mixers Any advice for an overly complicated audio monitoring setup?

[Smooth and Subscribe]

Heyo

I would like to set up a real time (or close enough to real time) audio monitoring system for my partner and I to use while we're playing games together from our respective home offices.
Presently we're using a locally hosted teamspeak server, which has better latency than something like discord, but still introduces a significant delay.
I would like to set us both up with xlr microphones and mixers that allow us to monitor eachother's mics, while also sending the mic to windows so that it can be used for voip/comms with friends.
To make things even more complicated, ideally I'd like to have some level of no/low latency self-monitoring, and to "future-proof" the setup to work with a planned "stream-PC" build I intend to set up obs recording for on my end.

The attached pic is a hopefully not-too-confusing diagram of how I think it should be set up, but I'm not certain what type I gear I should be using - I have some basic knowledge of audio stuff, but not enough to feel informed enough to buy.
"Josh", "Josh PC" etc refers to me, "Jess" etc refers to my partner.
 

Should probably also note that our offices are down the hallway from eachother, so I'll need to run some cables, but I already have networking run between our offices so that shouldn't be a big deal.

 

If you have any advice, can point me to any similar setups, or have gear recommendations I'd be really grateful
I imagine this is probably the sort of thing you pay someone to plan and setup, not just expect an answer for on a forum.

So yeah, I appreciate anything and everything

Cheers

 

Edit:
Diagram was made on app.diagrams.net
If you're so inclined, here's a link to a copy of the diagram you can edit - just click the pencil icon on the bottom and it'll open in the editor.

Edited February 2, 2023 by Smooth and Subscribe
Adding context

[Blqckqut]

i feel like i exceeded my brains memory looking at this

[Kilrah]

I'd try going about it in software with Voicemeeter Potato for a start, might be good enough already.

[Smooth and Subscribe]

Just now, Kilrah said:

I'd try going about it with Voicemeeter Potato for a start, might be good enough already.

I'm using VM Banana for a few things on my PC, namely splitting programs into dedicated WDM devices to split channels out in OBS.
I'm definitely comfortable using that for the stream PC part of things, but ideally would like to handle the audio monitoring stuff in a mixer if possible, just to keep the latency as low as possible.

[Needfuldoer]

Do you have any buffering on your TeamSpeak clients and servers set to their absolute minimums?

 

I can think of a few ways you could do this, using tools like Dante Virtual Soundcard. What's your budget and how much of the hardware in your diagram do you already have?

[Smooth and Subscribe]

1 minute ago, Needfuldoer said:

Do you have any buffering on your TeamSpeak clients and servers set to their absolute minimums?

 

I can think of a few ways you could do this, using tools like Dante Virtual Soundcard. What's your budget and how much of the hardware in your diagram do you already have?

I have tried toning back my teamspeak settings, disabling encryption, lowering the opus quality etc - but I haven't done a deep dive on it, I'll have a look through the settings to see if I can cut out anything else unnecessary.

I'd never heard of DVS before, that looks pretty cool! Definitely going to look into how I could use that.
As far as the setup goes I currently only have the two Gaming PCs and headphones, but I'm willing to go "unlimited within reason" with the budget - it costs what it costs, and I'm in NZ so whatever number I cook up probably isn't going to mean much anyway.

[PDifolco]

24 minutes ago, Smooth and Subscribe said:

Heyo

I would like to set up a real time (or close enough to real time) audio monitoring system for my partner and I to use while we're playing games together from our respective home offices.
Presently we're using a locally hosted teamspeak server, which has better latency than something like discord, but still introduces a significant delay.
I would like to set us both up with xlr microphones and mixers that allow us to monitor eachother's mics, while also sending the mic to windows so that it can be used for voip/comms with friends.
To make things even more complicated, ideally I'd like to have some level of no/low latency self-monitoring, and to "future-proof" the setup to work with a planned "stream-PC" build I intend to set up obs recording for on my end.

The attached pic is a hopefully not-too-confusing diagram of how I think it should be set up, but I'm not certain what type I gear I should be using - I have some basic knowledge of audio stuff, but not enough to feel informed enough to buy.
"Josh", "Josh PC" etc refers to me, "Jess" etc refers to my partner.
 

Should probably also note that our offices are down the hallway from eachother, so I'll need to run some cables, but I already have networking run between our offices so that shouldn't be a big deal.

