Voicemeeter Banana Getting Started Tutorial: Complete Guide

When multiple applications fight over the same sound channel in Windows, echoes, duplicate audio, or awkward silences begin; Voicemeeter Banana allows you to centralize and separate all audio sources from the PC as if you had one studio mixing console, but in software version.

This guide takes you from scratch to install, understand and configure input/output routing, use VB-Cable as “virtual cables”, and polish your microphone with real-time effects. It's designed to streaming, video calls, games and any situation where you need fine control of voices, music and systems, with Practical tips to avoid latency, echo, and unwanted mixing.

What is Voicemeeter Banana and how does VB-Cable fit in?

Voicemeeter Banana is the extended version of the popular VB-Audio virtual mixer that combines physical inputs and outputs with virtual channels, allowing you to decide what each application hears and where it is played or “injected” as a microphone.

In the VB-Audio ecosystem, VB-Cable stands out, a virtual audio device that adds CABLE Input (playback) and CABLE Output (recording); what you play into the CABLE Input appears as if it were a microphone on the CABLE Output, ideal for mixing or isolating sources between programs.

Voicemeeter integrates that concept and takes it further with multiple buses. In Banana you'll have two virtual tickets (to separate, for example, games and browser) and two virtual exits (B1 and B2), in addition to physical channels. This is how you get Independent control of music, chat, games and microphone, all in the same window.

The software is distributed as donationware: It works completely without paying, but prompts you to donate after a few days. If you find it useful, please consider supporting the developer because the value it brings to PC audio is enormous.

Available versions: normal, Banana and Potato

There are three editions: the basic one, Banana (the main theme of this guide), and Potato. In the standard one, you'll find 2 tickets of hardware, 1 virtual; 1 hardware output and 1 virtual, enough to get started and improve the microphone with essential controls.

Voicemeeter Banana expands the dashboard with 3 hardware inputs, 2 software inputs (two virtual buses to separate applications), and 3 hardware outputs plus 2 virtual outputs, and includes 8-channel integrated recorder and VBAN network with 8 in/8 out.

Potato raises the bar for demanding environments: up to 8 inputs and 8 outputs (5 hardware and 3 software), with more effects like full equalizer, reverb, denoiser and advanced compressor; it comes very close to a professional mixing console in software.

Both the regular and Banana versions are donationware; Potato requires an activation code after the trialIf you stream or need to separate a lot of sources, Banana is usually the sweet spot for capabilities and cost.

Installation, boot, and default devices in Windows

Download and install Voicemeeter from the official VB-Audio website, and also install VB-Cable if you plan to route specific apps through virtual cables. After installation, restart the pc so that Windows can correctly register new audio devices.

When you open Voicemeeter, go to Menu and activate Run on Windows Startup, so the mixer starts with the system and you won't have strange changes in the devices every time you turn on the computer.

In Windows Sound Settings, set as default playback device “VoiceMeeter Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter VAIO)”. This will input all system audio into the program's main virtual bus for mixing.

In your communication or streaming applications select as microphone “VoiceMeeter Output” (B1, or B2 if you prefer the second bus), because it will be the virtual output where you will mix your already processed voice without sending them, unless you want, the system audio.

When choosing devices in Voicemeeter, prioritizes WDM drivers on MME: they offer lower latency and better synchronization, something key if you play or do live streams in real time.

Inputs and outputs in Banana: how to think about routing

Think of Voicemeeter Banana as a table with five inputs and five outputs, three hardware (green) and two virtual (blue), and five output buses: A1, A2, A3 for physical devices and B1, B2 for virtual outputs.

On hardware inputs 1–3 you choose physical sources such as your microphone or a capture card. On two virtual tickets (VAIO and a second bus) drops system audio and whatever you route through VB-Cable or other virtual devices.

On each channel strip you can activate which buses each signal is output to with the buttons A1, A2, A3, B1 and B2. For example, brand A1 so that something can be heard in your headphones, and B1 mark if you want it to reach your “virtual microphone” to Discord/OBS.

