Audio Mixer

Mixers take several inputs, a microphone, a game feed, music, a call, and give each one its own fader, gain stage and routing. Hardware mixers sit between the sources and the recorder or streaming machine. Software mixers do the same inside the computer, which is how most solo streamers run it. Separate outputs are where a mixer earns its place: a clean feed to the recording while a different mix goes to the audience means you can drop the music in the edit, or mute a guest without muting yourself.