Whether you’re a streamer or a passionate gamer, you’ve probably asked yourself how you can get sound from your gaming PC to your streaming PC. Thankfully, modern software and hardware makes it easy to transfer your audio from both desktops. Here’s all you need to know.
Using Advanced Audio Midi Setup (AMM)
One of the simplest, yet most effective tools to use for transferring audio from a gaming PC to a streaming PC is Advanced Audio Midi Setup (AMM). It’s a free download for Windows 10 and macOS, allowing you to ‘aggregate’ multiple audio inputs into one output. You can essentially ‘echo’ the sound you’re hearing on one computer to another.
To get started, set up both your gaming and streaming PCs so they’re connected to the same Wifi or Ethernet. You can do this with a concrete router, or simply a ‘hotspot’ that you’ll need to create from one of the computers.
Install AMM on both computers and launch it. On the output side, select the ‘aggregate device.’ This is the PC receiving the audio. Then, on the streaming PC, select the gaming PC’s audio connection.
You’ll need to make sure this connection is kept alive while you’re streaming or gaming. You can do so by selecting ‘use this device’ in the building menu.
It’s key to ensure the gaming PC’s output connection is activated via AMM. If it’s not, double-click the icon in the menu and select ‘enable’.
Using Audio Mixing Console
Aside from AMM, streaming experts also favour another way of getting sound from a gaming PC to a streaming PC — Audio Mixing Console. This is specifically dedicated to capturing audio from one computer and sending it to another.
You’ll need to download the program on both PCs and follow the instructions for installation. Once complete, you’ll be able to access Audio Mixing Console on both computers, with separate menus for each.
On the streaming PC, open up its menu and select theGaming PC’s audio. When transferring audio, select whether you’d like the sound sent to your streaming PC, or broadcast directly to your stream.
The other benefit of Audio Mixing Console is that it allows you the opportunity of adding multiple audio inputs. This is ideal for those who stream using audio sources other than their gaming PC, such as external microphones.
When creating or managing your audio sources, you can use a mute feature which will let you hear sounds on both PCs without broadcasting it. This is especially useful for those who wish to record their audio with sound effects.
It’s important to remember that you do not alter any hardware settings when using Audio Mixing Console. This includes speaker output, bit depth, and so on.
Using Soundflower
In addition to AMM and Audio Mixing Console, streamers also use Soundflower for transferring audio from a gaming PC to a streaming PC. Soundflower is a free and open-source audio application for macOS with powerful routing tools.
The program allows you to create virtual output or input channels, which you can use to transfer your audio between both desktops. You can also use Soundflower to create multi-output devices, which can be used to capture multiple audio inputs at once.
To get started, install the program on both PCs, and follow the instructions for setup. Then, open up the program’s menu and select your gaming PC’s audio output. Then, on the streaming PC, select the virtual output that Soundflower has created.
It’s important to note that Soundflower is limited in regards to controlling audio sources. This means it’s not ideal for adding other audio inputs, such as external microphones.
Soundflower is also available for Windows and Linux, but macOS is still considered the most reliable option for streaming.
Using Audio over Ethernet
Professional streamers also use audio over Ethernet for transmitting music from one computer to another. What this does is direct the audio signal from both PCs to one destination.
You’ll need to purchase a specific audio over Ethernet adapter, and install it on both PCs. This piece of hardware will then allow you to configure connections between both machines.
The key benefit to using audio over Ethernet is that you can send audio signals at high quality, without having to worry about any latency or dropouts.
What’s also great is that you can use audio over Ethernet with multiple devices, such as speakers and microphones. This allows you to capture audio from multiple sources and send it directly to your streaming PC.
However, it’s important to note that audio over Ethernet requires a dedicated speaker to transfer the audio signal. Be sure to purchase one before setting up your audio transfer.
Using a Speaker
One of the cheapest, and easiest ways to transfer audio from a gaming PC to streaming PC is a speaker. All you’ll need to do is connect a speaker to the gaming PC’s audio output, and set up a microphone near the speaker.
The microphone will then capture all audio from your gaming PC, allowing you to transfer it directly to your streaming PC. Make sure to set up a strong connection between the two devices so that the audio is heard clearly.
Also, it’s worth noting that the quality of your audio will be dependent on the quality of your speaker. Be sure to invest in a good one, as the audio from your gaming PC will sound muffled if it’s too low-end.
It’s also important to remember that you’ll need to provide extra power for your speaker, so be sure have enough available.
Using a Mixer
Finally, some streamers also opt to use a mixer to get sound from one computer to another. This is ideal for those who wish to record audio on their gaming and streaming PCs simultaneously.
When using a mixer, the audio signal is sent from both computers via an audio cable. This will require you to purchase a particular cord and run it directly from your gaming PC to the mixer. Then, the audio signal is sent from the mixer to the streaming PC.
The great thing about a mixer is that you can use it with multiple speakers and microphones. This makes it ideal for recording multiple audio sources and transferring them to the streaming PC. From there, you can then process the audio as needed.
Mixers are often considered complex pieces of equipment, so if you’re a beginner, we advise doing your research before setting one up. That way, you can make sure you’re familiar with all the features and functions.
To summarise, there are many ways to get sound from a gaming PC to a streaming PC. Depending on your specific needs, you can use Bluetooth, audio over Ethernet, third-party software, or even a speaker. Whichever method you choose, be sure to keep your audio setup as clean and simple as possible. This will ensure you have a hassle-free transfer between both desktop computers.