To avoid hearing yourself in your headphones, disable the bus A on the microphone strip; and to avoid sending all the PC sound to those listening to you through B1, disable B at the main virtual entrance. With this gesture, you nip the classic "echo" and duplicate mix in the bud.

Remember: the microphone should be treated separately; music, games and browser can go together or separately according to your needs; and the A1/A2/A3 outputs allow you to whether you listen through headphones, speakers, or an external DAC simultaneously or selectively.

Hands-on setup with Discord, games, and browser

Typical scenario: You want to talk on Discord, hear the group through your headphones without their voice entering your “virtual microphone”, and also listen to music from Spotify just you, without it appearing on the stream. This is solved with selective bus routing.

In Discord, choose as microphone “VoiceMeeter Output (B1)”. As output, leave the system default device, which will be “VoiceMeeter Input (VAIO)”; so its audio enters the virtual entrance and you decide which buses to send it to.

In Voicemeeter, uncheck B1/B2 in the virtual entrance so that your contacts' voices do not travel through your virtual microphone, and leave it activated A1 (or A2) so you can hear them yourself. The result: zero echo in the chat and complete control over the group's volume.

For games and browsers, you can separate them. In Windows, go to Sound Settings → Advanced Sound Options and assign the browser to “CABLE Input” (VB-Cable). That audio will appear on the second virtual bus from Banana, independent of the rest.

Now you choose whether that browser goes to A1 (headphones), A2 (speakers) or if you also send it to B1/B2. For example, mark only A1 so that you can listen to the music but not receive it in your stream or voice chat, avoiding claims for rights or inconveniences.

Choosing drivers: WDM vs MME

When you select devices on outputs A1–A3 and hardware inputs, Voicemeeter will show you several options of the same device with labels like WDM or MME. Choose WDM because reduces latency and improves real-time stability.

Use MME only if WDM doesn't work well with a particular device; sometimes older drivers or hardware USB poorly compatible respond better with MME, but Overall WDM is the safe bet for live shows and games.

Improving your microphone: color, compression, and noise gate

The microphone is the star of streaming and meetings. At the top of the channel strip you'll find the Intellipan/Color Panel, a “sound painting” control that adjusts bass, treble, and a creative echo effect.

Moving the point to the left increases the bass, which give warmth to the timbre; towards the right you highlight the treble for more presence; and upwards you introduce a eco artistic (use it sparingly, because it also replicates ambient noise).

With right click you change to 3D Panel, useful for slightly balancing the panning if needed, although on mono vocals it's not usually critical; it works more as a fine-tuning tool than as the main effect.

In regular Voicemeeter there is the “Audibility” panel (built-in compressor/gate); in Banana that role is taken over by the compressor/noise gate dedicated. Adjust the door so that turn off the mic when you don't speak and the compressor to contain peaks when raising your voice.

If you turn up too much gain, you'll end up with clipping and distortion; keep an eye on the meter and aim for healthy levels. With the moderate compressor and some bass boost from the Color Panel, you'll achieve a voice clean and full-bodied without adding keyboard or fan noise.

Equalizer, S/M buttons and mix control

In addition to the color of the microphone, you can touch the equalizer from the virtual input to tune how your headphones/speakers sound: boost mids for clarity in vocals or attenuate highs if you are fatigued by certain frequencies.

The buttons M y S These are key shortcuts: M mutes the current strip, S solos that source and mutes the others while editing. They're perfect for pinpointing what's causing an echo or perform rapid tests of routing.

Organize the strips with descriptive names (game, browser, chat, music, microphone) so you don't get lost; mental order helps avoid mistakes like accidentally sending the system to B1 and causing others to hear your whole desk.

If you have two listening devices (headphones and speakers), split A1 and A2. You can listen to music on A2 and keep your game and chat on A1; with one click, you can switch between them without going into the Windows Control Panel. change devices.

