I’m currently trying out MixKey as I am considering getting a Yamaha URX-series interface for my gaming system in order to free up my RME for my music production system. However, as it stands, MixKey is completely non-functional/unworkable.
I have two main problems:
No matter what I do, I cannot get any audio out of MixKey into Windows (i.e. I cannot monitor MixKey); even the test tone button does nothing and the meters do not move. I have tried using Google Chrome as a source as a test example. I see that MixKey is passing signal into the dummy Unassigned output, but does not seem to be passing anything to my target output pair (3-4 on my interface).
I am currently running an RME Babyface Pro FS on my Windows 11 gaming system with all system sounds routed to outputs 3-4 (headphones). For some reason, when I route MixKey to this output pair via WDM, a buzzing noise gets routed to outputs 1-2 on said interface despite 1-2 not being selected anywhere in MixKey. Of course I can turn the fader down in TotalMix, but that defeats the purpose of having outputs 1-2 in the first place. [Note: I do have an ASIO “Analog 1” input set in MixKey].
Could it be that mixing ASIO and WDM inputs and outputs is a no-no in MixKey? Could I be missing something else? What could be going so wrong?
and additionally to what Armand asks, while MixKey is running with that noise, please hold down the Control key on your computer keyboard and then click the Steinberg logo on the left bottom of the MixKey window.
Then please open a File Explorer and in the address bar type the address
%appdata%\Steinberg\MixKey
and after pressing the return key you’ll see some files. Please zip them all up and post here. Thanks a lot
Edit: And if you are already there, please also zip up and send the folder
%appdata%\Steinberg\MixKeyAudioEngine_64
If it becomes too big and you are not allowed to post it here, instead send via e-mail to u dot stoermer at steinberg dot de
I’ve tried to reproduce the buzzing noise issue and have so far been unsuccessful. For now, here are my MixKey audio settings. In this screenshot, the test tone is ON, but the no-audio issue persists even when it is OFF.
I’ve also attached a zip from %appdata%\Steinberg\MixKeyAudioEngine_64, which appears to contain log files from yesterday (labeled as 27 April 2026) when the buzzing issue happened.
(If it is of any use, I do standardize all my systems at 24-bit/48kHz for interoperability and media compatibility purposes.)
I tried routing to both WDM and ASIO outputs with no success.
(This was the feature that got me excited about MixKey over virtual cable-based competitors that only work with WDM, so I hope to see it work on my system.)
1.0.2 outputs no sound to any of my RME’s outs. I would try another brand of interface if I had one… maybe I can temporarily use my Montage M to test? At least that one uses a Yamaha-Steinberg driver.
Thanks! I will update our bug report accordingly. If you can try with another ASIO driver by any chance that would be a valuable information too of course.
This probably means that RME’s custom driver implementation (we all know how meticulous they are with their drivers) doesn’t play well with MixKey. This is not an issue for me as I am planning to eventually get a URX interface for my gaming system; however, it may be nice for you guys to know.
That said, the Unassigned output does not show up in Windows or Discord. Is it supposed to work that way?
Thanks a lot for your responsive and helpful support!
That indeed is interesting as it is completely unexpected. We will also do some tests then with RME interfaces and see what we can find.
However, I don’t understand what you mean with: “The unassigned output does not show up in Windows or Discord.” Do you mean the RME outputs? Can you please post a new zip of the %appdata%\Steinberg\MixKeyAudioEngine_64 folder?
There used to be an “Unassigned (Steinberg MixKey)” output in the MixKey virtual audio driver for Windows, which I understand to be a dummy output to route Windows sounds to so that the user does not hear two sounds (one from the interface output and the other from MixKey’s virtual out). Am I understanding this right?
During my tests with MixKey and the Montage M, I was indeed getting “double sounds” out of Discord (with MixKey arriving later as expected). I was looking for the Unassigned dummy output to route Discord to so I only hear the MixKey output, but I don’t seem to see the option to select it anywhere.
