Table of Contents

How to Get Discord Audio on Twitch Stream: A Comprehensive Guide

Getting crystal-clear Discord audio onto your Twitch stream is crucial for creating an engaging and immersive experience for your viewers. No one wants to watch a stream where the game audio is booming while your friend’s commentary sounds like it’s coming from the bottom of a well. Thankfully, mastering this is more straightforward than you might think. The key lies in understanding your audio routing options and using the right software.

In essence, you can get Discord audio on your Twitch stream by employing a combination of virtual audio cables, third-party plugins for OBS Studio, or native audio routing solutions offered by operating systems like Windows and macOS. The most common and generally reliable approach involves using a virtual audio cable (VAC) software in conjunction with OBS Studio, the dominant streaming software. This allows you to separate your game audio, microphone, and Discord audio into distinct channels, granting you granular control over their volumes on your stream. You’ll need to configure Discord to output its audio to the virtual cable, then configure OBS to capture that specific cable as an audio source.

Understanding the Core Concepts

Before diving into the how-to, let’s clarify a few core concepts.

Audio Routing: Directing audio signals from one place to another. Think of it like a plumbing system, but for sound. You’re deciding where each audio stream goes.
Virtual Audio Cable (VAC): Software that creates a virtual “cable” inside your computer, allowing you to route audio from one application to another. It acts as a bridge.
Audio Mixing: Adjusting the levels of different audio sources to create a balanced and pleasing sound for your audience.
OBS Studio (or similar streaming software): The central hub where you combine all your audio and video sources to create your stream.

Step-by-Step Guide to Routing Discord Audio

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to route Discord audio to your Twitch stream using a virtual audio cable and OBS Studio:

Step 1: Install a Virtual Audio Cable

There are several options available, both free and paid. VoiceMeeter Banana is a popular free option with robust features. VB-Audio Virtual Cable is another free, simple option that does the job effectively. For this guide, we’ll assume you’re using VB-Audio Virtual Cable.

Download VB-Audio Virtual Cable: Head to the VB-Audio website and download the software.
Install the Software: Follow the installation instructions carefully. You’ll likely need to restart your computer.
Configure as Default Playback Device (Optional, but Recommended): Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray, select “Sounds,” go to the “Playback” tab, and set “Cable Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)” as your default playback device. If you do this, you’ll need to set your headphones or speakers as the output device for all other applications (e.g., your web browser for YouTube, your game). This is useful if you want only Discord sound to output to the VAC.

Step 2: Configure Discord Audio Output

Next, you need to tell Discord to send its audio to the virtual audio cable.

Open Discord: Launch the Discord application.
Go to User Settings: Click the gear icon next to your username.
Select Voice & Video: In the left sidebar, choose “Voice & Video.”
Set Output Device: Under the “Output Device” section, select “Cable Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)” from the dropdown menu.
Adjust Output Volume: Adjust the slider to a comfortable listening level for yourself. This won’t affect the volume heard on stream, just what you hear.

Step 3: Configure OBS Studio to Capture Discord Audio

Now, you need to tell OBS Studio to capture the audio coming through the virtual audio cable.

Open OBS Studio: Launch OBS Studio.
Add a New Audio Input Capture: In the “Sources” panel of your scene, click the “+” button to add a new source. Choose “Audio Input Capture.”
Name the Source: Give it a descriptive name, like “Discord Audio.”
Select the Device: In the “Device” dropdown menu, select “Cable Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).”
Click OK: This adds the Discord audio as a separate audio track in OBS.

Step 4: Adjust Audio Levels in OBS Studio

Now, in the Audio Mixer panel of OBS Studio, you’ll see a new audio meter for your “Discord Audio” source.

Monitor the Levels: Have someone speak in Discord and watch the audio meter. Adjust the volume slider for the “Discord Audio” source to a good level, avoiding clipping (where the meter hits the top and turns red).
Balance with Other Audio Sources: Adjust the volume of your microphone, game audio, and Discord audio to create a balanced mix for your viewers.

Step 5: Monitor and Test Your Audio

The most crucial step is to thoroughly test your setup.

Start a Local Recording: In OBS Studio, start a local recording (not a live stream).
Simulate a Stream: Have someone speak in Discord while you talk and play your game.
Review the Recording: Listen back to the recording and check the audio levels. Are all the sources audible and balanced? Is anything too loud or too quiet?
Adjust and Repeat: Make any necessary adjustments in OBS Studio and repeat the testing process until you’re satisfied with the audio quality.

