Blackmagic Design Unveils New Software-Based Live Audio Mixer With Spatial Audio Capabilities

Continuing an absolute bull rush of announcements to kick things off for NAB 2026 (which technically doesn’t start until this weekend), Blackmagic Design has announced a new software-based live audio mixer with spatial audio mixing and SMPTE-2110 broadcast workflows.

Let’s take a look at Fairlight Live and explore how this new live audio mixer aims to usher in a new era of live audio with spatial audio mixing capabilities and the ability to easily handle thousands of audio channels all at once.

Blackmagic Design Fairlight Live

Not ones to wait around, Blackmagic Design has wasted no time getting a head start on NAB 2026 with some major camera announcements, major updates for DaVinci Resolve, and this really cool new software-based live audio mixer.

Capable of handling spatial audio mixing and SMPTE-2110 broadcast workflows, Blackmagic Design reports that this new Fairlight Live mixer will easily handle thousands of audio channels and work with standard computer audio or USB audio from ATEM live production switchers.

Fully stacked and customizable, the Fairlight Live mixer will feature built-in effects and pro-grade features, including a cue player, talkback busses, snapshots, and more. Also, we should mention now that it’s also set to be available immediately, free of charge.

A Complete Show Mixer

As with all the announcements from Blackmagic Design today, we’ll have a lot more to explore about this new product in the coming days and weeks. However, for more info, it sounds like Blackmagic Design is billing this mixer as a complete Chow option that will handle the mixer layout, routing, processing, cue player, snapshots, and more.

This new Fairlight Live also aims to make it easier for users to design a custom mixer with flexible audio workflows, which should be ideal for any project from stereo to 5.1 surround or immersive formats. Add, modify, or move inputs and busses at any time.

Users will also be able to easily switch a four-host panel show to a remote guest setup or route a stereo input to an ambisonics bus in seconds, depending on what they need.

Price and Availability

If you’re ready to dive in, we don’t blame you. But if you’d like to quickly review the full list of specs, here you go:

• Full featured software based broadcast mixer for high end live audio.
• Supports hundreds of channels with wide format and complex mixes.
• Supports mono, stereo, LCR, 5.1 surround, immersive and ASAF.
• Optimized low latency operation on both macOS and Windows.
• Flexible redundancy with user configurable multiple fail safe levels.
• Direct ATEM connectivity via USB with automatic template support.
• Supports standalone use, Fairlight Live panels, or MCU consoles.
• Compatible with Core Audio, ASIO and 2110 interfaces.
• Native support for surround, immersive and spatial audio workflows.
• Snapshots save mixer state for recall during live performances.
• Virtual Sound Check ISO recording for rehearsal and calibration.
• Dedicated Cue Player for sound effects and stingers.
• Dedicated Cue Player for MIDI cues to external hardware.
• Extensive integration for Native, AU and VST plug-ins.
• Dedicated support for remote iOS and Android tablet controllers.

As mentioned above, the price and availability of this new Fairlight Live are free and immediate. You can try out Fairlight Live public beta on the company’s website here.

Check out more of our NAB 2026 coverage!