How to play music through your microphone

Have you ever wondered how YouTubers and gamers talk and play music through their microphones simultaneously? You probably think you need to buy expensive software to make this happen. However, this is not necessarily true.

In this article, we will teach you how to play music through your microphone on various platforms. Additionally, we will offer recommendations on the best programs to use.

How to Play Music Through Your Microphone on Windows PC

Playing music through your microphone on a Windows PC is simple and can be achieved using software available on the Internet. We will take a look at one of the most popular programs – VoiceMeeter. In addition to that, you will also need to install a soundboard on your computer.

VoiceMeeter is a virtual audio mixer that combines multiple audio sources and sends them to different outputs. It allows you to connect multiple devices and apps to customize their inputs and outputs. You can select it as the main audio device for your system. The program is free, but if you use it for professional purposes, you will have to pay for the license.

A soundboard is a program into which you can upload your audio files.

In this method, signals from the soundboard and microphone are passed to the VoiceMeeter as input. VoiceMeeter processes the signals and plays them as outputs. Here’s how to set it up.

1. Download and install VoiceMeeter and a soundboard. We recommend using EXP soundboard.
   
2. Open Sound Settings on your Windows 10 and enable VoiceMeeter input and output under the “Recording” tab. If you can’t see it, right click and check “Show disabled devices”.
   
3. On the same tab, right-click “VoiceMeeter Output” and tap “Set as Default Device.”
   
4. Open the EXP soundboard.
   
5. Choose “VoiceMeeter Input” as the first output.
   
6. Go back to VoiceMeeter and choose your microphone as the first hardware input.
   
7. Under “Hardware Output A1” on the right side, select your speakers. By selecting this, you will be able to hear the sound coming from the microphone.
   
8. Open the Start menu, start typing “Voice Recorder” and open it. This app allows you to check if you have set everything up correctly.
   
9. Tap the microphone icon to start recording and playing any sound file on the soundboard. If it doesn’t work, go back to the sound settings and make sure “VoiceMeeter Output” is selected as “Default Device” and “Default Communication Device.”
   

How to play music through your microphone on a Mac

If you want to play music through your microphone on a Mac device, you can use QuickTime, Apple’s multimedia framework. Here’s how to do it:

1. Find QuickTime in your Applications folder and open it.
2. Tap “File.”
3. Tap “New Audio Recording.”
4. Tap the triangle in the top right corner.
5. Choose the built-in input and preferred volume.
6. Play the music.

How to play music through your microphone in Discord

If you use Discord frequently, you’ll be happy to know that you can play music through your microphone and share it with your friends and playmates.

1. Install any soundboard app.
   
2. Connect your microphone to the app and set it as default.
3. Open Control Panel and go to sound settings.
   
4. In the “Recordings” tab, enable “Stereo Mix”.
   
5. Open the Discord app and tap the gear icon to access settings.
   
6. Tap “Voice & Video.”
   
7. Under “Input Device”, choose “Stereo Mix”.
   
8. Under “Input Mode,” make sure the check mark is next to “Voice Activity.”
   
9. Change the toggle button next to “Automatically determine input sensitivity.”
   
10. Play music through your microphone.

How to play music through your microphone in a game on an Xbox

If you frequently play games on your Xbox and want to share music or sound effects with your group, you can do so by following the steps below:

1. Open Control Panel and go to sound settings.
2. In the “Recordings” tab, enable “Stereo Mix”.
3. Open the Xbox app, tap your profile photo, and then tap “Settings.”
4. Tap “Volume & Audio Output.”
5. Make sure you select the correct output.
6. Play your music.

Also, if you want background music, Xbox allows you to download music apps like Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, etc. Simply download the apps through your console and play the music through your headphones.

However, if you are streaming your game, Xbox will prevent you from playing music.

How to play music through your microphone in a game on a PS4

Like Xbox, PS4 lets you use music apps like Spotify to enjoy background music while you play. You can share your music through your microphone by configuring your Xbox settings:

1. Open your Xbox settings.
2. Tap “Share & Broadcast.”
3. Tap “Audio Sharing Settings.”
4. Make sure all three options have a check mark next to them.

