How to Use a MIDI Fader Board to Mix Audio in OBS

Controlling your live stream’s audio levels with physical faders provides a tactile and precise mixing experience that software sliders cannot match. This guide will walk you through the process of integrating a physical MIDI fader board into OBS Studio. You will learn how to install the specialized obs-midi-mg plugin, connect your controller, and map your physical faders, knobs, and buttons directly to OBS audio sources for real-time, hands-on control during your broadcasts.

Step 1: Install the OBS MIDI Plugin

To bridge the gap between your physical MIDI controller and OBS Studio, you need a specialized plugin. The most reliable and feature-rich plugin for this task is obs-midi-mg.

  1. Close OBS Studio if it is currently running.
  2. Go to the official OBS Resources forum or GitHub releases page for obs-midi-mg.
  3. Download the installer compatible with your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  4. Run the installer and follow the prompts to install the plugin into your OBS Studio plugins directory.

Step 2: Connect Your MIDI Fader Board

  1. Plug your MIDI fader board (such as a Korg nanoKONTROL2, Behringer X-Touch Mini, or Novation Launch Control) into your computer via USB.
  2. Ensure your computer recognizes the device. You do not need any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software open, but ensure any device-specific drivers are installed.
  3. Open OBS Studio.

Step 3: Enable the MIDI Device in OBS

Once OBS is open, you need to tell the plugin to listen to your specific MIDI hardware.

  1. In the top menu bar of OBS, click on Tools and select OBS MIDI Settings.
  2. A new window will appear. Locate the Devices tab.
  3. Find your MIDI controller in the list of available input devices.
  4. Check the box next to your device to enable it (ensure the status changes to “Active” or “Enabled”).

Step 4: Map Faders to OBS Audio Sources

With the controller active, you can now bind physical faders to your virtual OBS audio sources.

  1. In the OBS MIDI Settings window, switch to the Bindings tab.
  2. Click Add or Learn to create a new binding.
  3. Move the physical fader or knob on your board that you want to assign. The plugin will automatically detect the MIDI Control Change (CC) number and channel of that specific fader.
  4. Once detected, look at the Action settings for that binding.
  5. Set the Action Type to Volume.
  6. Set the Target to the specific OBS audio source you want to control (e.g., “Desktop Audio,” “Mic/Aux,” or “Discord”).
  7. Adjust the range settings if necessary (e.g., setting the maximum dB limit to 0dB to prevent clipping).

Step 5: Map Buttons for Mute and Solo (Optional)

You can also use the buttons on your MIDI board to quickly mute and unmute audio tracks.

  1. In the Bindings tab, click Add/Learn again.
  2. Press a physical button on your MIDI board.
  3. Set the Action Type to Mute or Toggle Mute.
  4. Select the corresponding OBS audio source as the target.
  5. If your controller has LED lights under the buttons, you can configure “MIDI Out” bindings in the plugin to turn the LEDs on when a source is muted and off when it is unmuted.

Step 6: Test and Save Your Configuration

  1. Move your physical faders and watch the audio mixer sliders in OBS. They should move smoothly in sync with your physical hands-on adjustments.
  2. Click Apply and then Close on the OBS MIDI Settings window to save your profile.
  3. Test your mute buttons to ensure the red mute icon toggles correctly in the OBS audio mixer.