Dual PC Mixer Audio Setup for OBS Studio

Managing audio in a dual-PC streaming setup can be challenging, but using a physical mixer provides unparalleled, real-time control over your sound levels. This guide explains the best way to route your gaming and streaming audio through a physical mixer into OBS Studio, ensuring zero-latency monitoring, clear microphone input, and seamless separation of your audio tracks without ground loop buzz.

1. Connect the Gaming PC to the Mixer

To get your game sound, discord, and system alerts into the mixer, you must run an audio output from your Gaming PC. * Analogue Connection: Run a 3.5mm auxiliary cable from the green speaker port (line out) of your Gaming PC into a stereo input channel on your mixer (using a 3.5mm to dual 1/4-inch Y-cable). * Prevent Noise: Install a ground loop isolator inline on this auxiliary cable. Dual-PC setups are highly prone to electrical buzzing caused by ground loops; this inexpensive adapter eliminates that interference. * Digital Connection (Optional): If your mixer supports multi-channel USB audio (like a GoXLR or Rodecaster Pro), connect the mixer directly to the Gaming PC via USB and assign your system audio to the appropriate physical faders.

2. Connect Your Microphone

To ensure zero-latency monitoring of your own voice, your microphone should plug directly into the mixer rather than either PC. * Plug your XLR microphone into Channel 1 of your mixer. * Adjust the gain so your voice peaks in the green/yellow zone on the mixer’s LED meter. * Engage phantom power (+48V) if you are using a condenser microphone.

3. Route the Mixer Output to the Streaming PC

Now you must send the combined audio mix (microphone, game sound, and alerts) from the mixer into your Streaming PC for OBS to capture. * Via USB: If using a USB-enabled mixer, connect the USB cable from the mixer to the Streaming PC. This will send the master mix digitally. * Via Analogue: Run an audio cable from the mixer’s “Main Out,” “Tape Out,” or “Line Out” into the Streaming PC’s Line-In port (usually the blue port on the motherboard’s rear I/O). Avoid using the microphone port (pink port), as it introduces noise. Use another ground loop isolator on this line.

4. Configure Audio in OBS Studio

Once the physical connections are secure, you must configure OBS Studio on your Streaming PC to receive the single master audio feed. 1. Open OBS Studio on your Streaming PC. 2. Go to Settings > Audio. 3. Under Global Audio Devices, set Desktop Audio and all other devices to Disabled to prevent duplicate audio tracks and echoing. 4. Set Mic/Auxiliary Audio to the input device connected to your mixer (either the USB audio interface of your mixer or the “Line In” of your Streaming PC’s soundcard). 5. Click Apply and OK.

5. Handle the Discord “Mix-Minus” (Optional)

If you chat on Discord on your Gaming PC, your teammates will hear themselves echo if you send your master mixer output back to them. To prevent this, use a Mix-Minus setup. * Use an auxiliary send (AUX Send / FX Send) channel on your mixer. * Route all audio except the Discord incoming audio to this AUX Send channel. * Run a physical cable from the AUX Send port of the mixer back to the Line-In port of your Gaming PC. Set this Line-In as your input device in Discord.