Why Voicemeeter Banana for live streaming?

Among the three Voicemeeter versions, Banana is the best fit for artists on Gniark Live: enough channels to mix voice, music, and jingles without Potato-level complexity.

CapacityVoicemeeter BasicVoicemeeter Banana
Hardware inputs23
Virtual inputs1 (VAIO)2 (VAIO + AUX)
Best forVoice + 1 sourceLive, podcast, jingles

What Banana enables in your live shows

Voice + music

Mic on HARDWARE INPUT 1, Spotify or player on VAIO, both mixed to B1.

Jingle on AUX

Second audio app on AUX VAIO for intro or effects without stopping background music.

Interface + voice

HARDWARE INPUT 2 for instrument or second mic alongside the main channel.

Full system audio

Default Windows output to Voicemeeter Input to capture all PC sound.

Understanding the Banana interface

Voicemeeter Banana routes audio through inputs (left column and virtual strips) and output buses (A1, A2, B1, B2 buttons on each track):

  1. 1HARDWARE INPUT 1 to 3: physically connected mic, audio interface, or instrument.
  2. 2VIRTUAL INPUT (VAIO): first software source via Voicemeeter Input.
  3. 3VIRTUAL INPUT (AUX VAIO): second software source via Voicemeeter AUX Input (Banana/Potato only).
  4. 4Bus B1: virtual output Voicemeeter Output used as the microphone in Gniark Live. Enable B1 on every track you want in the live.
  5. 5Bus A1: local monitoring to speakers or headphones. Use carefully to avoid echo.

Install Voicemeeter Banana

  1. 1Download Voicemeeter Banana from vb-audio.com/Voicemeeter/banana.htm.
  2. 2Run the installer as administrator (right-click → Run as administrator).
  3. 3Restart Windows to register the virtual audio drivers.
  4. 4Check in Settings → Sound that Voicemeeter Input, Voicemeeter AUX Input, Voicemeeter Output, and Voicemeeter AUX Output appear.

Configure Voicemeeter Banana

1. Connect your microphone

  1. 1Open Voicemeeter Banana.
  2. 2On HARDWARE INPUT 1, select your mic (USB, jack, or audio interface).
  3. 3Enable bus B1 on this track (green button). B1 feeds Voicemeeter Output.
  4. 4Set the fader for a comfortable vocal level (watch the VU meter, avoid clipping).

2. Add music (VAIO)

  1. 1In your player (Spotify, VLC…), set Voicemeeter Input (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO) as the audio output.
  2. 2In Banana, the VIRTUAL INPUT (VAIO) strip shows the signal. Enable B1 on this channel.
  3. 3Balance voice and music with the respective faders.

3. Add a jingle or second app (AUX VAIO)

  1. 1In the second app (jingle player, sampler…), choose Voicemeeter AUX Input (VB-Audio Voicemeeter AUX VAIO) as output.
  2. 2On the VIRTUAL INPUT (AUX VAIO) strip, enable B1.
  3. 3You can preset jingle volume independently from background music.

4. Monitoring: hear your mix

To listen locally, enable A1 on the desired channels (A1 = physical output / headphones). Wear headphones during the live so the mic does not pick up your speakers.

Tip

To capture all Windows sound, set Voicemeeter Input as the default output in Settings → Sound → Output. Each app can also target VAIO or AUX VAIO individually.

Select Banana in Gniark Live

  1. 1Open your Gniark Live session and start streaming.
  2. 2Allow microphone access in the browser.
  3. 3Choose Voicemeeter Output (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO) in the audio selector.
  4. 4Speak and play music: B1 VU meters should move in Banana and audio should reach the live.
Quick check

If the live is silent: verify B1 is active on each useful track, the fader is not at minimum (-inf dB), and the browser selected Voicemeeter Output.

Solution page

This guide covers technical setup. Explore the Gniark Live commercial offering for this use case.

View solution page — Remote AV studio workflows that scale with your shoots

Frequently asked questions

Is Voicemeeter Banana free?

Yes, all features are free (careware). A donation to VB-Audio is appreciated if you use it often.

Banana or Potato for a simple live?

Banana is enough for voice + music + jingle. Potato suits advanced multi-source setups (5 hardware inputs, 3 virtual).

Windows 11 compatible?

Yes, Windows 7 through 11 (32 and 64 bit).

Voicemeeter Output missing from the browser.

Restart Windows after installation, enable the device in Settings → Sound, then restart the browser.

Echo or feedback in the live.

Disable A1 on the mic during the live or use closed-back headphones.

OBS + Gniark Live in parallel?

Yes: OBS can read Voicemeeter Virtual Input while Gniark Live uses Voicemeeter Output.

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