Alternative Methods

While VACs are the most reliable, there are alternatives:

OBS Studio Plugins: Plugins like “Win Capture Audio” can selectively capture audio from specific applications without needing a VAC.
MacOS Soundflower/BlackHole: MacOS users can use these tools, which function similarly to virtual audio cables.
Discord Streamer Mode: While not directly routing audio, Streamer Mode provides privacy features that are helpful to toggle on while streaming

Troubleshooting Common Issues

No Audio: Double-check that you’ve selected the correct devices in both Discord and OBS Studio. Ensure the virtual audio cable is properly installed. Restarting both programs, and your computer, can often resolve these issues.
Audio Distortion: Reduce the input gain on your microphone and Discord audio sources. Make sure no audio meters are clipping.
Feedback Loops: Avoid using the same device for both audio input and output. Using headphones is strongly recommended.

FAQs: Addressing Your Burning Questions

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of getting Discord audio on your Twitch stream:

1. Do I really need a virtual audio cable? Can’t I just use my default audio devices?

While technically possible to stream without a virtual audio cable, it’s strongly discouraged for professional streams. Using your default devices makes it incredibly difficult to control individual audio levels, leading to a messy and unbalanced sound mix.

2. What’s the difference between VoiceMeeter Banana and VB-Audio Virtual Cable?

VB-Audio Virtual Cable is a simple, single-cable solution focused solely on routing audio. VoiceMeeter Banana is a more advanced audio mixer with multiple virtual cables, EQ controls, and other features, offering greater flexibility and control. It has a steeper learning curve but rewards the effort with far more power.

3. Is VoiceMeeter Banana safe to use? I’ve heard some concerns.

VoiceMeeter Banana is generally safe to use, but some users have experienced compatibility issues or driver conflicts. Make sure you download it from the official VB-Audio website to avoid malware. Backing up your system before installation is always a good precaution.

4. How do I reduce background noise from my Discord audio?

Discord has built-in noise suppression. In Discord’s “Voice & Video” settings, enable “Noise Suppression” and “Attenuation” to automatically reduce background noise from other users. You can also use noise suppression plugins within OBS Studio.

5. My stream is delayed. How can I sync my audio and video?

OBS Studio allows you to add an audio delay to individual sources. In the “Audio Mixer” panel, click the gear icon next to the Discord audio source and select “Properties.” You can then add a delay in milliseconds to synchronize the audio with your video.

6. How can I make sure my Discord audio is private and not accidentally leaked?

Enable Streamer Mode in Discord’s settings. This will hide sensitive information like server invites and friend requests. You can also use separate Discord accounts for streaming and personal use.

7. My virtual audio cable is causing audio problems with other applications. How can I fix this?

Ensure that only Discord is using the virtual audio cable as its output device. Configure other applications to use your default speakers or headphones as their output.

8. I’m using a dual-PC setup for streaming. How does this change the process?

In a dual-PC setup, you’ll typically use a hardware audio interface to send audio from your gaming PC to your streaming PC. The process of routing Discord audio remains similar, but you’ll be sending the audio signal through the audio interface instead of directly within the gaming PC.

9. Can I use this method to stream audio from other voice chat applications besides Discord?

Yes! The principle remains the same. Configure the other voice chat application to output its audio to the virtual audio cable, then capture that cable in OBS Studio.

10. What if I want to use a different audio output device while streaming?

You can switch your default playback device back to your headphones or speakers after configuring Discord to use the virtual audio cable. You might need to restart Discord for the changes to take effect.

11. I’m getting a lot of static or buzzing in my Discord audio. What could be causing this?

This could be caused by ground loops, electrical interference, or a faulty cable. Try using a different USB port for your microphone, and ensure all your audio cables are properly shielded. A USB audio interface can sometimes help eliminate noise.

12. Does this method work for streaming on other platforms besides Twitch?

Yes! The principles of audio routing and capture are the same regardless of the streaming platform. You can use this method to stream to YouTube Live, Facebook Gaming, or any other platform that supports custom audio sources.

By carefully following these steps and addressing these FAQs, you can ensure your Discord audio is crystal clear and perfectly balanced on your Twitch stream, creating a professional and engaging experience for your viewers. Good luck, and happy streaming!