Systems and methods are provided for a distributed conferencing service through an internet protocol (IP) network. A plurality of tributary mixers are configured communicate with a master mixer or a plurality of master mixers, at least one of which communicates through the IP network. Each tributary mixer is configured to join one or more respective participants to the distributed conference, generate a first mixed media stream by mixing a plurality of ingress media streams from the respective participants, and receive a second mixed media stream from the master mixer. The second mixed media stream includes media from at least one other participant joined to the distributed conference through another of the tributary mixers. Each tributary mixer also provides egress media streams to its respective participants based on a control signal from the master mixer.