How to Mute Discord in OBS: A Comprehensive Guide for Streamers

So, you want to mute Discord in OBS, eh? Let’s cut right to the chase: the simplest way is to utilize a combination of OBS’s powerful audio mixing capabilities and some clever routing. This usually involves using a virtual audio cable (VAC) or, preferably, a modern alternative like Voicemeeter Banana to separate your Discord audio from your other audio sources (like game audio or your microphone). Then, within OBS, you can control the Discord audio separately, allowing you to mute it, adjust its volume, or even filter it in real-time. The process isn’t inherently difficult, but understanding the underlying principles will make troubleshooting and customization much easier.

Setting Up Discord Muting in OBS: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

Here’s a detailed walkthrough of one of the most common and reliable methods: using Voicemeeter Banana. This software acts as a virtual soundcard, giving you granular control over your audio inputs and outputs.

1. Download and Install Voicemeeter Banana

First things first, head over to the VB-Audio website and download Voicemeeter Banana. It’s a fantastic piece of software, well worth the initial configuration effort. Install it, and you’ll likely need to restart your computer afterward.

2. Configure Voicemeeter as Your Default Audio Device

After restarting, open Voicemeeter Banana. The first thing you’ll want to do is configure your hardware inputs and outputs.

• Hardware Input 1: Select your primary microphone (the one you use for speaking on stream). You can choose the WDM or MME driver – usually, WDM offers slightly lower latency.
• Hardware Output A1: Select your headphones or speakers. This is where you’ll hear all audio processed by Voicemeeter.

Now, let’s configure your Windows audio settings.

• Playback: Set “Voicemeeter Input (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO)” as your default playback device.
• Recording: Set “Voicemeeter Output (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO)” as your default recording device.

This routes all your system audio through Voicemeeter. Don’t panic if you temporarily lose audio – we’ll fix that in the next step.

3. Route Audio Within Voicemeeter

In Voicemeeter, you’ll see several “Hardware Input” strips and two “Virtual Input” strips labeled “VoiceMeeter VAIO” and “VoiceMeeter AUX.”

• Your Microphone (Hardware Input 1): Ensure the “A1” button is selected. This routes your microphone audio to your headphones (Hardware Output A1). You likely also want to select “B1” to send the microphone audio to the “VoiceMeeter VAIO” output (more on this later).
• System Audio (VoiceMeeter VAIO): This input receives all audio from applications using your default playback device (which is now Voicemeeter Input). Ensure the “A1” button is selected so you can hear your system audio. Crucially, do NOT select “B1” here. This is key to isolating Discord!
• Discord: Within Discord settings, under “Voice & Video,” change the Output Device to “VoiceMeeter AUX Input (VB-Audio Voicemeeter AUX VAIO).”
• Discord Audio (VoiceMeeter AUX): Now, the audio from Discord will come in through the “VoiceMeeter AUX” input in Voicemeeter. Ensure “A1” is selected so you can hear it. Do NOT select “B1”.

4. Configure OBS Audio Sources

Now for the final piece: configuring OBS to capture the audio streams.

• Microphone (Your Mic): In OBS, add an “Audio Input Capture” source and select your physical microphone. This captures your microphone directly.
• Game Audio/System Audio: Add an “Audio Input Capture” source and select “Voicemeeter Output (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO).” This captures all system audio except Discord because we deliberately prevented “VoiceMeeter VAIO” from receiving Discord.
• Discord Audio: Add an “Audio Input Capture” source and select “Voicemeeter AUX Output (VB-Audio Voicemeeter AUX VAIO).” This captures only Discord audio.

