Clarification about mixers

[Whorax]

Can I get some clarification on what exactly you can do with a mixer?

 

I know you can adjust *insert mic audio term here* with them, but can you also get a mixer to be a volume rocker of sorts for programs in Windows? For example, can you raise and lower volumes that you would normally have to do with the Windows volume mixer with a physical mixer? Could I use a mixer to adjust volume of say Chrome, TeamSpeak, and game volume? The reason I ask is because some people that stream just seem to be operating what I would assume to be a mixer off to the side of their desks to bring in music or whatnot during downtime in their streams, and I just wanted to know how they were doing it. The one I think one streamer uses is the Behringer XENYX X1204.

 

Thanks

[JefferyD90]

Can I get some clarification on what exactly you can do with a mixer?

 

I know you can adjust *insert mic audio term here* with them, but can you also get a mixer to be a volume rocker of sorts for programs in Windows? For example, can you raise and lower volumes that you would normally have to do with the Windows volume mixer with a physical mixer? Could I use a mixer to adjust volume of say Chrome, TeamSpeak, and game volume? The reason I ask is because some people that stream just seem to be operating what I would assume to be a mixer off to the side of their desks to bring in music or whatnot during downtime in their streams, and I just wanted to know how they were doing it. The one I think one streamer uses is the Behringer XENYX X1204.

 

Thanks

Basically mixers are nothing more than a way to take several audio sources (microphones, instruments, and other inputs) and "mix" their volumes together so the output (a amplifier) can output the different signals and the desired overall volume.

 

A software mixer, like the one you're talking about in Windows, can control software.  A hardware mixer will control hardware, like a microphone.

 

Usually what I do, when I am DJ'ing (which isn't often mind you), I leave my phone playing music and just turn its input down.  Then when I would need filler music I'd turn it up, cause I know its already playing music.  And when I need to use my computer to do something, it is ready to go and not tied up.

[Guest Kloaked]

To my knowledge, what you're describing isn't available in a piece of hardware - least I haven't seen one. You can, however, use your phone or a tablet and get the Roccat app, which has a widget within it to control your Windows volume mixer.

That mixer you linked isn't digital and doesn't work like you think it does. What you plug in to the mixer on the top, with the XLR or 1/4" jacks is what those volume sliders control. The next best thing is something Mackie makes where they have a mixer that is controlled by an app on a tablet, but again you're only controlling what is physically plugged into the mixer.

[Whorax]

Basically mixers are nothing more than a way to take several audio sources (microphones, instruments, and other inputs) and "mix" their volumes together so the output (a amplifier) can output the different signals and the desired overall volume.

 

A software mixer, like the one you're talking about in Windows, can control software.  A hardware mixer will control hardware, like a microphone.

 

Usually what I do, when I am DJ'ing (which isn't often mind you), I leave my phone playing music and just turn its input down.  Then when I would need filler music I'd turn it up, cause I know its already playing music.  And when I need to use my computer to do something, it is ready to go and not tied up.

To my knowledge, what you're describing isn't available in a piece of hardware - least I haven't seen one. You can, however, use your phone or a tablet and get the Roccat app, which has a widget within it to control your Windows volume mixer.

That mixer you linked isn't digital and doesn't work like you think it does. What you plug in to the mixer on the top, with the XLR or 1/4" jacks is what those volume sliders control. The next best thing is something Mackie makes where they have a mixer that is controlled by an app on a tablet, but again you're only controlling what is physically plugged into the mixer.

Hm, interesting. I wonder what he uses then.

 

Oh well, thanks guys!

[JefferyD90]

Hm, interesting. I wonder what he uses then.

 

Oh well, thanks guys!

I have a Peavey mixer myself, its not so much what you're using but rather what you're using it for.

[Guest Kloaked]

Hm, interesting. I wonder what he uses then.

 

Oh well, thanks guys!

 

What the streamer may be doing is plugging in their phone to the mixer and playing the music from their phone. They may also have their mic plugged into the mixer, and they have the mixer set as their main input for "microphone" audio. Thus control over music and their mic on the mixer.

[Whorax]

What the streamer may be doing is plugging in their phone to the mixer and playing the music from their phone. They may also have their mic plugged into the mixer, and they have the mixer set as their main input for "microphone" audio. Thus control over music and their mic on the mixer.

That is very possible. I'll just have to watch him and pay attention to how he works it and see if I can figure out what he does for sure.

 

I could ask him, but he's pretty popular so I don't think my chances of getting a response are too high. Lol.

[Whorax]

What the streamer may be doing is plugging in their phone to the mixer and playing the music from their phone. They may also have their mic plugged into the mixer, and they have the mixer set as their main input for "microphone" audio. Thus control over music and their mic on the mixer.

So I ended up figuring it out here: https://youtu.be/IDPbA5O9THA?t=9m11s

 

He has two PCs (a streaming and gaming PC). He sends sound from his gaming PC to the mixer, that mixer goes through an audio interface, and then into his streaming PC. Somewhere along the lines he also has an Astro Mixamp going into his mixer as well. He has his game/music in one channel and then his VoIP on another channel, though I'm not sure how he ends up splitting those into two separate channels.

 

Basically it's appearing that it's something way too complicated for what I wanted to casually use it for, and way way too expensive for my college student bank account.

[EndlessOyster]

To my knowledge, what you're describing isn't available in a piece of hardware - least I haven't seen one. You can, however, use your phone or a tablet and get the Roccat app, which has a widget within it to control your Windows volume mixer.

That mixer you linked isn't digital and doesn't work like you think it does. What you plug in to the mixer on the top, with the XLR or 1/4" jacks is what those volume sliders control. The next best thing is something Mackie makes where they have a mixer that is controlled by an app on a tablet, but again you're only controlling what is physically plugged into the mixer.

They do exists ive used one but i cant remember for the love of god what its called.

[Peter Smyth]

With some USB hardware and some software you may be able to do it on one PC. Like how a keyboard control the PC, some hardware may be able to mix the volume. I know some mixers and DJ equipment exists with buttons, knobs and sliders for controlling parts of a DAW, but I'm not sure how it can be applied to the Windows volume mixer.