How to Fix Voicemeeter Output Device Not Working
How to Fix Voicemeeter Output Device Not Working
Voicemeeter is a popular virtual audio mixer application that allows you to manage and mix multiple audio sources from or to any audio devices or applications. It is a powerful tool for streamers, podcasters, musicians, gamers, and anyone who wants to have more control over their audio. However, sometimes you may encounter a problem where your Voicemeeter output device is not working properly. This can result in no sound, distorted sound, crackling sound, or other audio issues that can ruin your experience. In this article, we will show you how to fix Voicemeeter output device not working by following some simple troubleshooting steps. We will also provide some tips on how to prevent this problem from happening again in the future.
Voicemeeter Output Device Not Workingl
What is Voicemeeter and why use it?
Voicemeeter is a virtual mixing console that can handle up to three physical and three virtual audio inputs and outputs through two busses A & B. It works as a virtual audio device that can be used as the main audio device by your system, like a hardware mixing console. It supports all audio interfaces such as MME, Direct-X, KS, WaveRT, WASAPI, and ASIO. It also comes with various DSP algorithms from VB-Audio that let you control the sound as you want.Some of the reasons why you may want to use Voicemeeter are:
You can mix and route different audio sources from or to any audio devices or applications, such as your microphone, speakers, headphones, music player, browser, game, streaming software, etc.
You can apply various effects and filters to your audio, such as EQ, compression, reverb, noise gate, etc., to enhance the sound quality and clarity.
You can adjust the volume and balance of each audio source independently, and create different audio profiles for different scenarios.
You can record or stream your audio with high quality and low latency, and avoid any audio feedback or echo issues.
You can use Voicemeeter with other VB-Audio software, such as Virtual Audio Cable, Voicemeeter Banana, Voicemeeter Potato, VBAN Receptor, etc., to expand your audio capabilities and possibilities.
Voicemeeter is a free donationware that you can download from the official website. It is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 (32/64 bits). It is easy to install and use, and it comes with a user manual and video tutorials to help you get started.
What are the possible causes of Voicemeeter output device not working?
There are many possible causes of Voicemeeter output device not working. Some of the most common ones are:
Your Windows system has been updated or changed recently, and this may have affected your audio settings or drivers.
Your audio drivers are outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with your system or Voicemeeter.
Your audio settings in Windows or Voicemeeter are incorrect or mismatched with your audio devices or applications.
Your Voicemeeter buffer settings are too high or too low, and this may cause audio glitches or dropouts.
Your Voicemeeter or your computer has been running for a long time without restarting, and this may cause memory leaks or performance issues.
Fortunately, most of these problems can be fixed easily by following some simple troubleshooting steps. Let's see how to do that in the next section.
How to troubleshoot Voicemeeter output device not working?
Check your audio devices and settings
The first thing you should do is to check your audio devices and settings in Windows and Voicemeeter, and make sure they are configured correctly. Here are the steps to do that:
Right-click on the speaker icon on the bottom right corner of your screen, and select Open Sound settings.
In the Sound window that opens, make sure that your main output device (A1) is selected as the Output device. This is the device that you want to hear your sound from. You can also select another output device (A2 or A3) as the Output device if you want to hear your sound from multiple devices at the same time.
In the same window, make sure that your main input device (such as your microphone) is selected as the Input device. This is the device that you want to use as your sound source. You can also select another input device (such as a virtual cable) as the Input device if you want to use another sound source.
In the same window, click on Device properties for both your output and input devices. In the Device properties window that opens, make sure that the Volume slider is not muted or too low. You can also adjust the Balanc e slider to adjust the left and right channels of your sound. You can also change the Device name if you want to rename your device.
In the same window, click on Additional device properties for both your output and input devices. In the Properties window that opens, go to the Advanced tab, and make sure that the Default Format is set to the same sample rate and bit depth as your Voicemeeter settings. For example, if your Voicemeeter settings are 48000 Hz and 24 bits, then your Windows settings should be the same. You can also uncheck the Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device option if you want to prevent other applications from interfering with your audio.
Close the Sound window, and open Voicemeeter. In the Voicemeeter window, make sure that your main output device (A1) is selected as the HARDWARE OUT device. This is the device that Voicemeeter will use as its main audio output. You can also select another output device (A2 or A3) as the HARDWARE OUT device if you want to use another audio output. You can also select the type of audio interface for each output device, such as WDM, KS, MME, ASIO, etc., depending on your preference and compatibility.
In the same window, make sure that your main input device (such as your microphone) is selected as the HARDWARE INPUT 1 device. This is the device that Voicemeeter will use as its main audio input. You can also select another input device (such as a virtual cable) as the HARDWARE INPUT 2 or HARDWARE INPUT 3 device if you want to use another audio input. You can also select the type of audio interface for each input device, such as WDM, KS, MME, ASIO, etc., depending on your preference and compatibility.