It’s important to note that you won’t be able to play music on a PS4 if you’re streaming your gameplay.

How to Play Music Through Your Microphone in VRChat

There are several ways to play music through your microphone in VRChat. The easiest way is to install a program that makes it possible. We recommend using VoiceMeeter.

1. Download and install the program by visiting this Web page.
2. Open Control Panel and go to sound settings.
3. Make sure your microphone is set to default.
4. In the “Recording” tab, select “Cable Output” and open its properties.
5. Check the box next to “Listen to this device.”
6. Add an extension called Audio selection to play music on your microphone.
7. Open VRChat and make sure “Cable Out” is selected in your microphone settings.

How to play music through your microphone in GMod

If you want to play music through your microphone in Garry’s Mod (GMod), you will need to install two programs: Foobar and virtual audio cable. The latter is not free, but it is the most recommended program of its type. If you don’t want to purchase it, you can find free alternatives online.

Foobar is an audio player available for Mac, Windows and Android. It has gained popularity due to its innovative design, ease of use and variety of functions. It supports a variety of audio formats and offers numerous options for converting, resampling, and organizing files.

Virtual Audio Cable is a program that allows you to transfer an audio stream from one application to another. By using a virtual audio cable, the program transfers input from one application and sends it to another application as output. As it is a digital transfer, the sound does not lose quality. This program is not free and you will have to purchase a license if you want to use it. Fortunately, it’s a one-time purchase. Here’s how to install it.

1. Download both programs.
2. Open the virtual audio cable.
3. In “Controller parameters”, select “2”. In the same folder, find “Audio Repeater” and open it three times.
4. Open Foobar, tap “File,” and then tap “Preferences.”
5. Tap “Output” and make sure “Line 1” is selected under “Device.” Tap “Apply” and close the window.
6. Return to the three “Audio Repeater” windows. In the first window, select “Line 1” for “Enter” and “Line 2” for “Exit.”
7. In the second window, select “Microphone” under “Input” and “Line 2” under “Output.”
8. In the third window, select “Line 2” under “Input” and “Speakers” or “Headphones” under “Output.” Tap “Start.”
9. Go to sound settings in Control Panel. In the “Recordings” tab, select “Line 2” as the default device.
10. In the game, type “+voicerecord” in the developer console. Now you can play your music.

How to play music through your microphone in Rust

If you like playing Rust and want to add music to it, you will need to install three components: virtual audio cable, VoiceMeeter, and a soundboard. We recommend using EXP Soundboard.

As mentioned above, Virtual Audio Cable is a type of software that transfers inputs from one application and converts them into output for another application. Although it is not free, it is one of the most popular programs of this type. Since it requires a one-time payment, you won’t have to worry about wasting your money if you don’t use it frequently.

Rust is available on Steam, an online gaming platform. We’ll show you how to play music through your microphone by downloading the aforementioned programs and adjusting your Steam settings:

Here are the steps:

1. Download and install VoiceMeeter and EXP soundboard.
2. Go to Control Panel and open sound settings. Make sure VoiceMeeter and EXP Soundboard are enabled.
3. Set “VoiceMeeter Output” as your default device.
4. Open the EXP soundboard. Select “VoiceMeeter Input” as the first output.
5. Open VoiceMeeter. In the first hardware entry, choose your microphone.
6. Under “Hardware Output A1”, select your speakers.
7. Open Steam and make sure “VoiceMeeter Output” is selected in the input preferences.
8. Start Rust.

Music is always a good option

Learning how to play music through your microphone will allow you to enjoy your favorite songs while playing games or talking with your friends. In most cases, you will need to install additional programs that allow you to configure everything with a few clicks. Some of these programs are free, others are not. While we recommend using the most popular ones, you can always try alternatives.

Have you ever played music through your microphone? What software did you use? Tell us in the comments section below.