back, make it easier to get the audio interface use. Ability to mute audio, the audio mixer for streaming prevents background noise from damaging your live broadcast. Real-time feedback between speaking and hearing will not distract your attention, which encourage you to speak more confidently. The sturdy-built control button allow you to operate freely and easily during live streaming.
- [Sound Effects] The computer sound mixer supports four pre-recorded customized button that can be recorded and activated at the press of button to post production. 6 kinds of voice changing modes change your output style. 12 auto tune changes the tone of your voice. The podcast mixer being able to add different and fun effects is a huge bonus for your streaming or game voice.
- [Controllable Vibrant RGB] RGB button on the audio mixer DJ meets different live streaming themes. Lights on the video mixer is vibrant but not harsh on your eyes. Flowing or frozen RGB color rotation in a decent pace presents a greatly strong impression as a "light show" to your audience. Even a streaming equipment accessory will not be dull looking when video production.
Set gain and balance without clipping
- Start at the source and mixer. Speak or play each source at the loudest level you expect during the stream. Set the channel input gain so the signal is clear and does not overload, then use channel controls to balance the sources and set the mixer’s master output feeding the computer.
- Check the OBS meter while the source is active. OBS shows source levels and peak history; red warns that a level is near clipping. Digital full scale is 0 dBFS, and audio sent at or above that ceiling can distort in a stream or recording. Leave headroom rather than allowing the meter to hit red or overload (OBS Audio Mixer Technical Details).
- Make final software adjustments only after the hardware signal is healthy. If the signal is already distorted before it reaches OBS, lowering an OBS fader cannot repair the damaged sound. Reduce the source gain or mixer output, then check the signal again.
- Balance sources at realistic levels. Test the voice against the actual game, desktop, music, or guest audio you intend to include. A mix that sounds balanced with only a microphone active may not remain balanced when other sources start.
There is no single mixer gain or OBS meter target that suits every microphone, mixer, room, and voice. Use the loudest expected performance to check for overload and listen to a recording rather than relying on one number.
Check mono, stereo, and monitoring
Make a single microphone audible in both ears
A single microphone is normally a mono source. Confirm that it is centered or downmixed so listeners hear it in both left and right channels. OBS uses stereo output by default; a mono input with incorrect channel assignment can end up on only one side. Focusrite’s guide also documents choosing mono input behavior for a microphone in its interface-to-OBS setup (Focusrite’s OBS setup guide). Menu names and controls vary with the interface and software version.
Rank #2
- Analog mixing and equalization for pure sound
- Direct mixing of PC/gaming sounds into the streaming output
- Ultra-low noise analog mixer for streaming, podcasting and recording
- Stereo USB audio interface to connect your computer or mobile device
Listen at both ends of the path
- First, listen through the mixer or interface’s headphone or monitor output. This checks the source and hardware mix before it reaches the computer.
- Then listen to the audio through OBS’s monitoring path. Confirm that OBS is monitoring through the intended device, not speakers near an open microphone.
- Use headphones and check hardware routing to avoid acoustic feedback. If monitoring through software creates an echo or doubled voice, test with one monitoring path active and check whether the same feed is being captured twice.
OBS recommends checking audio early at the device and again when it reaches OBS (Audio Mixer Guide).
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Set YouTube’s encoder audio options
These are encoder settings, not mixer gain settings. YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists AAC or MP3 audio. For advanced settings, it recommends 44.1 kHz stereo and 128 kbps for stereo audio; it lists AAC-only support for 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS and recommends RTMPS for secure ingest. Set the encoder’s audio options to match YouTube’s current guidance and the options available in your software, and check the page again if you are setting up later because platform settings can change (YouTube encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions).
Rank #3
- Compact, feature-rich livestreaming USB audio mixer provides high-quality sound for desktop audio production
- Plug-and-play connectivity to computer or mobile device (no special drivers required)
- Loopback function makes it easy to mix mic and instrument inputs with background music, game sounds, or other audio input from a computer – and send the stereo mix back to the computer for streaming
- High-performance A/D converter with resolution up to 24-bit/192 kHz provides crystal-clear output for voice and instruments
- Equipped with a single mic input (XLR or ¼"), two LINE inputs for guitar and keyboard, and USB-C input for connecting to a computer
Rehearse, then connect OBS to YouTube
- Record a rehearsal in OBS. Use the real microphones, sources, speaking distance, and activity planned for the stream. Listen back on headphones or another device and check for clipping, noise, uneven source levels, missing channels, doubled audio, and audio/video sync. OBS advises recording a normal session and listening back before going live (Audio Mixer Guide).
- Test the stream setup before a public broadcast. YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and movement and monitoring stream health during the event (YouTube encoder settings guide). If you use a private or unlisted test, check its availability and audience visibility in YouTube Studio before starting.
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Configure the encoder connection and use the stream key provided for the intended stream. Enter the key into OBS’s YouTube streaming settings without displaying or sharing it; anyone who obtains a stream key may be able to send a signal to that stream.
