Setting Levels in Lutefish

Proper gain staging is critical for clean, clear audio. This guide walks you through plugging in, setting gain, and adjusting your mix.

1. Plugging In Your Instrument or Mic

Lutefish Stream has:

  • XLR-1/4” combo inputs with Instrument/Line switch

  • Built-in talkback microphone

XLR Input (Microphones & Line Devices)

The XLR input is designed for:

  • Dynamic microphones

  • External preamps

  • Mixers with XLR out

  • Audio interfaces with XLR out

Important:

  • XLR is set for mic level

  • Sending a strong line-level signal into XLR may cause clipping

If your microphone requires phantom power (48V):

  • Lutefish does not supply phantom power

  • You will need:

    • An external mic preamp

    • A mixer

    • Or an audio interface that provides phantom power

¼” Input (Instrument / Line Switch)

Each ¼” input has a switch for:

  • Instrument

  • Line

Instrument Mode (High Impedance)

Use for:

  • Electric guitar (direct in)

  • Electric bass (direct in)

  • Acoustic guitar with passive pickup

Line Mode (Line Voltage)

Use for:

  • Keyboard outputs

  • Electronic drum kits

  • Mixer outputs

  • Audio interface outputs

  • Modelers (Helix, Kemper, etc.)

  • Pedalboards with line-level output

If you use the wrong setting:

  • Instrument mode with a line source = distortion

  • Line mode with a guitar = weak signal

Keyboard & E-Drum Tip (Avoid Clipping)

Many keyboards and e-drums output stereo TRS line voltage.

To reduce clipping:

  • Use a TRS-to-dual-TS Y cable

  • Plug the TRS side into the instrument

  • Plug one TS end into Lutefish

  • Let the other TS end hang unused

This converts the stereo output to a proper mono signal and can prevent overload.

2. Setting Input Gain

Use the small knobs labeled:

  • Channel 1

  • Channel 2

Start here:

  1. Turn the knob down.

  2. Play or sing at your loudest expected level.

  3. Slowly raise the gain.

  4. Stop before clipping occurs.

You want:

  • Strong signal

  • No distortion

3. You Won’t Hear Anything Yet

You will not hear audio until you:

  • Join a session
    OR

  • Enter Solo Soundcheck Mode

This is normal.

4. Using the Mixer Tab

At the top bar, click:

Mixer Tab

Each participant tile can show three grey sliders.

To reveal them:

  • Click the small arrow at the bottom of a participant’s tile

The Grey Sliders (What Everyone Hears)

The three grey sliders:

  • Control that participant’s channel input levels

  • Affect what everyone in the session hears

Built-In Talkback Mic

To use the built-in talkback mic:

  • Press the orange button on the device

Behavior:

  • Short tap → Latches on

  • Hold longer than 0.5 seconds → Push-to-talk (turns off when released)

You must activate it before adjusting its levels.

5. The Orange Sliders (Your Headphone Mix)

The orange sliders controls:

  • Your personal headphone mix

  • Only what you hear

  • Does not affect anyone else

This is how you dial in your preferred balance.

Adjusting Headphone Mix from Video View

On the main video page:

  • Look at the bottom right corner of each participant’s video tile

  • Adjust their headphone mix slider there

Again — this only changes your mix.

Quick Summary

  • Set correct input type (Mic / Instrument / Line)

  • Use Y cable for some keyboards & e-drums

  • Set gain using Channel 1 & 2 knobs

  • Grey sliders = shared levels

  • Orange slider = your personal mix

  • Activate talkback mic before adjusting it

For instrument-specific setup guides, see:

https://support.lutefish.com/categories/35520549-instrument-specific-guides