Follow the signal from your microphone to the broadcast. Choose your mixer type below to see the right cable, interface, operating system setup, and channel routing.
Your signal path
Microphone→
Mixer→
Audio interface→
Computer→
Exbabel
Which mixer do you have?
Connection map
Follow the audio, one connection at a time
The mixer's output becomes the input Exbabel listens to. The connection between the mixer and computer changes with the mixer type you selected.
🎙Microphone
→
🎚Mixer
→
🎛Audio interface
→
💻Computer
→
◎Exbabel
Mic → mixer: balanced XLR microphone cable.
Mixer → interface: line-level cable matched to both sockets.
Computer → Exbabel: select the interface in sound settings and verify the live input meter.
The moving arrows illustrate signal direction. Actual connectors vary by mixer model.
What you need
An analog mixer needs an external audio interface to turn its output into a computer input. The XLR cable connects the microphone to the mixer; the mixer-to-interface cable must match the line input.
●A mixer with a main, aux, or matrix output
●An audio interface with a line-level input
●An XLR cable from the microphone to the mixer
●A cable that fits the mixer's output and the interface's line input — often XLR-to-¼-inch TRS
●A USB cable from the audio interface to the computer
See the hardware
Recognize the pieces before you plug them in
The mixer
A large console can create a dedicated speech bus. Find the bus output or USB send patch before choosing a cable.
An interface converts an analog mixer feed into a USB computer input. Photo shows earlier Scarlett models; connector placement differs on the recommended 4th Gen 2i2.
Read the labels beside the sockets. An XLR-shaped socket does not automatically mean it accepts a mixer's line-level signal. If you have a Scarlett 2i2 fourth generation, its front ¼-inch jacks are the line inputs and its rear XLR sockets are microphone inputs.
XLR → XLR
Microphone to mixer
Use a balanced XLR microphone cable from the speaker's microphone to a mixer mic input. Turn on phantom power only if that microphone requires it.
XLR → ¼″ TRS
Mixer to line input
A common match for a mixer's balanced XLR output and an interface's ¼-inch line jack. Check the mixer's output wiring and your interface manual.
¼″ TRS → ¼″ TRS
Line output to line input
Use this when both the mixer output and interface input are balanced ¼-inch line connectors. For stereo, you normally need two cables and two inputs.
Important: Leave 48V phantom power off on an interface channel receiving a mixer output. Start with the interface gain low, then raise it while watching the meter. Consult both equipment manuals before connecting unfamiliar outputs.
Buying guide
Audio interfaces that fit a mixer feed
For a single mono speech feed, one line input is enough. For a stereo feed, choose two line inputs. These are practical examples with manufacturer-documented line inputs, not a promise that any interface solves every mixer or browser routing issue. Amazon buttons open current search results so you can check the seller, exact generation, included cable, return terms, and current price.
Best all-round fit
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 · 4th Gen
Two front ¼-inch line inputs suit a mono or stereo mixer feed. It is compact and connects to the computer by USB-C.
Check: Use the front line jacks for mixer line outputs; the rear XLR sockets are mic inputs.
Already have a USB mixer? Try its built-in USB interface first. An extra interface adds another cable and conversion stage without necessarily exposing more browser channels.
Connect and check
Mark each step as you finish it. Your progress stays on this page while it is open.
0 of 5 complete
Operating system setup
Select your audio interface in Windows or Mac settings
Before opening Exbabel in Chrome or Edge, make sure your operating system recognizes the audio interface or USB mixer as its active microphone input and verifies sound is coming through. This isolates physical cable and gain issues before you ever enter the browser.
Windows 11 Sound Settings
Windows 11: Select your audio interface or USB mixer under Input → Choose a device for speaking or recording. As someone speaks into the pulpit mic, the blue Test your microphone meter will jump.
Step 1
Open Sound Settings
Press Win + I on your keyboard to open Windows Settings, then navigate to System → Sound. Alternatively, right-click the speaker icon in the bottom-right taskbar and select Sound settings.