- Check YouTube’s preview before going live. Verify that video and audio arrive, the microphone is present in both channels as intended, and the selected sources are included. YouTube’s encoder setup guide covers connecting an encoder through Live Control Room.
- Watch stream health while live. Keep an eye on the encoder and YouTube status indicators, and listen to the returned stream when practical. If you change a routing or gain setting, confirm the result rather than assuming the local mixer output matches the signal viewers receive.
Handle picture-and-sound sync
If the voice arrives before or after the picture, first make a test recording and confirm the mismatch is consistent. Then use the encoder’s audio sync-offset control and test again. The right offset depends on how the specific computer processes audio and video; it cannot be reliably prescribed in advance. Focusrite likewise recommends establishing the offset on the actual setup (Focusrite’s OBS setup guide).
Troubleshoot common mixer-to-OBS problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| OBS meter does not move | Wrong device or channel selected; mixer is off or muted; USB driver or routing is unavailable. | Check mixer power and channel mute, select the intended device in OBS, confirm the driver and computer connection, then test one source at a time. See the OBS Quick Start Guide and the relevant interface manual. |
| OBS meter moves but the YouTube stream is silent | The source may be routed only to local monitoring, or not to the audio track/output used by the stream. | Record a short test and listen back; check OBS track/output selection and YouTube’s preview. Confirm that the mixer’s computer feed is the mix you intend to stream. |
| Voice is only in one ear | Mono/stereo channel assignment is incorrect. | Center or downmix the mono microphone input and recheck both channels in a recording. |
| Audio distorts | A source, mixer stage, or digital output is overloaded. | Reduce gain at the source or mixer first, then check OBS. Keep digital peaks below 0 dBFS and avoid red/overload indications. |
| Voice echoes or sounds doubled | The same physical feed may be captured twice, or software monitoring may be returning to the mixer while the source is also monitored acoustically. | Disable duplicate capture, test with one routing path, and monitor with headphones while checking the hardware path. |
| Audio is early or late relative to video | Audio and video are being processed with different timing. | Confirm the mismatch in a test recording, adjust sync offset in small steps, and test again. The correct value is setup-dependent. |
| No monitoring, or feedback starts when monitoring | OBS may be using the wrong monitoring device, or sound may be feeding back through speakers or hardware routing. | Check OBS’s monitoring device and mixer routing. Use headphones and verify the signal at the hardware and software stages. |
Choose a mixer only if its routing suits your setup
You do not need to buy a mixer simply to stream. If you do need one, compare the exact model and generation against your sources and computer rather than choosing by channel count alone.
Rank #4
- Pro performance with great pre-amps - Achieve a brighter recording thanks to the high performing mic pre-amps of the Scarlett 3rd Gen. A switchable Air mode will add extra clarity to your acoustic instruments when recording with your Solo 3rd Gen
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- Inputs: Count the microphone and line inputs you actually need, and confirm that their connector and signal types match your equipment.
- USB routing: Confirm whether the computer receives a stereo main mix, multichannel inputs, or selectable channels. That determines how much control you have in OBS.
- Computer compatibility: Check operating-system support, drivers, and compatibility with your intended OBS setup.
- Monitoring and controls: Decide whether direct headphone monitoring, physical faders, mute controls, or loopback for computer audio matter to your workflow.
- Power and portability: Check the power requirements and whether the mixer suits a fixed desk or a portable setup.
- Exact model documentation: Follow the manual for your specific model and generation. For example, Yamaha publishes a dedicated AG08 Live Streaming Mixer User Guide; controls and routing should not be assumed to match other mixers.
An audio interface can be a better fit if you need to get a microphone into the computer but do not need mixer-style physical controls or multi-source routing. Headphones are useful for checking both the hardware mix and OBS monitoring. An XLR cable is relevant only when the microphone and mixer both use XLR connections.
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A clean mixer signal does not grant permission to use music, video, or other copyrighted material in a live stream. Confirm that you have the rights or permissions needed for every source you broadcast, and review YouTube’s applicable copyright and monetization policies before using third-party material. Audio routing and YouTube’s review of reused content are separate issues; a technically correct stream does not settle either one.
Best Value
- 10 channel mixer with USB and SPX digital effects
- Featuring studio grade discrete class A D PRE amps with inverted Darlington circuit providing fat, natural sounding bass and smooth, soaring highs
- 3 band EQ and high pass filters give you maximum control and eliminate unwanted noise, resulting in a cleaner mix
- 1 knob compressors allow easy control resulting in livelier guitars, punchier bass lines, a tighter snare and a cleaner vocal sound
- MG Series mixers feature a rugged, impact resistant, powder coated metal chassis; Equivalent input noise 128 dBu, residual output noise 102 dBu
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a mixer without a USB connection?
Yes, if the mixer has a supported output you can connect to a compatible audio interface, then connect that interface to your computer. Check the mixer and interface manuals for the right output, cabling, and signal level.
Will OBS capture each mixer channel separately?
Not necessarily. Some setups send a stereo main mix to the computer; others offer multichannel or selectable routing. The mixer’s manual and the channels available in OBS determine what your setup supports.
Quick Recap
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