5. Muting Discord in OBS

Now you have three distinct audio sources in OBS: your microphone, system audio (including game audio), and Discord audio. Simply mute the “Discord Audio” source in the OBS audio mixer to silence Discord on your stream. You can also adjust its volume independently.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• No Audio: Double-check that you have selected the correct input and output devices in Voicemeeter and Windows. Make sure “A1” is enabled for all relevant input strips in Voicemeeter. Restart your computer.
• Audio Feedback: Ensure that your microphone isn’t also being picked up by the “Voicemeeter VAIO” output. Mute your microphone input in Voicemeeter if necessary (but keep it active in OBS!).
• Lag/Latency: Experiment with different driver types (WDM, MME, KS) in Voicemeeter. Lowering the buffer size in Voicemeeter might help, but can also introduce audio artifacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions that streamers have about muting Discord in OBS:

1. Why can’t I just mute Discord directly in OBS using the desktop audio source?

While you technically can mute your entire desktop audio in OBS, this isn’t ideal because it mutes all audio coming from your computer, including game audio, music, and system sounds. Separating Discord allows for finer control and prevents unwanted muting of other audio sources.

2. Is Voicemeeter Banana free?

Voicemeeter Banana is donationware. You can download and use it for free, but the developers encourage you to donate if you find it useful. Consider supporting them; it’s a fantastic tool!

3. Can I use a different virtual audio cable instead of Voicemeeter?

Yes, you can use other virtual audio cable solutions like the original VB-Cable or alternatives like OBS.Ninja. The fundamental principle remains the same: route Discord audio to a separate virtual audio device and capture that device in OBS. However, Voicemeeter Banana offers more advanced features and flexibility.

4. How do I prevent Discord notification sounds from playing on stream?

By routing Discord to its own audio channel, you can mute the entire Discord audio source in OBS, effectively silencing all Discord sounds, including notifications.

5. My friends can’t hear me in Discord when I use Voicemeeter. What’s wrong?

Ensure you’ve selected “Voicemeeter Output (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO)” as your input device in Discord settings. If your friends still can’t hear you, double-check that the “B1” button is enabled on your microphone input in Voicemeeter, which sends your mic to the VAIO output.

6. How do I prevent my microphone from being picked up twice (once directly and once through Voicemeeter)?

The key is to only capture your physical microphone directly in OBS. Do not add an “Audio Input Capture” source for “Voicemeeter Output” if you are already capturing your microphone directly. Make sure the OBS source is properly configured and the volume levels are correct.

7. Can I use this method to mute other applications besides Discord?

Absolutely! This method works for any application that allows you to select a specific audio output device. Simply set the application’s audio output to “VoiceMeeter AUX Input” (or whichever virtual input you’re using for isolation) and follow the same OBS configuration steps.

8. What’s the difference between Voicemeeter and Voicemeeter Banana?

Voicemeeter Banana is the advanced version of Voicemeeter. It offers more input and output channels, a built-in equalizer, and more advanced routing options. Voicemeeter is a simpler, more basic version. For most streaming setups, Voicemeeter Banana is the preferred choice.

9. I’m getting a weird echo or delay on my audio. What’s causing it?

Echoes are usually caused by audio being picked up multiple times. Review your audio routing in Voicemeeter and OBS to ensure you’re not accidentally capturing the same audio source twice. Check for loopback issues in your soundcard settings. Delays can be caused by high buffer settings in Voicemeeter or OBS.

10. Does this method work with console streaming using a capture card?

Yes, the principles remain the same. Your capture card will typically appear as an audio input in Windows. You can route this capture card audio through Voicemeeter and then capture the relevant Voicemeeter outputs in OBS. Make sure to configure your console’s audio output settings appropriately.

11. I upgraded Voicemeeter and now my audio is messed up. What do I do?

Upgrading Voicemeeter can sometimes reset your audio settings. Revisit all the steps in this guide to ensure that your input and output devices are correctly configured in both Voicemeeter and Windows. Double-check that your Discord audio routing is still set up properly.

12. Is there a way to automatically mute Discord when I’m not talking?

This requires more advanced setup involving noise gates and potentially scripting. You can apply a noise gate filter to the “Discord Audio” source in OBS. Adjust the threshold so that it only opens when someone is actively speaking in Discord. This helps to eliminate background noise and automatically mute Discord when it’s quiet.

By implementing these techniques, you’ll achieve the pristine audio control every streamer dreams of. Happy streaming!