Can I virtually mix audio outputs?

[Spork829]

Hi everyone! I'm a musician using Reaper for some amateur recording and mixing, as well as guitar amp/cabinet simulation so I can practice silently.

I've discovered that when using ASIO within Reaper, to connect my interface, it takes full control of the sound within Windows. This means no other sound can play through Windows while Reaper is open. I would love to solve this so that I can play to backing tracks, talk to friends while I mix, etc.

 

 

I was thinking that a solution would be a virtual mixer for outputs within Windows. Reaper can be set to any of my physical outputs, not just what Windows itself is set to. This means I can set Windows to my headphones, and Reaper to my laptop's speakers, and they can both work simultaneously. Is there a way within software (rather than buying a physical mixer) that I could route one output into another, so it could all come through one physical source? I've found some software mixers, but they all appear to only be for inputs.

 

 

If this isn't possible, I'd love to hear any other suggestions for fixing my issue. Thanks!

[williamcll]

Would audacity work?

[kirashi]

1 hour ago, Spork829 said:

Hi everyone! I'm a musician using Reaper for some amateur recording and mixing, as well as guitar amp/cabinet simulation so I can practice silently.

I've discovered that when using ASIO within Reaper, to connect my interface, it takes full control of the sound within Windows. This means no other sound can play through Windows while Reaper is open. I would love to solve this so that I can play to backing tracks, talk to friends while I mix, etc.

I was thinking that a solution would be a virtual mixer for outputs within Windows. Reaper can be set to any of my physical outputs, not just what Windows itself is set to. This means I can set Windows to my headphones, and Reaper to my laptop's speakers, and they can both work simultaneously. Is there a way within software (rather than buying a physical mixer) that I could route one output into another, so it could all come through one physical source? I've found some software mixers, but they all appear to only be for inputs.

If this isn't possible, I'd love to hear any other suggestions for fixing my issue. Thanks!

Voicemeeter Banana or Potato will provide virtual inputs & outputs. It doesn't beat a hardware mixer, but it's proly the best free virtual mixer out there.

[Spork829]

52 minutes ago, williamcll said:

Would audacity work?

Don't think so, unless there's a way to route one output through it to another, but I think it would be tied to Windows.

[Spork829]

7 minutes ago, kirashi said:

Voicemeeter Banana or Potato will provide virtual inputs & outputs. It doesn't beat a hardware mixer, but it's proly the best free virtual mixer out there.

So I tried voicemeeter, but as far as I could tell, it can only mix hardware inputs. Is it capable of mixing one hardware output into another?

[kirashi]

22 minutes ago, Spork829 said:

So I tried voicemeeter, but as far as I could tell, it can only mix hardware inputs. Is it capable of mixing one hardware output into another?

In theory it should be able to send one of its' outputs to another of its' inputs, but I've never tried this.

[mononymous]

7 hours ago, Spork829 said:

So I tried voicemeeter, but as far as I could tell, it can only mix hardware inputs. Is it capable of mixing one hardware output into another?

Voicemeeter Potato user here, I add that functionality using their Virtual Audio Cables as well as the per-app sound preference setting in Windows. 

 

For instance I can have a music player that is piping to OBS, a web meeting and headphones at the same time while being able to control which output is on.