In the same window, make sure that the volume and balance sliders for each audio source are not muted or too low. You can also adjust the gain, EQ, compression, noise gate, and other effects for each audio source by clicking on the corresponding buttons.
In the same window, make sure that the volume and balance sliders for each audio output are not muted or too low. You can also adjust the master volume and EQ for each audio output by clicking on the corresponding buttons.
In the same window, make sure that the routing matrix is set correctly for each audio source and output. The routing matrix is the area where you can see A1, A2, A3, B1, and B2 buttons for each audio source. By clicking on these buttons, you can decide which audio source goes to which audio output. For example, if you want to hear your microphone on your speakers (A1), then you need to click on the A1 button under HARDWARE INPUT 1. If you want to send your music player to your streaming software (B1), then you need to click on the B1 button under VIRTUAL INPUT 1.
In the same window, make sure that your Voicemeeter settings are set correctly for your system and devices. You can access your Voicemeeter settings by clicking on the MENU button on the top right corner of the window. In the MENU window that opens, you can change various settings such as sample rate, bit depth, buffer size, engine mode, system tray options, etc., depending on your preference and compatibility.
If you have checked and adjusted all these settings and devices, then you should be able to hear and use your Voicemeeter output device without any problems. If not, then you may need to try some other troubleshooting steps in the next sections.
Update or reinstall your audio drivers
Another possible cause of Voicemeeter output device not working is that your audio drivers are outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with your system or Voicemeeter. Audio drivers are software components that allow your system and applications to communicate with your audio devices. If they are not working properly, then you may experience various audio issues such as no sound, distorted sound, crackling sound, etc. Therefore, it is important to keep your audio drivers updated and working properly.
To update or reinstall your audio drivers, you can follow these steps:
Right-click on the Start button on the bottom left corner of your screen, and select Device Manager.
In the Device Manager window that opens, expand the Sound, video and game controllers category, and find your main output device (A1) and your main input device (such as your microphone). Right-click on each device, and select Update driver.
In the Update driver window that opens, select Search automatically for updated driver software. This will allow Windows to search for and install the latest driver for your device. If Windows cannot find a new driver, you can also try to search for it on the manufacturer's website or on other sources.
If updating the driver does not work, you can also try to reinstall the driver. To do that, right-click on each device again, and select Uninstall device. This will remove the driver from your system. Then, restart your computer, and Windows will automatically reinstall the driver for your device.
After updating or reinstalling your audio drivers, you should check if your Voicemeeter output device is working properly. If not, then you may need to try some other troubleshooting steps in the next sections.
Adjust your Voicemeeter buffer settings
Another possible cause of Voicemeeter output device not working is that your Voicemeeter buffer settings are too high or too low. The buffer settings determine how much audio data is stored in memory before being processed by Voicemeeter. If the buffer settings are too high, then you may experience audio latency or delay. If the buffer settings are too low, then you may experience audio glitches or dropouts. Therefore, it is important to adjust your Voicemeeter buffer settings to match your system and devices.
To adjust your Voicemeeter buffer settings, you can follow these steps:
Open Voicemeeter, and click on the MENU button on the top right corner of the window.
In the MENU window that opens, click on System Settings / Options.
In the System Settings / Options window that opens, go to the Buffering ASIO / WDM / KS / MME section. Here you can see and change the buffer size for each type of audio interface. The buffer size is measured in samples or milliseconds (ms).
The optimal buffer size depends on various factors such as your system performance, audio interface type, sample rate, bit depth, etc. Generally speaking, a lower buffer size means lower latency but higher CPU usage and risk of audio glitches. A higher buffer size means higher latency but lower CPU usage and risk of audio dropouts. You may need to experiment with different buffer sizes until you find the best balance for your system and devices.
A good starting point is to set the buffer size to 256 samples or 5 ms for WDM devices, 512 samples or 10 ms for KS devices, 1024 samples or 20 ms for MME devices, and 128 samples or 3 ms for ASIO devices. You can also use the AUTO option to let Voicemeeter choose the best buffer size for each device automatically.
If you change any of the buffer settings, you need to restart Voicemeeter for the changes to take effect. To do that, click on the MENU button again, and select Restart Audio Engine.
After adjusting your Voicemeeter buffer settings, you should check if your Voicemeeter output device is working properly. If not, then you may need to try some other troubleshooting steps in the next sections.