Step 2
Select your Audio Interface or USB Mixer
Scroll down to the Input section. Under Choose a device for speaking or recording, select your connected interface (e.g., Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB, Line (Behringer UMC), or your console's USB Audio driver).
Step 3
Test the microphone input meter
Speak into the presenter microphone at normal speaking volume. Watch the Test your microphone input level bar. The blue indicator should comfortably bounce up to 70–85%. If the meter stays dark or silent, turn up the gain knob on the interface or verify the mixer aux send fader.
Step 4
Verify Windows Microphone Permissions
In Windows Settings, go to Privacy & security → Microphone. Verify that Microphone access is switched On, and that Let desktop apps access your microphone (including Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge) is allowed.
Signal not moving on the operating system meter?
Check that your audio interface gain knob is turned up until its LED ring turns green when speaking. If using an analog mixer, ensure the aux or matrix master fader is raised and unmuted.
A mixer may have 32 or 64 physical or USB channels, yet a browser can expose fewer to a web app. Exbabel can only select and meter the channels the browser supplies. The most reliable shared starting point is to route your speech mix to the mixer's USB sends 1–2, then confirm the input meter moves before broadcasting.
Routing result
Your browser sees 2 of 32 channels.
Send the speech mix to USB channels 1–2 at the mixer. A signal present only on a higher USB send will not appear in this browser input.
01
Choose a dedicated aux or matrix bus for speech so the translation feed does not follow house speaker changes.
02
Patch that bus to USB send 1, or to USB sends 1–2 for a stereo mix, using the mixer's routing screen or control app.
03
Confirm the computer's input meter and Exbabel's meter move; open Audio input setup to select the responding channel before broadcast.
Channel counts are illustrative. What a specific browser exposes depends on the browser, operating system, driver, and device. The app cannot detect every mixer's physical channel count from its USB name.
If the meter is silent
Find the missing link
Work from the microphone toward Exbabel. Stop at the first meter that does not move.
1. Mixer channel meter is silent
Check the mic cable, channel mute, gain, and whether a condenser mic needs phantom power at the mixer.
2. Mixer channel moves, output bus does not
Check aux or matrix send level, pre/post fader choice, bus mute, and output patch.
3. Output moves, interface input is silent
Match line-level sockets and cables. Verify input mode, gain, power, and that the interface is connected directly by a short USB cable.
4. Computer input moves, Exbabel does not
Allow microphone permission in Windows or macOS Privacy settings, choose the exact device in Exbabel, inspect the Audio input setup channel selection, and reload after connecting the device.
5. Signal cuts out or sounds distorted
Lower mixer/interface levels if clipping. Try a short known-good USB cable and direct computer port; close software that has taken exclusive control of the device.
Before you turn up the gain
A mixer output is normally line level. Connect it to an interface input rated for line level, not an XLR microphone preamp unless that input explicitly supports line level. Leave 48V phantom power off for a mixer output.
If a 32 or 64 channel mixer shows only two channels
That is what the browser currently receives. Route the speech mix to USB channels 1–2 in the mixer or its driver software. If more channels appear in Exbabel, open Audio input setup and select the channel or pair carrying the mix.
Common questions
Do I always need a separate audio interface?
No. A mixer that sends audio to your computer over USB already acts as an interface. An analog mixer needs an external interface or another computer audio input.
Which XLR cable should I buy?
Use a standard XLR microphone cable for an XLR microphone going into the mixer. For a mixer's XLR output, check the interface's line-input connector: many need XLR-to-¼-inch TRS, while others accept line level on XLR. Match the labels and the equipment manuals.
The mixer is listed, but the meter does not move. What next?
Check the mixer's USB send or aux routing, the operating system input meter (see Windows & Mac setup above), and Exbabel's selected input. Send a test signal to the intended channel and open Audio input setup to see which browser-visible channel responds.
