FAQ
Quick answers to the questions that come up most. For total silence, start with No sound?.
Getting started
Do I need virtual audio cables?
Often not. To hand a mix to OBS (or any app with Application Audio Capture), use a 🎥 Application (capture) output bus — OBS grabs it directly, no cable needed. You only need a virtual cable — a 🎧 PHYS bus pointed at the cable's playback endpoint — when an app must see your mix as a microphone input — most commonly Discord voice. Capturing applications (🎯 APP channels), capturing a whole device (🔄 LOOP) and playing to real speakers/headphones never need a cable. (Output buses.)
Is it really free?
Yes. The Free version is a complete mixer — multiple channels, the full gate / EQ / compressor chain, output EQ/limiter/delay, routing, scenes and presets. Premium lifts the channel limits and adds the FX rack, advanced spatial audio and LUFS loudness tools. (Free vs Premium.)
How do I activate Premium — do I need an account?
No account needed. After buying, open the account window (far right of the menu bar) → License key tab, paste the AURA-… key from your purchase, and click Activate license. It binds to this PC and re-checks online every couple of weeks, working offline in between. An account is optional — it just lets you manage the license across several computers. (Accounts & Premium.)
How many channels and buses can I have?
Free: up to 4 input channels and 2 output buses. Premium: effectively unlimited (technical caps are 32 inputs, 15 buses + Main L+R, 8 VCA groups). The counter in the Channel Manager always shows your exact ceiling.
Does it need special drivers?
No. Any WASAPI device works — that's every built-in, USB and Bluetooth audio device on a modern PC.
Capture quirks
I can capture my browser and games, but Spotify goes silent — why?
Some DRM-protected players (Spotify is the well-known one) refuse to play when they detect their audio is being captured, especially in WASAPI Exclusive mode. It's their anti-piracy behaviour, not an Aura Mixer fault. Capture that music with a 🔄 LOOP channel on your output device instead, or play it through a browser. (Capture a single app.)
App capture isn't available / my app isn't in the list.
Per-application capture needs Windows 10 build 20348+ or Windows 11. Also make sure the app is running and actively playing sound, then click ↺ to refresh, and enable Include child processes for browsers and games.
Everyday use
Where are my settings saved?
Automatically, to %LOCALAPPDATA%\AuraMixer\session.ngsa — there's no Save button and nothing to lose. (File formats.)
Does closing the window stop my audio?
No — by default the ✕ minimizes Aura Mixer to the system tray and the audio keeps flowing. Right-click the tray icon → Quit to actually exit. You can change this in Settings → General.
How do I start over?
Settings → General → Factory Reset, or delete the whole AuraMixer folder. Both return you to a clean first-run state (and re-run the setup wizard). Export any scenes/presets you want to keep first — they're files and survive a reset.
How do I move my setup to another PC?
Export a scene (.ngss) and import it on the other machine. The live session file is tied to your devices, so it isn't meant for sharing — scenes are.
What latency can I expect?
About 10 ms by default, down to 2.7 ms in WASAPI Exclusive mode with a small buffer. (Crackling and latency.)
Features and limits
Can I send a 5.1 / 7.1 signal to my surround speakers?
Not yet — 5.1 / 7.1 output to multichannel hardware is marked coming soon. You can already fold a surround source down to headphones with HRTF today. (Virtual surround.)
Is there ASIO support?
ASIO appears in the driver list but is not available in this version — use WASAPI Shared (most compatible) or WASAPI Exclusive (lowest latency).
Still stuck?
Ask on Discord — describe what each meter did, and someone can usually pinpoint it fast.