Steinberg announces public beta of live streaming software MixKey and rebrands audio hardware under Yamaha name.
Steinberg has unveiled two major announcements that mark a significant shift in its business strategy. The Hamburg-based company introduced MixKey, a live streaming audio mixer software, now available in public beta, while also confirming a restructuring that sees its hardware product line transition to the Yamaha brand.
This dual announcement reaffirms Steinberg’s renewed commitment to software development, as it hands over full responsibility for its audio hardware production and branding to Yamaha, a long-standing partner. The move is positioned to clarify product lines and streamline development efforts across both companies.
MixKey: A New Software Mixer For Streamers
MixKey is Steinberg’s latest foray into the growing market of live streaming and content creation. Designed as a comprehensive digital audio mixer, the software aims to meet the needs of streamers, podcasters and other online creators. Key features include multi-channel input, a built-in low-cut filter for voice clarity, cue monitoring, auto-levelling, recording capabilities, and quick-access panic buttons to mute the microphone or output.
Users can customise the MixKey interface by renaming and recolouring channels, adjusting levels, and linking monitor and stream outputs. The software also offers an extra channel for voice chat applications, making it adaptable for collaborative streaming setups. MixKey is now in public beta and can be downloaded directly from Steinberg’s website.
Hardware Moves Under Yamaha Branding
Alongside the MixKey debut, Steinberg confirmed a shift in its hardware strategy. The company will cease producing Steinberg-branded audio interfaces, with Yamaha taking over both branding and development moving forward. Steinberg will focus entirely on software production and innovation.
The transition follows a long history of collaboration between Steinberg and Yamaha, dating back to their co-developed MR816 interfaces and CC121 controller in 2008. Recent product lines such as the UR, UR-C, UR-RT and IXO series have all been manufactured by Yamaha under the Steinberg name.
Moving forward, key models from the Steinberg hardware range will be reissued under Yamaha branding. These include the IXO12 and IXO22, which will become the Yamaha UR12MK3 and UR22MK3, respectively. The UR22C and UR44C will be renamed URX22C and URX44C. Other Steinberg-branded hardware will be phased out gradually.
Support for existing customers will continue through both Steinberg and Yamaha, including driver updates and product assistance.
The changes reflect broader shifts in the music and content production industries, where hardware and software solutions are increasingly integrated but require distinct development priorities. Steinberg’s decision to concentrate exclusively on software suggests an intent to innovate more rapidly in that domain while benefiting from Yamaha’s hardware expertise.
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