Hello all,

For the last two years, I’ve been running a very complex routing setup between vMix and a Wheatstone LXE console. Because the vMix internal mixer isn’t sufficient for our radio network’s needs, I’m using all eight vMix buses — four to route individual vMix Call audio feeds to the external Wheatstone board, and four for their mix-minus return feeds back to each caller.

To make matters more complicated, we’re also using Comrex audio-only codecs for our show hosts. The hosts connect their audio through Comrex while simultaneously joining silent vMix Calls for video only. We then marry the Comrex audio and the vMix video using NDI video delay, syncing the low-latency Comrex feed to the delayed vMix video. The Comrex codec performs beautifully since it operates within a fixed buffer window and doesn’t drift — I’d love to see the same kind of stable timing capability within vMix.

Here’s our workflow in short:

4 vMix Calls are routed to the Wheatstone LXE via WheatNet-IP.

LXE mixes those with 14 additional external sources not available in vMix.

The final mixed program returns to vMix, then is distributed through Switchboard to multiple social media platforms.

This all functions as intended, but as expected, the routing introduces latency. We compensate by delaying NDI video feeds to align with the Wheatstone-processed audio, but fluctuating network conditions constantly force us to chase lip-sync by manually adjusting per-call frame delays.

I’m searching for a better way to keep vMix and Wheatstone in sync — ideally with built-in drift resistance.

Two possible solutions came to mind:

External Audio Control:
Allow the vMix audio mixer to be controlled externally (via WheatNet-LXE), so level and fade adjustments occur from the LXE surface while vMix functions as a synchronized endpoint.

Clock / Buffer Sync:
Enable vMix to clock-sync to WheatNet (or a defined reference) and operate within a fixed buffer window, similar to how Comrex handles latency. I’d gladly accept slightly higher latency in exchange for long-term sync stability.

Would either of these be possible within the current or future vMix architecture?
Or does anyone have a recommended workflow to stabilize sync between vMix and external IP-based audio consoles like Wheatstone?
also, would it be possible to increase to 16 BUSES. I'm out in my set up!

For context, I’ve been a Technical Director in broadcast sports for over 25 years, working more than 4,000 live events with Grass Valley Kayenne, Sony, TriCaster, Blackmagic, Ross Carbonite, and vMix systems.

If someone from the vMix team would be open to a quick technical discussion, I’d greatly appreciate it. This is an important issue for broadcasters using hybrid IP workflows.

Thanks,
Michael Buttino
Director of Production & Technology
The Station of the Cross Catholic Media Network