Recording and Streaming: OBS, Streamlabs, and Banana Recorder

For OBS/Streamlabs, set your microphone to “VoiceMeeter Output (B1)” and the desktop audio as “VoiceMeeter Input”. This way they will arrive separately and you will be able to adjust levels in the OBS mixer without dragging the voice along with music.

If you want more isolation, use the second virtual bus: send, for example, the music to B2 and create a second source in OBS with “VoiceMeeter Aux Output (B2)”. This independent flow allows you to record separate tracks or mute music on VOD.

Voicemeeter Banana includes a 8-channel recorder. Use it to capture vocal samples, check levels and latency, or even multitrack without opening your DAW; it's very handy for verifying that the routed does what is expected before a live performance.

Remember to keep the program running with “Run on Windows Startup” and, if you change something major in the system, check in Windows that the default output device is still the same. VoiceMeeter Input so as not to break the chain.

VB-Cable: Isolate specific apps with a “virtual cable”

VB-Cable adds a “virtual speaker” (CABLE Input) and a “virtual microphone” (CABLE Output) to your system. Everything played on the Input is output through the Output, so It is perfect for redirecting specific programs within Voicemeeter.

Practical example: send the browser to CABLE input from the advanced sound options in Windows. In Voicemeeter, assign CABLE Output as source of an entry and decide whether it goes only to your headphones (A1) or also to a virtual bus (B1/B2).

This allows you, for example, to play music for yourself while streaming without the live stream or chat receiving it, or to isolate system notifications so that they never accidentally jump into the virtual mic.

If you need more routes, VB-Audio offers additional cables; the more virtual lines, the finer you can separate apps, but also increases complexity of the mix, so plan your diagram before growing.

Extra Features: VBAN and Macro Buttons

VBAN (VB-Audio Network) brings the concept of cables into the realm of local network: You can send and receive audio between devices in the same home/office without physical interfaces. It's powerful for studios, although it's a more advanced field. If you're working with streaming, apply rules of QoS for games and video calls.

The Macro Buttons They're a kind of virtual Stream Deck: assign shortcuts to mute, change buses, or load presets with a click. They're great for live performances, where you need quick actions without navigating through the whole interface.

Usage tips and common troubleshooting

If you don't hear anything after installing, check that in Windows the default output device is “VoiceMeeter Input (VAIO)” and that in Voicemeeter the A1 output points to your correct headphones/speakers with WDM driver.

If you hear double, check that the microphone is not sent to A (remove A1/A2/A3) or that you don't have "Listen to this device" activated in the Windows microphone properties; in Voicemeeter it should go to B1/B2 and, if you want monitoring, it should be controlled.

If your listeners are also receiving audio from your PC, make sure that the virtual input does not have B1/B2 activated Unless you want it that way. That's the typical reason why music or games often creep in when talking.

Latency or lag? Switch to WDMReduce the buffer if your system allows it, and avoid unstable USB devices for the main bus. A solid DAC/amp on A1 and a good dynamic mic usually improve the experience considerably.

If you are going to invest, consider improving the first microphone Rather than adding more effects, a decent gated mic with light compression in Voicemeeter performs better than trying to “rescue” a very noisy one with aggressive processing.

Banana vs. regular: When to make the jump?

If you just want to tweak the mic and have a virtual output, the regular version is fine. As soon as you need two virtual inputs/outputs For separating apps (e.g. music and games) or using the 8-channel recorder, Banana is the best choice.

For complex environments with multiple physical sources, instruments and more independent buses, or if you want advanced effects (reverb, denoiser, extended EQ), then Potato It will give you extra leeway, although it requires a license after the test.

With all the above you already have the map to master Voicemeeter Banana: install, set “Run on Windows Startup”, set “VoiceMeeter Input” as default in Windows, route the microphone only to B1 / B2, avoid sending the virtual input to B, choose WDM, use VB-Cable to isolate apps and finish with Color Panel, Compressor and Gate; this way you will get a clean mix, without echoes or duplicates, ready for streaming, gaming and video calls with a total control of each source.