How to Setup GoXLR with OBS Studio

Integrating a GoXLR audio mixer with OBS Studio allows content creators to achieve professional-grade control over their stream’s audio levels. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough to seamlessly connect your GoXLR hardware, configure the GoXLR routing App, adjust Windows sound settings, and set up your audio sources within OBS Studio for both single-track and multi-track recording.

Step 1: Configure Windows Sound Settings

Before launching OBS Studio, you must ensure Windows is sending audio to the correct GoXLR virtual channels.

  1. Right-click the speaker icon in your Windows system tray and select Sound settings.
  2. Under Output, set your default device to System (TC-Helicon GoXLR).
  3. Under Input, set your default device to Chat Mic (TC-Helicon GoXLR).
  4. Open your communication apps (like Discord) and set their output device to Chat (TC-Helicon GoXLR) and input device to Chat Mic (TC-Helicon GoXLR).

Step 2: Configure the GoXLR App Routing Table

The GoXLR App determines where your audio signals are sent. To ensure OBS Studio receives the correct signals:

  1. Open the GoXLR App and navigate to the Routing tab.
  2. Locate the Broadcast Stream Mix column. This column represents the combined mix of all audio you want your viewers to hear.
  3. Check the boxes in the Broadcast Stream Mix column for all sources you want on stream (e.g., Microphone, System, Music, Chat, and Console).
  4. Ensure Mic is checked under the Chat Mic column so your friends in Discord can hear you.

Step 3: Configure OBS Studio Global Audio

To prevent audio duplication and echo, you must disable the default global audio devices in OBS Studio.

  1. Open OBS Studio and click on Settings (bottom right).
  2. Navigate to the Audio tab.
  3. Under the Global Audio Devices section, set all devices (Desktop Audio, Desktop Audio 2, Mic/Auxiliary Audio) to Disabled.
  4. Click Apply.

Step 4: Add GoXLR Sources to OBS Studio

You can now choose between two methods to bring your GoXLR audio into OBS.

Method A: The Single-Track Method (Simple Setup)

This method sends your entire GoXLR mix to OBS as a single audio source.

  1. In the OBS Sources dock, click the + (Add) icon and select Audio Input Capture.
  2. Name the source GoXLR Stream Mix and click OK.
  3. In the Device dropdown menu, select Broadcast Stream Mix (TC-Helicon GoXLR).
  4. Click OK.

Method B: The Multi-Track Method (Advanced Control)

This method allows you to control individual audio channels (like Mic, Game, and Music) independently in OBS, which is essential for splitting audio tracks for Twitch VODs or YouTube video editing.

  1. In the OBS Sources dock, click the + icon and select Audio Input Capture.
  2. Name this source GoXLR Mic and select Chat Mic (TC-Helicon GoXLR) as the device.
  3. Click + again, select Audio Output Capture, name it GoXLR System, and select System (TC-Helicon GoXLR) as the device.
  4. Repeat this process for other channels you want to control individually in OBS, such as Music (TC-Helicon GoXLR) or Game (TC-Helicon GoXLR).

Step 5: Test and Adjust

With your sources added, speak into your microphone and play some music to verify that the green level meters in the OBS Audio Mixer dock are moving. Use the physical faders on your GoXLR hardware to adjust the volume levels in real-time, ensuring your microphone sits in the “yellow” zone of the OBS meter for optimal streaming volume.