Voicemeeter for Windows

What Voicemeeter is and who it serves

Voicemeeter is a no-cost virtual mixing console for Windows created by VB-Audio. It acts as a central hub for routing and adjusting audio from multiple programs and devices, making it a popular choice for podcasters, streamers, gamers, and creators who need to manage several sound sources at once. Although the software itself is provided free of charge, donations to VB-Audio are encouraged to fund ongoing improvements.

Editions, plugins and virtual cables

• Potato — the most feature-rich Voicemeeter build for complex routing and many I/O channels
• Banana — a mid-level option with more tools than the basic edition but lighter than Potato
• Voicemeeter Standard — the simpler, compact version for basic mixing needs
• Spectralissime — an available add-on offering spectral/advanced processing features
• VB-Cable — the virtual audio cable that links applications to Voicemeeter

Common uses and workflows

Voicemeeter is used to:

• Combine system audio, microphones, and application outputs into a single controllable mix
• Send specific program audio (browser, music player, game) to different destinations
• Create stereo mixes or separate feeds for streaming, recording, or communications
• Apply EQ, compression, noise gating and effects to individual sources before they reach the recorder or broadcast

First steps after installation

1. Launch Voicemeeter and open the Menu in the top-left to access program settings.
2. To have Voicemeeter open automatically with Windows, enable the Run at Startup / System Tray option.
3. Learn the layout: left-hand columns are hardware inputs, middle columns are virtual inputs, and the right-hand area contains master outputs and hardware outputs.
4. If you plan to use VB-Cable, install it and choose it as an output device in the application you want to route.

Input channels and signal shaping

• The first several columns are for physical inputs (microphones, line-in devices). Click the input label to pick the hardware device to use.
• Below each input you’ll find Intellipan (quick EQ/character controls), Audibility tools (compression and noise gate), and slots for special or external FX. Right-clicking in Intellipan cycles through different tonal shapes.
• The bottom of each channel has the level meter and gain fader. Use the meter to visually set the peak level and drag the yellow limit indicator down to reduce the maximum permitted level if needed. Note that this limiter works independently from the noise gate and compression controls above.

Routing a browser or app through the virtual cable

• In the Voicemeeter input column you’re using for the browser (or other app), choose the VB-Cable device from the device selection menu.
• Open Windows Sound Settings, then open Advanced sound options (App volume and device preferences).
• Play audio in the browser, and in the app’s output dropdown select the VB-Cable device so that browser sound is routed into Voicemeeter.
• Once the audio is flowing, you can process, mix, and route it like any other input channel.

Tools and hardware that complement Voicemeeter

• Reaper — a full DAW often used to record or edit multi-track sessions fed from Voicemeeter
• Audacity — a free editor for quick edits and exports of recorded audio
• Equalizer APO — a system-wide EQ that can be used alongside Voicemeeter for additional tonal shaping
• GoXLR — a hardware mixing console with routing features for streamers as a physical alternative to virtual mixing

Choosing between Banana and Potato, and donation perks

Banana and Potato share the same basic workflow; Potato simply provides more channels, buses, and advanced options for larger setups. Many users also install VB-Cable and support the developer with a donation — doing so can unlock extra virtual inputs/outputs in the cable package and helps fund continued development and updates.

Maintenance, updates and support

Voicemeeter is distributed without ads and relies on community support. If you find the software valuable, consider contributing through the developer’s donation options to help sustain new releases and improvements.