how to get waveform to recognize my mixer as an input

[TimLunden]

I am new to all this and was hoping someone could help. I bought a new mixer from Amazon (Fulode CT-80s). I have Waveform downloaded and can get it to play various tracks with the built-in MIDI files to input sounds created by the virtual piano keyboard, etc., but can't get a guitar or mic or anything else to register as an input through the mixer. I have my laptop connected via a USB cable. What do I need to do to hear my instruments through the Waveform program?

[talby]

I am afraid that this mixer might not be capable to act as an audio interface for your laptop. As I do not have the original manual, I am not sure about this, though. You will have to clarify this!
A manual which I found (https://manuals.plus/asin/B09N3H7F4W) only claims: "USB Devices: Insert a USB flash drive into the USB port for MP3 playback". But it does not mention that the USB port could be used to send any audio to the Laptop, which a manual would usually mention if possible, because it would be a nice selling point.
Do you get that mixer to send the guitar or mic signal into other apps, if not into Waveform?
Or, could you clarify with the Fulode company if the mixer should indeed be able to send audio to the laptop at all?
And if so, clarify if this mixer would simply send the final stereo out signal, which you mixed in the mixer, to the laptop, or if it should be capable to indeed send the signals of the individual channels to the laptop.

[Watchful]

I believe Talby is right. But don't despair! You can connect this mixer to a low-cost USB audio interface and still get all the benefits of it. Just take the main audio right/left outputs of the mixer and connect them to the left/right audio inputs of the audio interface.

[Peter Widdicombe]

Been doing this for years. Even if the mixer has/advertises USB in/out, there are frequently limitations:
1. Cheaper mixers only have Master out; and USB in goes to the main mix, often without even control on volume
2. Because it's only master out, you can't RECEIVE a mix from the computer and then record back just a single instrument or microphone

A separate audio interface allows you to do that - like feed the DAW output into an audio channel on the mixer. Volume, pan, eq, effects... Now you should really do all that in the DAW anyway, but it's handy.

Feed "ANY" audio input on the mixer back to the DAW. Use a second bus if you have it, or send the control-room output back to the DAW so you can record an isolated instrument in the daw, rather than getting a full mix.

I've used simple UCA-222 or UFO202 to do this - UFO one is typically about $25 or so. Lots of better options in the $100 range.