ART USBMix6 Six Channel Mixer / USB Audio Interface with Effects

The ART USBMix6 is a compact six-channel mixer with a built-in USB audio interface, made for podcasters, streamers, singer-songwriters and anyone who wants to bring a few mics and sources into a computer without a complicated setup. Plug in two microphones, a keyboard and a phone or media player, balance them with real knobs, add some reverb, and send the finished stereo mix to your recording or streaming software.

A Mixer First, an Interface Second

Most entry-level USB interfaces give you two inputs and leave the mixing to your software. The USBMix6 works the other way round: you mix on the desk and the computer receives the result. That makes it quick to use for live situations where you don’t want to touch a mouse, such as a two-person podcast, a church or classroom stream, or a small rehearsal recording. It also works with no computer at all, using the main mix outputs to feed powered speakers or a PA.

Inputs and Outputs

Channels 1 and 2 have XLR / 1/4″ combo jacks, so they take a microphone, a guitar or bass, or a line source. A switch on each sets the 1/4″ input for instrument or line impedance, and a shared switch turns on +48V phantom power for condenser microphones. Each of these channels has gain, pan, EQ, effects send and level controls, plus a clip LED.

Channels 3/4 are a stereo pair on balanced 1/4″ TRS jacks, ideal for a keyboard, drum machine or a second mixer. Channels 5/6 are a stereo pair on RCA jacks for a phone, laptop, CD or media player. A separate RCA aux loop (in and out) connects an external recorder, and the aux input can be assigned to the main mix, the monitor, or both.

On the output side you get 1/4″ TRS main mix outputs (balanced or unbalanced) and a stereo 1/4″ monitor/phones output, each with its own level control, so your headphone volume does not change what goes to the speakers or the computer.

16 Built-In Stereo Effects

A rotary selector chooses one of 16 stereo DSP effects: Room 1, Large Room, Plate 1, Plate 2, Hall 1, Hall 2, Chorus, Chorus/Reverb, Regen/Delay, Slap/Delay, Phaser, Rotary, Large Reverb, Gated Reverb, Flanger and Doubling. Every channel has its own effects send, so you can put reverb on a vocal and leave a spoken voice dry. An FX return knob sets the overall effect level, and an FX mute button switches it off in one press.

USB Recording and Playback

The USB connection is class compliant, so it shows up on Mac and Windows as a standard audio device (named “USB Audio CODEC”) with no driver to install. It records at 16-bit with a choice of 44.1 or 48 kHz, set from the computer, and the manufacturer quotes 0.4 ms A/D latency at 44.1 kHz.

Audio from the computer can come back into the mixer too. A USB playback switch sends it either to channels 5/6, so it becomes part of the mix (handy for music beds, sound effects or a remote caller), or to the monitor and headphones only, so you hear it without sending it back into your recording.

Important: the USBMix6 sends the stereo main mix to the computer, not each channel separately. If you want to edit each microphone on its own track afterwards, a multi-input audio interface is a better choice.

Who Is It For?

• Podcasters with two hosts who want two mics, a music source and live level control on one desk.
• Streamers and online teachers who need to blend a mic, an instrument and computer audio before it reaches OBS or a video call.
• Songwriters who want to capture ideas quickly with a vocal, a guitar and a keyboard, with reverb already on.
• Small venues, cafés and classrooms needing a compact standalone mixer for a couple of mics and a music player.

It is not the best fit for multitrack music production, or for anyone who needs more than two microphones at once.

USBMix6 vs ART USB Mix and USBMix4

ART makes smaller siblings in the same range. The ART USB Mix is a three-channel unit with one combo mic input and two 1/4″ inputs, and it can run on USB bus power, so it suits a single voice or instrument on the go. The ART USBMix4 offers two mic channels and one stereo line pair, without built-in effects. The USBMix6 is the step up when you need a second stereo source and onboard reverb or delay. Browse more analogue USB mixers or compare with dedicated USB audio interfaces.

Setup Tips

• Turn the Monitor/Phones and Main Mix controls down before switching the mixer on.
• Switch phantom power on or off before you raise the levels, and never use it with unbalanced microphones on the XLR inputs.
• If the clip LEDs stay lit, lower the channel gain or level; short flashes on loud peaks are fine.
• Do not assign the aux input to the main mix while playing back a recording made from the aux output, or you will get feedback.
• If you hear hum when the mixer is connected to a computer and grounded equipment, a ground isolator usually solves it.

Key Features

• Six inputs: two mic/instrument/line combo channels and two stereo line pairs
• Switchable +48V phantom power on channels 1 and 2
• High and low EQ on each input channel
• 16 stereo DSP effects with per-channel sends, FX return and FX mute
• Class-compliant USB audio for Mac and PC, 16-bit at 44.1 or 48 kHz
• USB playback routable to channels 5/6 or to the monitor
• RCA aux loop with assign-to-main and assign-to-monitor buttons
• Independent level controls for the main mix and the monitor/phones output
• Stereo LED metering and rugged steel chassis

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the ART USBMix6 record each channel to a separate track?

No. It sends a stereo mix of everything on the desk to the computer. Set your balance on the mixer before you record.

Does it work with condenser microphones?

Yes. Channels 1 and 2 have switchable +48V phantom power for condenser mics.

Do I need to install drivers?

No. It is USB class compliant and works on Mac and Windows as a standard audio device. Pick “USB Audio CODEC” as the input and output in your computer’s sound settings or recording software.

Can I use it without a computer?

Yes. The main mix outputs connect directly to powered speakers or an amplifier, so it works as a standalone six-channel mixer.

Can I bring computer audio into the mix for a podcast or stream?

Yes. Set the USB playback switch to channels 5/6 and the computer audio becomes part of the mix, or set it to monitor to hear it in your headphones only.

Can I plug a guitar straight in?

Yes. Channels 1 and 2 accept an instrument on the 1/4″ part of the combo jack, with a switch to select instrument impedance.