Restart your Voicemeeter or your computer
The last possible cause of Voicemeeter output device not working is that your Voicemeeter or your computer has been running for a long time without restarting. This may cause memory leaks or performance issues that can affect your audio quality and stability. Therefore, it is recommended to restart your Voicemeeter or your computer regularly to clear any potential problems.
To restart your Voicemeeter, you can follow these steps:
Open Voicemeeter, and click on the MENU button on the top right corner of the window.
In the MENU window that opens, select Exit. This will close Voicemeeter completely.
To reopen Voicemeeter, go to the Start menu or desktop shortcut, and launch Voicemeeter again.
To restart your computer, you can follow these steps:
Save any work or files that you have open on your computer.
Go to the Start button on the bottom left corner of your screen, and select Power.
In the Power menu that opens, select Restart. This will restart your computer.
After restarting your Voicemeeter or your computer, you should check if your Voicemeeter output device is working properly. If not, then you may need to contact the Voicemeeter support team or the VB-Audio forum for further help or information.
How to prevent Voicemeeter output device not working in the future?
Now that you have fixed your Voicemeeter output device not working problem, you may want to prevent it from happening again in the future. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Keep your system and drivers updated. Windows updates and driver updates can sometimes fix audio issues or improve audio performance and compatibility. You can check for updates manually or enable automatic updates in your system settings.
Avoid unnecessary changes in audio settings. Changing your audio settings in Windows or Voicemeeter can sometimes cause audio issues or conflicts. If you need to change your audio settings, make sure to test them before applying them, and revert them if they cause any problems.
Backup your Voicemeeter settings. Voicemeeter allows you to save and load your settings as XML files. This can help you restore your settings in case of any problems or errors. You can access this feature by clicking on the MENU button and selecting Save Settings or Load Settings.
Use a stable and compatible audio interface. Some audio interfaces may not work well with Voicemeeter or your system, and cause audio issues or errors. You can check the compatibility of your audio interface with Voicemeeter by visiting the VB-Audio website or forum, or by contacting the manufacturer of your audio interface.
Use a reliable and fast internet connection. If you are using Voicemeeter for streaming or recording online, you need a good internet connection to avoid any audio lag or dropouts. You can check your internet speed and stability by using online tools such as Speedtest.net or Pingtest.net.
By following these tips, you can prevent Voicemeeter output device not working in the future, and enjoy a smooth and flawless audio experience.
Conclusion
Voicemeeter is a great virtual audio mixer application that can help you manage and mix multiple audio sources from or to any audio devices or applications. However, sometimes you may encounter a problem where your Voicemeeter output device is not working properly. This can result in no sound, distorted sound, crackling sound, or other audio issues that can ruin your experience. In this article, we have shown you how to fix Voicemeeter output device not working by following some simple troubleshooting steps. We have also provided some tips on how to prevent this problem from happening again in the future.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
What are some alternatives to Voicemeeter?
If you are looking for some alternatives to Voicemeeter, here are some examples of other virtual audio mixer applications that you can try:
Soundflower: Soundflower is a free and open-source virtual audio device that allows you to route audio between applications on Mac OS X. It is simple and easy to use, but it has limited features and compatibility.
JACK Audio Connection Kit: JACK Audio Connection Kit is a free and open-source virtual audio system that allows you to connect and route audio between applications on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and other platforms. It is powerful and flexible, but it has a steep learning curve and requires some technical knowledge.
Virtual Audio Cable: Virtual Audio Cable is a paid virtual audio device that allows you to create virtual audio cables between applications on Windows. It is versatile and reliable, but it has a complex interface and configuration.
How can I use Voicemeeter with OBS Studio?
If you want to use Voicemeeter with OBS Studio, a popular streaming and recording software, here are some steps on how to do that:
Open Voicemeeter, and select your main output device (A1) as the HARDWARE OUT device. This is the device that you want to hear your sound from.
In the same window, select your main input device (such as your microphone) as the HARDWARE INPUT 1 device. This is the device that you want to use as your sound source.
In the same window, select the B1 button under HARDWARE INPUT 1. This will send your microphone sound to the virtual output B1, which you will use as your audio input in OBS Studio.
In the same window, select the B1 button under VIRTUAL INPUT 1. This will send your desktop sound (such as your game, music, browser, etc.) to the virtual output B1, which you will also use as your audio input in OBS Studio.
Open OBS Studio, and go to the Settings menu.
In the Settings window that opens, go to the Audio tab, and select Voicemeeter Output (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO) as the Mic/Auxiliary Audio Device. This is the virtual output B1 that you have set up in Voicemeeter.
In the same window, make sure that the Desktop Audio Device is disabled. You don't need it because you are already sending your desktop sound to Voicemeeter.
In the same window, click on Apply and OK.
In the main OBS Studio window, you should see a green bar moving under Mic/