Using Mini-Mixers

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  • Published on Jun 3, 2025
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Scope

This document covers usage of the Mini Mixers found in Axia Altus

Description

Each instance of Altus comes with 8 Mini Mixers  (formally known as V-Mixer).  Each Mini Mixer has 5 inputs and 1 output.  The Mini Mixer allows you to do simple utility summing and can be controlled with Livewire GPIO

How to configure and use

Source Profiles

Before using the Mini-Mixer you need to create Source Profiles.  

If you have already been using Altus, chances are that several Source Profiles already exist

A word about Source Profiles with Mini-Mixer.  Unlike console faders, inputs on the Mini-Mixers do not engage console DSP. Which means, Source Profile controls and options like Signal Mode, Phase, Input Trim, Dynamics, EQ and Backfeeds do not occur when loaded to Mini-Mixer inputs

Only options in green are referenced when Source is loaded to Mini-Mixer inputs

Mini-Mixer & V-Mode page

To configure the Mini Mixers go to the Mini-Mixer & V-Mode page

 

A - Mini Mixer Name/ Number
B - 5 Mini Mixer Inputs
C - Input Source Profile selection drop down
D - Input Status
E - Input ON/OFF control
F - Input Gain adjustment
G - Summed mix overall Gain adjustment
H - Used with GPIO Control (see More section)

I - Used with GPIO Control (see More section)

 Overview of Mini-Mixer controls

Assigning Source Profiles to Inputs

Use the Source drop down menu to select which source to assign to each Mini Mixer input.

It is not required to use all 5 inputs if not needed

Adjusting Input ON/OFF and Gain

Each input can be turned on or off. Turn on any inputs that you want to mix together

Each input has additional gain adjustment that can be applied.  Maximum gain applied is +10dB and the minimum gain applied is -80db

Adjusting Output Gain

The gain adjustment in the upper right is the mixer output. Adjust this to raise or lower the overall gain of the mixed inputs

Receiving Mini Mixer output to Altus Mixer

It is possible to receive any Mini Mixer output back as a fader on the Altus mixer

  1. Create a new Source Profile (all source types are allowed)

  2. For the Source Input select the Mini-Mixer # you want to receive

  3. Adjust any other Source Profile settings as needed

  4. Load source to a fader or assign it to a fader in a Show Profile

Sending Mini Mixer output to the network

The mixed output of any Mini Mixer can be made available as a Livewire channel or AES67 multicast stream.

  1. Go to the Outputs page

  2. Pick an available output

  3. On the Output drop down select the Mini-Mixer # you want to use

  4. For AoIP type select Multicast

  5. For Channel/IP/Port  enter either a Livewire channel number or a multicast address

  6. For Payload type Standard Stereo is typical. If sending as an AES67 multicast stream use AES67 Stereo option instead

Sending Mini Mixer output to webRTC monitor

If Altus was configured with a working Beacon server, you can also provide the Mini Mixer output as a sharable webRTC monitor session. This will allow a remote person to listen to this output anywhere via the internet

  1. Pick an available output

  2. On the Output drop down select the Mini-Mixer # you want to use

  3. For AoIP type select Browser WebRTC

  4. Click the Apply button

  5. For Payload Type select the desired bit rate.

  6. Use the Monitor link to listen to the output over webRTC

  7. Click the Apply button

More: Controlling Mini Mixer with Livewire GPIO

The ON/OFF states of each input for each Mini Mixer can be controlled and monitored using Livewire GPIO

When the Control Type is set to Normal, Toggle or Radio options, this enables Livewire GPIO control over the Mini Mixer

Set the Logic Port field to an unused Livewire channel number, and use this channel number as the address in an Axia GPIO port

A detailed explanation of the Control Types and how they influence the GPIO control over the Mini-Mixer can be found here

Note about Livewire GPIO.  The Logic Port field is using the Livewire channel number to identify the virtual input and output logic pins associated with Mini-Mixer.  This channel number can be assigned as the address on GPIO ports found in Axia products such as Livewire IP Driver, xNode’s and Pathfinder.  Each GPI pin # corresponds to the Mini-Mixer input #. Each GPI pin controls the ON/OFF states of the inputs. The Control Type determines how the GPI will influence the ON/OFF states of the inputs. The GPO’s always represent the current input ON/OFF states (Low = ON, High = OFF)

Typical ways to interface:

  • Wire up physical push buttons and indicators to an xNode GPIO port to control the Mini-Mixer using physical GPIO

  • Interface it with compatible automation software (via Livewire IP Driver) to let it control the Mini-Mixer using virtual GPIO

  • Interface it with Pathfinder CorePRO’s own virtual GPIO node and control it in a large number of different ways

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