Steinberg have just launched the public beta of MixKey, a new software audio mixer that’s been designed to provide streamers, podcasters and content creators with a versatile set of tools for handling their stream’s audio. The news comes alongside the announcement that Steinberg will now be focusing entirely on software, with their existing hardware ranges set to be re-branded as Yamaha products.
MixKey
The company say that MixKey is a professional mixing application that has been designed for specifically live streaming, and includes a comprehensive range of features that aim to cater to a wide variety of use cases. Its main aim is to help users integrate high-quality audio into their streams, presenting a set of handy set of tools in a simple and intuitive GUI. Channels can be monitored through headphones using a built-in cue system, and there’s some useful extras such as high-pass filtering and auto-levelling to help ensure speech remains clear and well balanced. It’s also possible to record the streaming mix, as well a dedicated output for passing a voice channel on to apps such as Discord, Zoom and so on.
“These are exciting times for Steinberg, as we bring many years of audio software development to the streaming market. In collaboration with Yamaha, we are elated to introduce MixKey, which offers streamers a reliable audio mixer with many excellent features.” - Stefan Schreiber, Head of Strategic Business Development, Steinberg
Key Features
- Channels: Add multiple channels, select each individually, change the colour, name and volume level.
- Monitoring: Monitor any channel directly through headphones.
- Cue: Listen directly to a channel’s source signal in headphones, isolated from the full mix.
- Monitor Level Link: Link the monitor and stream levels, so they exactly match what the audience hears.
- Extra Voice Chat Output: Use this channel as a dedicated voice chat feed for apps like Discord or Zoom.
- Sensitivity: Easily control the input level with the slider or enable Auto to let MixKey handle it.
- Sound Refinement: Ensure clear, professional speech in every stream with the built-in high-pass filter.
- Recording: Capture high-quality recordings of the entire audio stream with ease.
- Panic Buttons: Quickly mute either the microphone or the entire audio output with a single click.
- Stream Level: Control how loud each source is in the stream with an intuitive volume slider.
Hardware Re-Brand
As part of some restructuring of their product development systems, Steinberg have announced that they will now be focusing exclusively on software development and sales, with their existing hardware line-up to be re-branded as Yamaha products. As part of this transition, Steinberg’s IXO12, IXO22, UR22C and UR44C audio interfaces will be reintroduced under the Yamaha brand as the UR12MK3, UR22MK3, URX22C and URX44C respectively; other Steinberg-branded audio interfaces will gradually be phased out. To ensure a smooth transition and to avoid any inconvenience for customers, Yamaha and Steinberg say that they will both continue to provide product support and drivers for the foreseeable future.
“This transition is a very positive evolution for the product line. By moving our range of audio interfaces to Yamaha, we are ensuring that they receive a dedicated focus and allow both companies to play to their core strengths. It will also ensure there is greater clarity for both our customers and the industry regarding the respective product lines. Steinberg’s reputation for groundbreaking audio software is second to none, and it makes absolute sense for this to be given our exclusive attention.” - Clyde Sendke, Managing Director, Steinberg
Availability
MixKey is available now as a public beta, and can be downloaded from the Steinberg website.
