FlexMixer v1.2 — User Manual

1. Introduction

FlexMixer is professional cartwall software and radio playback software for Windows — a complete jingle player and broadcast audio solution for radio, podcasters, theatre, live events and DJ environments. With built-in MIDI and WebSocket integration for mixers like the D&R Airlite MK2 and playout software like RadioDJ via rtpMIDI. Its defining quality: reacting instantly to the unexpected.

A radio presenter knows what is planned — but reality is different. A guest cancels. Breaking news interrupts. An item runs long. A technical problem forces improvisation. At those moments there is no time to search, scroll or think about software. FlexMixer is built for exactly those moments.

With a single button press:

• An intro starts and the loop takes over automatically — no need to watch the clock
• You switch to another item without interrupting the audio currently playing
• You fire a jingle or stab from the soundboard while music continues
• You jump to another page with a completely different playlist
• You adjust cue points live if a segment needs to run shorter or longer

The software disappears into the background. The presenter stays focused.

2. Installation and startup

• Requirements: Windows 10 or higher, no Python installation required
• Starting: double-click flexmixer.exe
• First launch: an empty set is created automatically
• Audio device: select your preferred output device via Settings → Audio

Important: always verify the correct audio device is selected before going on air. FlexMixer remembers your choice on restart.

3. Interface overview

The FlexMixer user interface is in English only. All menu and button names in this manual match the English interface.

The main interface consists of five zones, from top to bottom:

Zone	Description
1. Menu bar	File, settings, view
2. Page bar	Buttons for fast switching between pages
3. Grid	The main panel containing all objects — audio (Intro, Audio, Outro, Drop), but also Text, MIDI and WebSocket objects. All object types can be placed on the grid.
4. Soundboard	Optional panel for standalone buttons — shown or hidden via the soundboard button in the toolbar. Always available regardless of the active page.
5. Toolbar	Left: mode buttons (Play, Grid, Properties, Delete, Lock). Right: add object (+), show/hide soundboard (toggle), volume controls (master / desk / drops) and a stop button that immediately stops all playing audio.

Interaction modes

FlexMixer operates in five modes, switchable from the toolbar:

Mode	Description
Play	Normal operation — buttons start audio. In Lock mode this is the only visible and active mode.
Grid	Move or duplicate objects (hold Ctrl while dragging). Objects can also be moved or duplicated between the grid and the soundboard.
Properties	Edit the properties of an object by clicking it.
Delete	Remove objects from the grid or soundboard.
Lock	Secures Play mode — all other modes are hidden and cannot be activated. Prevents accidental changes during a live broadcast.

Use Lock mode during a live broadcast for maximum security.

4. Pages and navigation

Pages are the primary way to organise audio. Each page has its own grid of buttons.

Creating a page

Menu → Page → New page.

Switching pages

Click a page button in the bar at the top. If audio is playing on a different page, that page's button pulses so you always know where audio is coming from.

Playing page indicator

When you switch to a page while audio is playing on another page, the button of the playing page pulses with an animated border. The indicator disappears as soon as you return to that page or playback stops.

Renaming a page

Menu → Page → Rename Page.

Deleting a page

Menu → Page → Delete page (cannot be undone).

Page settings

Set the colour of active and inactive page buttons via Settings → Page settings.

5. Grid objects

The grid is made up of objects, each with a specific function.

Object types

Type	Description
Intro	Plays once, then hands off to the loop
Audio	Flexible audio object with chain system
Outro	Closes an item cleanly
Drop	One-shot effect or stab
Text	Visual text label displayed on the grid
MIDI	Sends MIDI commands to external equipment
WebSocket	Sends commands to external systems

Adding an object

Click an object type in the add panel. A configuration dialog opens.

Editing an object

Switch to Properties mode and click an object to edit its properties.

Moving or duplicating an object

Switch to Grid mode and drag an object to another position. Hold Ctrl while dragging to duplicate it. Objects can also be moved or duplicated between the grid and the soundboard.

Default object colours

Set the default background colour per object type in Settings → General → Default object colours. New objects automatically adopt this colour. Existing objects with "Use default" checked will follow changes automatically.

6. Audio object — in depth

The audio object is the central element of FlexMixer.

Configuration

• File: select a WAV or AIF audio file
• Label: the name shown on the button (auto-filled from the filename)
• Type: Intro, Audio or Outro — determines behaviour in the chain
• Volume: adjustable per object
• Font and colour: fully customisable

Background colour

• Use default: follows the colour set in General settings
• Custom colour: choose a specific colour for this object

Label text colour

• Auto (contrast): FlexMixer automatically calculates whether white or black is more readable
• Custom colour: choose a label text colour manually

Chain system

When multiple audio objects are linked:

1. The Intro plays once
2. The Audio / Loop repeats automatically
3. The Outro closes the item

The presenter presses once — the chain runs by itself.

Preview

The properties dialog shows a live preview of how the button will look on the grid.

7. Cue Editor

The Cue Editor gives you complete control over the playback behaviour of an audio file.

Opening

In the audio properties dialog: click ✎ Edit Cues.

Waveform

The full waveform of the file is displayed. Scroll to zoom in or out for precise editing.