 

If you have any advice, can point me to any similar setups, or have gear recommendations I'd be really grateful
I imagine this is probably the sort of thing you pay someone to plan and setup, not just expect an answer for on a forum.

So yeah, I appreciate anything and everything

Cheers

Out of curiosity, what's the point of all of this ?

Can't you just rather shout across the office ?

 

[Smooth and Subscribe]

1 minute ago, PDifolco said:

Out of curiosity, what's the point of all of this ?

Can't you just rather shout across the office ?

 

Haha if we were in the same room that would definitely be the solution

Shouting to each other right now involves a lot of pulling one earphone off and yelling back "what did you say???"

[Vishera]

33 minutes ago, Smooth and Subscribe said:

That setup can be simplified by a lot and make things easier.

The problem is that i don't know how to make a chart like this,

How did you do that?

[Smooth and Subscribe]

7 minutes ago, Vishera said:

That setup can be simplified by a lot and make things easier.

The problem is that i don't know how to make a chart like this,

How did you do that?

I made it on Diagrams.net
here's a link to a version of the diagram you can edit - just click the pencil icon on the bottom and it'll open in the editor.
Thanks for taking the time!

[PDifolco]

14 minutes ago, Smooth and Subscribe said:

Haha if we were in the same room that would definitely be the solution

Shouting to each other right now involves a lot of pulling one earphone off and yelling back "what did you say???"

Ok but I meant why is something like Discord/Skype/Zoom/Teams/whatever  not satisfactory ?

[Smooth and Subscribe]

2 minutes ago, PDifolco said:

Ok but I meant why is something like Discord/Skype/Zoom/Teams/whatever  not satisfactory ?

Ah gotcha, yeah that's a fair question - I guess it's just been bugging me that I can hear the significant delay when using voip, despite being set up so close to eachother.
Feels like we're in that annoying middle-ground where we can't hear each other well enough to just talk normally, but can hear each other well enough to be constantly aware of the lag.
Definitely a 'first world problem', and I am without a doubt over-engineering a solution here; but if my "solution" is something that will work I'd like to give it a shot

[johnno23]

years ago when hardware was no where as efficient as it is in todays world my son and i made our own solution for back in the days when playing Duke Nukem 3D Atomic addition was a thing. yup years before VOIP etc etc etc.

we simply used an old office intercom solution where I ripped out the speakers and wired in headphone jacks. also had someone assist so that both ends ecieved as well as output but at the same time. the salvaged office intercom was push to speak or passive sit and listen.\Anywas it worked and he sat upstairs in hs room whilst i was downstairs and we networked Nuke Nuken 3D and had 1 on 1 fights...........awesomeness to the extreme..well for 1996 anyways but i have a feeling this is not the solution you were looking for ?

A little better than yelling down the hallway though.

[Smooth and Subscribe]

3 minutes ago, johnno23 said:

years ago when hardware was no where as efficient as it is in todays world my son and i made our own solution for back in the days when playing Duke Nukem 3D Atomic addition was a thing. yup years before VOIP etc etc etc.

we simply used an old office intercom solution where I ripped out the speakers and wired in headphone jacks. also had someone assist so that both ends ecieved as well as output but at the same time. the salvaged office intercom was push to speak or passive sit and listen.\Anywas it worked and he sat upstairs in hs room whilst i was downstairs and we networked Nuke Nuken 3D and had 1 on 1 fights...........awesomeness to the extreme..well for 1996 anyways but i have a feeling this is not the solution you were looking for ?

A little better than yelling down the hallway though.

Might not be a solution, but you've strengthened my resolve
If you were doing this in '96, I can damn well get it working in 2023

Thanks for sharing

[johnno23]

Ok a little more serious. in todays world.

I live in China and we use wechat which i believe funcntion wise is exactly the same as Whatspp. assumption on my part as I reside in Southern China.

Anyways. my wife is often using her mobile and using wifi connection is connected to her friends. bluetooth on the phone sending the audio to a decent quality speaker and whilst she or they play games watch movies etc they just talk to each other....they sit and discuss the movie they are watching and often assist each other in games etc...and these others are not down the hall but in other cities....so i suppose rock on technology as an intercom is now definately prehistoric.

