Abstract: A diagnostic tool for an audio mixing system has an information source storing at least interconnection characteristics and apparatus settings in the system, relative to channel inputs, a search function accessible by a user, which upon initiation polls the information source, and search criteria associated with the search function for establishing specific information to be matched in a search. Initiation of the search function causes the search function to poll the information source, and to return channel numbers for those channels that match the search criteria. Criteria can be specific to hardware and/or software.