Question / Help Streaming/Recording audio gear upgrade. Some questions and request for recommendations.

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Nicholas Bocchi

New Member
TL;DR I stream and record on obs with multitrack audio. In order to listen to everything i am using a Virtual Mixer, but it is causing CPU issues. I think I need to buy a Mixer, but don`t know how they work. What should I buy?

I will say what I need and the setups I THINK will resolve my problem, but I don't know what equips I need or if it is even possible. In the end the questions that remain.

Keep in mind I know almost nothing about audio gear, everything I gathered was from google, but I didn't find anything that answers my questions. So I am here seeking help from you guys.
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CURRENTLY:

I stream and record with obs 3/4 different audio sources by directing the audio for 3/4 different output devices:
- Game/Desktop (sometimes the game doesn't allow to set a output device)
- Desktop
- Comms (Discord/Skype/TS)
- Music (Spotify with Equalify Plugin, allowing me to set a output device)

In adition I have the mic:
- Mic Razer Seiren Pro (Currently USB, but it has XLR option)

In order to listen everything, I run a virtual mixer (VoiceMeeter Banana), but it is too much for my CPU.


If I want to put everything into the mixer, I need at least 10 channels (4 stereo "devices" + Razer Seiren Pro 2x 3-pin XLR Cable)

Razer Seiren Pro Cable: http://prntscr.com/dr5fx5
Razer Seiren Pro Back: http://prntscr.com/dr5esd
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SETUP 1 (probably cheaper):

Mixer with 10 Channels in and at least 2 out.

What goes in the mixer:
- Game (out of PC)
- Comms (out of PC)
- Music (out of PC)
- Desktop (out of PC)
- MIC (2x 3-pin XLR cable)

What goes out the mixer into my PC:
- MIC

Phones into the mixer listening to:
- Game
- Comms
- Music
- Desktop

OBS capturing:
- Game (as PC device)
- Comms (as PC device)
- Music (as PC device)
- Desktop (as PC device)
- MIC (from Mixer)

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SETUP 2 (probably more expensive):

Mixer with 10 Channels in and 10 out.
Probably I will need an audio Interface with 10 in for PC.

What goes in the mixer:
- Game (out of PC)
- Comms (out of PC)
- Music (out of PC)
- Desktop (out of PC)
- MIC (2x 3-pin XLR cable)

What goes out the mixer and into my PC:
- Game
- Comms
- Music
- Desktop
- MIC

Phones into the mixer listening to:
- Game
- Comms
- Music
- Desktop

OBS capturing:
- Game (from Mixer)
- Comms (from Mixer)
- Music (from Mixer)
- Desktop (from Mixer)
- MIC (from Mixer)

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QUESTIONS:
1 - Is it possible to set what the phones connected to the mixer will listen? (remove only the mic)
2 - If 1 is possible; what Mixer for Setup 1 do you recommend?
3 - If 1 is possible; what Mixer and Audio Interface for Setup 2 do you recommend?
4 - If 1 is not possible; what do you recommend?
 
Fenrir

Fenrir

Forum Admin
Before spending a ton of money on a bunch of unnecessary audio gear, why don't you try upgrading your PC first? If your PC is at the point where something simple like an audio mixer is pushing it over the edge, you probably should start there first.
 
N

Nicholas Bocchi

New Member
Fenrir said:
Before spending a ton of money on a bunch of unnecessary audio gear, why don't you try upgrading your PC first? If your PC is at the point where something simple like an audio mixer is pushing it over the edge, you probably should start there first.
Click to expand...

I thought about that. I am building a filming studio right now too (will be finished in 3-4 months), so the Mixer will be needed anyways.
 
Simes

Simes

Member
It is possible, in a limited way, to adjust what the headphone output on a mixer will output compared to what the main output on a mixer will output. It depends on the mixer. You'd need to have an audio interface with multiple outputs in order for setup 1 to work and you'd still also need to adjust the levels in OBS as well because all you'd be adjusting in the mixer is the levels you're listening at. This may lead to the situation where your stream audio balance is substantially different from your headphone audio balance because you can easily adjust one but not the other.

Setup 2 requires an expensive mixer and an audio interface with multiple outputs as above (multiple audio inputs as well), adds latency and noise to your audio signals, and will still require CPU in order to drive the cards to sample all the inputs at once.

tl;dr: as Fenrir says, upgrade your PC instead. If you want to have faders at your fingertips, I believe Voicemeeter Banana can be controlled by MIDI control surfaces, that might be worth looking into.
 
N

Nicholas Bocchi

New Member
Simes said:
It is possible, in a limited way, to adjust what the headphone output on a mixer will output compared to what the main output on a mixer will output. It depends on the mixer. You'd need to have an audio interface with multiple outputs in order for setup 1 to work and you'd still also need to adjust the levels in OBS as well because all you'd be adjusting in the mixer is the levels you're listening at. This may lead to the situation where your stream audio balance is substantially different from your headphone audio balance because you can easily adjust one but not the other.

Setup 2 requires an expensive mixer and an audio interface with multiple outputs as above (multiple audio inputs as well), adds latency and noise to your audio signals, and will still require CPU in order to drive the cards to sample all the inputs at once.

tl;dr: as Fenrir says, upgrade your PC instead. If you want to have faders at your fingertips, I believe Voicemeeter Banana can be controlled by MIDI control surfaces, that might be worth looking into.
Click to expand...

Understood, my sound card have enough sound outputs for the 4 "devices", so for Setup 1 a Audio Interface won`t be needed.

Could you give me amazon links or names of Mixers and Audio interface you recommend?

If I post my Specs here, would you be able to say what PC parts I should Upgrade? I understand nothing about hardware.
 
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