1 Topic by RichardC (edited by RichardC 2026-05-04 14:13:47)

  • From: France
  • Registered: 2014-02-01
  • Posts: 74

Topic: Looking for help testing a Desktop mixer for Windows

Hi,

I'm a long-time RME user (UFX, XTC, Babyface Pro FS) and I've been building a new audio mixer app. I'm looking for testers — particularly those with higher channel-count interfaces like the UFX+ or Fireface 802 — but all RME hardware welcome.

FusionDesk is a TotalMix FX inspired desktop mixer for Windows 10/11:

• Up to 32 x 32 channel input/output routing 
• VST3 hosting 
• MP3, FLAC & WAV linear and loop recording up to 32-bit float 
• Supports ASIO, WASAPI, Per-Application Audio Capture, Dante, ASIO4ALL

FusionDesk

It's pre-release but stable enough for real sessions. What I really want to know is whether it holds up under actual use.

Specifically: 
- Try to break it — unusual routing, edge cases, heavy VST loads 
- Tell me what feels wrong or unintuitive 
- Tell me what's missing that you'd actually want to use 
- Any comments or suggestions are very welcome

If you're on W11, W10 feedback is also valuable — WASAPI behaviour can differ and I want to cover both.

If you're up for it, DM me or drop an email and I'll send you a build.

Cheers, 
Richard 
Testing@AudioArt.uk

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2026-05-03 21:58:54)

  • ramses
  • ramses
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Re: Looking for help testing a Desktop mixer for Windows

Hi RichardC,

many thanks for your efforts.

I never used such a mixer application and am asking myself what use cases I would have.
Maybe another kind of tape deck mode?
Currently I am using Cubase/Nuendo plus recording templates, as I have to mix/master.

A few questions.

1- How do I use it? Quit TM FX, start FusionDesk, and load the ASIO driver to access HW inputs and HW outputs?

2- If I see it correctly, the top line are audio sources, either from the HW inputs or from the computer,
more or less the top and middle rows of TM FX in one row? Is this correct?

3-In the bottom row, all outputs, compareable to TM FX, but Outputs and control room outputs for monitoring without separation?

4- So the key application would be a SW mixer also capable of being a VST host and being able to record?
Recording only a 2ch stereo sum or even different tracks, maybe getting a multichannel wave file,
that could be imported into a DAW for further processing?

5- unlike TM FX all audio flows go through the mixer?

6- 32x32 mixer means, at maximum 32 inputs and 32 outputs. So with an
    - UFX+ or UFX III you have to choose out of 94 input and output channels
    - HDSPe MADI FX out of 194/196 input/output channels
    - XT II 32 of 196/198 Input/output channels.

7- VSTs are for the monitoring but not includeable for inputs or outputs (perhaps for loopback recording)?

8- What does it do for me, that I can't achive with TotalMix FX alone or in combination with a DAW?
    From a very early understanding, maybe:
    - to act as VST2 / VST3 Host
    - to get audio sources from multiple audio drivers on windows
      e.g. Mics connected to inputs of the recording interface (ASIO) and USB Mics together?

9- What more?

To be clear, it's not to "defend TM FX", I am only hunting for information, what this software could do for me.

Many thanks upfront for explaining it a little bit further.

BR Ramses - HDSPe MADI FX, M-1620 Pro D, 12Mic, UFX III, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, Nuendo 15, Win10 IoT Ent

3 Reply by RichardC (edited by RichardC 2026-05-04 12:21:44)

  • From: France
  • Registered: 2014-02-01
  • Posts: 74

Re: Looking for help testing a Desktop mixer for Windows

Hi,

Thanks for the thoughtful questions — exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for.

To answer each in turn:

1. FusionDesk works alongside of TotalMix FX and is not intended to replace it. You can easily use both together if you want. One of the ideas behind FusionDesk was to be able to input many different audio sources and mix/process/route them to any ASIO or WASAPI device (or both at the same time).

2. Correct. The top row combines HW inputs, WASAPI, and application streams (per-app capture) into a single input layer — so everything you might want to mix is in one place.

3. Yes, the bottom row is all outputs. The Control Room lets you set the output channel that you want to use for monitoring. All channel strips can be moved by dragging them to a new position. So you could have Main and Monitor next to the Control Room like in TotalMix if you want.

4. You can record any combination of individual inputs or outputs — so yes, a multitrack capture is possible that could be imported into Cubase/Nuendo for further work. This is actually one of the more useful scenarios I had in mind along with a choice of recording formats and bit depths - including 32-bit Float, and Loop recording.

5. Correct — unlike TotalMix FX, all audio in FusionDesk flows through the software mixer. This gives more flexibility (VST inserts, per-app sources etc.

6. Good point, and an honest limitation. With a UFX+ or UFX III you'd need to choose which 32 channels matter most. We could easily add more channels, and we probably will when someone asks for them but right now 32x32 is the ceiling. We're aware that most FOH hardware consoles have at least 48 channels.

7. Every input and output has 6 VST3 slots, useful for many scenarios.

8. You've nailed the key differentiators:
   - VST3 hosting without needing to open a DAW
   - Mixing across multiple audio devices simultaneously (ASIO interface, WASAPI, and App Capture) in one session
   - Per-Application Audio Capture — useful for streaming, podcasting, or isolating sources
   - Linear or Loop recording without the overhead of a DAW.
Yes, you can mix hardware mics and USB mics. You might have noticed the USB mic on the right in the screenshot.

9. There are a few other features worth a mention. Snapshots let you save/load all FusionDesk settings/layout/configuration for each ASIO device or scenario. The app can be scaled any where between 50% to 200% to work with most types of monitors. All channel strip functions can be performed by keyboard or mouse and work well on a touch screen.

For someone already deep in Cubase/Nuendo with a high channel-count interface, FusionDesk is probably most useful as a companion tool rather than a replacement — particularly the multi-driver mixing and the ability to record a quick session without a full DAW template.

Happy to answer anything else — and if you do want to try a build I'd love feedback from someone with your level of RME experience.

Cheers,
Richard

  • ramses
  • ramses
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Re: Looking for help testing a Desktop mixer for Windows

Hi Richard,

thank you very much for your very friendly reply and your detailed answers to my questions.

I’d be happy to give the software a try. I will e-mail you through the Forum Mailer for further direct communication.

You might be interested to know how the software behaves when loading the HDSPe FX and MADIface drivers for using it with the HDSPe MADI FX, UFX III and ADI-2 Pro FS R BE.

Do you see any possibility of integrating external FX devices instead of using VSTs, like its possible in a DAW? I have two Lexicon PCM FX units (PCM 81 and 91) connected analog to a M-1620 Pro (connected via MADI to HDSPe MADI FX) which I would like to use as FX units.

BR Ramses - HDSPe MADI FX, M-1620 Pro D, 12Mic, UFX III, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, Nuendo 15, Win10 IoT Ent