How to exclude any Audio off your Stream using the Stereomix

To achieve this we need three things:

• an onboard Sound Chip that can split its front and back audio ports into seperate Channels
  OR a secondary Soundcard
• a working Stereo Mixer (installed with the drivers of the soundchip or soundcard)
• Windows 7 or a similar OS that has the "Listen to" function

If your setup lacks one or more of the above mentioned things, please check Guide 2.

First of all we need to make sure the Front and Back Audio Ports of your Soundcard are split:
(Using a second soundcard? You can go to the next Step)

VIA Control Panel (might look different on your system)


Realtek Control Panel (ASUS style, might look different on your system)

Next we want to make sure you can see all Audio devices in your Windows System. So please open the control panel and then the Sound options:

For the moment we want to see all disabled and disconnected Devices. Later on you can deactivate both checkmarks. Similar to my example picture you should have a 2nd output device (Realtek or VIA) that might be disabled at the moment, please enable it. If your using the 2 soundcard setup, both activate both if one is deactivated. You can also deactivate those devices you wont be using anyway. In my case I disabled the Digital Output and the SPDIF Output.


Now lets switch to the Recording tab, activate the Stereomix if it is disabled. On some driver/chip versions it can be necessary to make the Stereomix the default device. Easiest way to test this is to play some music through your Main Speakers (check the Playback tab to check the correct Output is selected, the Stereomix will receive the Audio of the primary Input of the same soundchip, in my case the Speaker Realtek High Definition Audio) and then watch the Stereomix volume indicator:

(If the playback volume indicator shows green lines but the Stereomix doesnt, check the Volume of the Stereomix, select its properties and the Levels tab, put its Volume up to 100%. Still no volume indicator movement? Set the Stereomix to be the Default Device)

Stereomix still not working? Sorry, then you have to google or check Guide 2 and use Virtual Audio cable.

Assuming the Stereomix is working fine we can now activate its "Listen to" feature and send our Audio to our Headset. At this point the setup differs a bit, you either way have to select your Secondary Output. Let it be the secondary Soundcard(for example USB PnP Sound Device) or the split Output of your Soundchip(for example Realtek HD Output 2nd Output).

• Assuming you use a normal Headset, connect it to the front-connectors of your Case (if you dont use them already) and select the Realtek HD Audio 2nd output, you should now hear music on your headset while you still play it through your Speakers (1st output). Sometimes the Windows Listen to feature needs one reboot to work, but in most cases this wasn´t necessary.
• Assuming you use an USB Headset, select it in the dropdown, in my Case its called Lautsprecher (USB PnP Sound Device). Again you should now hear music on your headset while you still play it through your Speakers (1st output). Sometimes the Windows Listen to feature needs one reboot to work, but in most cases this wasn´t necessary.

Now we are ready to exclude sound off our stream. Remember most streaming software hooks to your Windows Standard Audio Device and records this sound, and nothing else. This means, in Teamspeak/Mumble/Skype for example you can select your 2nd Output/USB Headset as the desired output device. XSplit/OBS/FFSplit wont pick up your mates talking anymore. Foobar/Winamp and most Video players offer the option to choose the output as well.

Teamspeak example

Foobar example

Media Player Classic example

You wont be able to exclude Browser sounds for example Grooveshark or Spotify, at least not with some work. For this final peace of complete freedom you will either need an external Mixer or use Virtual Audio Cable.