How to Set Up Your Audio Mixer for the Best Live Stream 2024

The absolute, 100% most important thing in this modern age of church online is audio. There is no wat around it, and setting up your audio mixer for your livestream is the most important skill we can learn right now.

A few years ago we went through a tiny little thing that shut down the country.

During this time we allowed certain government agencies to shut  down our country, and in turn our places of worship. I was in a unique position when this happened. I wasn’t the only one, but some were caught with their pants down.

I decided a few years before the pandemic, with limited support from my church’s leadership, to get our church to livestream the services online. 

I had zero budget and getting money for equipment was like pulling teeth.

Well, 2020 hit and all the sudden I was the most important person in the church, or at least it felt like it sometimes. 

If you’re new to live streaming it may seem like an impossible task to get the audio set up. 

You might wonder to yourself which cables go where? 

How do I adjust the levels?  How do I make sure everything sounds good once it’s all running?

The good news is that with a little guidance, setting up your audio mixer for live streaming can be simple.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to connect and configure your mixer for live streaming, step by step, so you can be sure your stream sounds just as professional as it looks. 

What Do You Need to Set Up Your Audio Mixer?

Before I get into it, let’s make sure you have everything you need to set up your mixer for live streaming. 

Here’s a quick checklist:

• Audio Mixer: This will be the heart of your setup, where all the audio comes together.
• Cables: You’ll need the right cables, such as XLR or ¼” TRS cables for your mics or instruments. You may need an RCA or 3.5mm for connecting to your computer or streaming device.
• Microphones or Instruments: These will be your audio sources, This will be a vocal mic, instrument, or other type of audio input.
• Audio Interface (optional): If your mixer doesn’t have a USB output, an audio interface will be needed to connect your mixer to your computer.
• Computer or Streaming Device: This is where your stream will be broadcasted, whether it’s a computer, smartphone, or other device.

Got everything? Noice. Let’s get started.

How To Set Up Your Audio Mixer for Livestreaming?

Step 1: Connect Your Mics and Instruments to the Mixer

Firstly, you will need to plug in whatever audio sources you will be using into your mixer (i.e. mics, instruments, computer, cd player, etc.).

Bonus Tip: Use XLR cables for microphones, they will provide better sound quality and be more reliable than ¼” or RCA connectors. Plug each microphone into its own channel on the mixer.

For instruments you’ll typically use ¼” TRS cables. If you have multiple instruments, connect each one to its own channel as well.

Step 2: Route Your Mixer to Your Computer or Streaming Device

Now that you have everything connected to your mixer we need to send the audio to your streaming device or computer. We can do this in a couple different ways.

• Mixers That Have USB Outputs: If your mixer has a built-in USB output, this is the simplest option. All you need to do is plug it into your computer using a USB cable. As long as your computer recognizes the mixer as an audio device you’re golden. 
• Mixers without USB Outputs: If your console doesn’t have a USB connection then you will need to get an audio interface to be able to do this step. Simply connect the main outputs of your mixer to the interface. The main outputs will typically be labelled Main Out or L/R, or something along the same lines. You’ll need either ¼” TRS or XLR cables to make this connection. Then you will be able to plug your interface to your computer via USB.

Tip: If you’re using an audio interface, make sure your computer recognizes it as an input device. You can check this in your system’s sound settings or directly in your streaming software.

Another Bonus Tip: In some cases you may be able to use a 3.5mm TRS Cable to connect your mixers output to your computer. I have found that this sometimes limits quality and add a ground loop buzz, which is very annoying output to your computer’s microphone or line input, but this might limit audio quality.

Step 3: Set Your Levels on Your Mixer

This step is crucial: you want to ensure you use proper gain staging before your stream goes live. Adjust the gain so that the audio is loud enough without clipping or distorting.

Tip: Have your vocalist/speaker speak into the microphone, or have the instrument played, and adjust the gain until the signal meter on your mixer shows levels peaking around -6 dB. You don’t want the signal to hit the red, as that can cause distortion.

Once your input levels are set, adjust the faders on the mixer for each channel and create you mix.

Step 4: Set Up Your Streaming Software

With the mixer setup and all your level good, it’s time to set up the streaming software. The most common I’ve used are OBS Studio or Streamlabs, but you can use any you like. You’ll need to select your mixer (or audio interface) as the audio input device in your softwares settings.

• In OBS Studio: Go to Settings > Audio, and select your mixer or audio interface under the Mic/Auxiliary Audio Device dropdown menu.
• In Streamlabs: Head to Settings > Audio and follow a similar process.

Make sure to do a quick test recording or test stream to verify that your audio is being properly transmitted. When it comes to live streaming and video in general, audio is the most important thing.

This is the best time to fine-tune your levels and ensure everything sounds clean before you go live.

Tip: I always recommend using headphones during this process to monitor the audio. That way, you can catch any problems (like low volume or distortion) before your audience hears them.

Step 5: Adjust EQ and Effects (If Needed)

Most mixers have built-in EQ controls on each channel. If your audio sources need some tweaking (like reducing bass boominess or adding some clarity to vocals), now’s the time to make those adjustments.

Tip: For vocals, I usually apply a small boost to the mid frequencies (around 2-5 kHz) to enhance clarity, and I cut any unwanted low frequencies (below 100 Hz) to remove rumble or background noise.

Some mixers also offer built-in reverb or compression effects. Use these sparingly to add depth and polish to your sound. Don’t overdo it, especially for live streaming. Subtlety is key

Step 6: Monitor the Audio Throughout the Stream

You’ve followed all the steps and now your stream is up and running, don’t forget to monitor your levels throughout the stream. This will help you catch any sudden volume changes or other audio issues that might pop up.

I recommend keeping an eye on your mixer’s output meters and the audio levels in your streaming software. If you notice any issues, adjust your levels or mute problematic channels as needed.

Also listen to your livestream on a device that has some less than optimal like your phone or a laptop. Don’t rely on your headphones 100%. These devices don’t have the drivers for bass and just don’t sound as good.

But think about it. Most people will be using a device like this to watch your church’s live stream. Making this sound good is a challenge and will level up your mixing skills.

What can go wrong?

Sometimes things don’t go the way we hoped. Been there, bought the shirt. Here are some common issues you may encounter and how to fix them.

Issue 1: Audio Isn’t Coming Through

• Solution: Double-check your cables and connections. Make sure your mixer is selected as the input device in both your computer’s sound settings and your streaming software.
  

Issue 2: Audio Is Clipping or Distorted

• Solution: Lower the gain on your mixer’s channels and keep an eye on the signal meters. Go back to go over proper gain staging again. You want to avoid any red lights or peaks above 0dB.
  

Issue 3: Low or Quiet Audio

• Solution: Increase the gain and fader levels on your mixer, and ensure the output level to your streaming software is adequately high. Remember increasing the gain will affect your EQ and effects as well.
  

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! Setting up your audio mixer for live streaming doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By following these steps—connecting your sources, setting proper levels, and monitoring your stream—you’ll have everything in place for a clean, professional-sounding stream.

Remember, practice makes perfect. 

Your streams will not start out sounding the greatest, but the more you work with your setup, the quicker and more confident you’ll become at troubleshooting issues and optimizing your sound. 

Whether you’re streaming for a small church like me or broadcasting to a large audience, your audio mixer is the best tool for delivering clear, high-quality audio every time.

Good luck, and happy streaming!