Markers

Marker	Description
Intro Start	Start point of the introduction
Intro End	End point of the introduction
Loop Start	Start point of the repeating section
Loop End	End point of the repeating section
Lock Start/End	Protected zone — new commands are deferred until after the lock

Moving markers

Drag a marker to the desired position. While dragging, a 2-second preview plays so you can hear the exact cue point.

Bounce preview

While dragging the Intro End marker, the last 2 seconds of the intro loop continuously. While dragging the Loop Start marker, the first 2 seconds of the loop play. This lets you hear immediately whether the transition is seamless.

Playback in the Cue Editor

• Play: plays normal behaviour (intro → loop)
• Play Lock: plays only the lock zone in a loop
• Stop: stops playback
• Click in waveform: jumps directly to that position

Intro and Loop on/off

Toggle intro and loop independently. If only the loop is active, the fragment repeats continuously.

8. Soundboard

The soundboard is a separate panel for one-shot audio — jingles, stabs, effects — always available regardless of the active page.

Opening

Menu → View → Soundboard or the soundboard button in the toolbar.

How it works

• Click a soundboard button to trigger the sound instantly
• The soundboard stops the current chain and plays the linked audio button immediately — with no automatic follow-up afterwards
• A red border around the button indicates which soundboard item is playing

Adding objects

Click + in the soundboard and choose an audio file.

Export and import

The soundboard can be saved as a standalone file (.soundboard-fmx) and shared or imported into another session.

9. MIDI integration

Configuration

Settings → MIDI — select your MIDI device.

Setting up a MIDI object

Add a MIDI object to the grid and configure:

• Note — sends a MIDI note message
• CC — sends a Control Change message
• Program Change — switches a preset on an external device

Applications

• Controlling external synthesisers or samplers
• Triggering lighting rigs
• Operating hardware mixers

10. WebSocket integration

How it works

A WebSocket object sends a JSON message to an external system when the button is pressed.

Configuration

• Host: IP address or hostname of the external system
• Port: port number
• Message: freely configurable JSON payload

Applications

• Controlling studio automation
• Synchronising light shows
• Integration with broadcast software

11. Settings

General

• Application font: choose the typeface and size for the entire interface
• Grid dimensions: number of rows, columns and cell size
• Margins: spacing between cells and around the grid
• Background colour and image: personalise the interface
• Grid lines: colour and transparency
• Default object colours: default colour per object type

Audio

• Output device: select your sound card or audio interface

MIDI

• MIDI device: select your MIDI controller or interface

Connections

• WebSocket settings: test and manage WebSocket connections

Page settings

• Active colour: colour of the selected page button
• Inactive colour: colour of unselected page buttons

12. Loading and saving sets

A set is a complete project: all pages, objects and settings together.

Saving

File → Save (Ctrl+S) or Save as for a new location.

Loading

File → Open — load a previously saved set.

Auto-save prompt

FlexMixer asks whether to save changes when closing.

Tip: always save a backup of your set before going on air.

13. Export and import

Exporting a page

Menu → Page → Export — saves the current page as a .page-fmx file.

Importing a page

Menu → Page → Import — loads a page into the current set. This can be done during a live session without restarting.

Exporting/importing the soundboard

Save the soundboard as a .soundboard-fmx file and import it in another session.

Use cases

• Sharing reusable playlists with colleagues
• Shift handovers — each presenter loads their own pages
• Recurring elements (ad breaks, fixed jingles) configured once and always importable

14. Tips for live use

Preparation

• Test all audio in advance on the correct output device
• Check cue points in the Cue Editor
• Save the set before going on air

During the broadcast

• Always work in Play mode
• Use pages to separate topics (news, music, sport)
• Keep the soundboard open for quick interventions
• Watch the page button indicator: a pulsing button means audio is playing on that page

Emergency situations

• An item needs to stop unexpectedly → press another audio button or use Stop
• Different guest or item → switch pages; the current audio stops automatically
• Soundboard item needed → press the soundboard button; the current chain stops and the soundboard item plays

Recommended page layout

• Page 1: current items / news
• Page 2: music and jingles
• Page 3: recurring elements (intros, outros, signature tunes)
• Soundboard: stabs, effects, emergency buttons

15. Frequently asked questions

Which audio formats are supported?

WAV and AIF/AIFF. WAV is recommended for the best quality and lowest latency.

Can I play multiple sounds at the same time?

The main grid plays one chain at a time. The soundboard plays independently of this.

How do I make a loop play continuously?

Enable the Loop switch in the Cue Editor and disable the Intro switch. The fragment will then repeat indefinitely without an intro.

What is the difference between Intro End and Loop Start?

Intro End is where the introduction finishes. Loop Start is where the repeating section begins. These do not have to be at the same point — this allows you to create a smooth transition.

Can I use FlexMixer on multiple computers?

Yes. Export your pages and sets and import them on the other computer. Make sure audio files are available at the same relative paths.

Audio does not start — what now?

Check that the correct audio device is selected in Settings → Audio. Verify that the audio file exists at the specified path.

How do I know which page audio is playing on?

The page button of the playing page pulses when you are on a different page. When you return to that page the indicator disappears.

What happens when I press a soundboard button while a chain is playing?

The current chain stops and the soundboard item plays immediately. There is no automatic follow-up after the soundboard item finishes.