If this issue you have is merely communication with utmost ease and no lag with your partner this already get you 90% of the way. the last 10% is either bluetooh headphones instead of speakers or a drop in item that captures the bluetooth signal but has an output for your headphones. Oh and my wife is often talking laughing with not one but sometime 5 or 6 people so I have a gaggle of geese in my room at times.

[Thomas4]

I'm going to go out on a shaky limb here and presume that you're doing this after hours, hopefully.

 

Just use the good old-fashioned telephone system with a recording device at one (or both ends) and a headset like telemarketers use.

[johnno23]

the beauty of wifi on apps as wechat whatsapp are using the telephone system but the usage is totally free All modern routers today have wifi all phones have wifi and I talk to friends all over the world totally for free. 

I think our OP is kinda looking to something more multi purpose as if he just wanted to chat with his partner when gaming or simply communicate along the lines of shall we go out for dinner etc he already has all the required tools at his fingertips.

I am assuming he want not just zero or as minimal latency as possible but looking to record possibly stream etc at the same time. As he also mentions monitor other mics in the setup and ability to increase lower volumes etc.

So I envisage a setup where he and his partner are both online both paying a networked game talking to each other and possibly streaming the entire scene at the same time. If not then the first world problem as he calls it is not first world but moving more into future tech possibilites...Star trek Stylee

[Ripred]

2 hours ago, Smooth and Subscribe said:

Heyo

I would like to set up a real time (or close enough to real time) audio monitoring system for my partner and I to use while we're playing games together from our respective home offices.
Presently we're using a locally hosted teamspeak server, which has better latency than something like discord, but still introduces a significant delay.
I would like to set us both up with xlr microphones and mixers that allow us to monitor eachother's mics, while also sending the mic to windows so that it can be used for voip/comms with friends.
To make things even more complicated, ideally I'd like to have some level of no/low latency self-monitoring, and to "future-proof" the setup to work with a planned "stream-PC" build I intend to set up obs recording for on my end.

The attached pic is a hopefully not-too-confusing diagram of how I think it should be set up, but I'm not certain what type I gear I should be using - I have some basic knowledge of audio stuff, but not enough to feel informed enough to buy.
"Josh", "Josh PC" etc refers to me, "Jess" etc refers to my partner.
 

Should probably also note that our offices are down the hallway from eachother, so I'll need to run some cables, but I already have networking run between our offices so that shouldn't be a big deal.

 

If you have any advice, can point me to any similar setups, or have gear recommendations I'd be really grateful
I imagine this is probably the sort of thing you pay someone to plan and setup, not just expect an answer for on a forum.

So yeah, I appreciate anything and everything

Cheers

 

Edit:
Diagram was made on app.diagrams.net
If you're so inclined, here's a link to a copy of the diagram you can edit - just click the pencil icon on the bottom and it'll open in the editor.

 

Most people on this forum do games and video editing, don't bother with most software recommendations, it just complicates everything and you'll NEVER get rid of the latency, here's equipment that can help

 

https://focusrite.com/en/usb-interfaces

 

https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-1810c

 

https://mackie.com/en/products/mixers/vlz4-series/402VLZ4.html   OR  https://mackie.com/en/products/mixers/vlz4-series/802VLZ4.html

 

( If you need more complicated monitoring ) https://www.artproaudio.com/product/headamp-4-pro-five-channel-headphone-amplifier-with-talkback/  

 

And at least TWO of these BALANCED cables for long distance, I'm not sure how far you have to go, these are 20ft(might even want to look into cable snakes which is multiple back and forth cable options)

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Mogami/Pure-Patch-1-4-1-4-TRS-Cable-20-ft-1369238774453.gc?pfm=krecs+1369238774453+30144+GCWPDPSI

 

 

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by lotus10101

[Smooth and Subscribe]

9 hours ago, lotus10101 said:

 

Most people on this forum do games and video editing, don't bother with most software recommendations, it just complicates everything and you'll NEVER get rid of the latency, here's equipment that can help

 

https://focusrite.com/en/usb-interfaces

 

https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-1810c

 

https://mackie.com/en/products/mixers/vlz4-series/402VLZ4.html   OR  https://mackie.com/en/products/mixers/vlz4-series/802VLZ4.html

 

( If you need more complicated monitoring ) https://www.artproaudio.com/product/headamp-4-pro-five-channel-headphone-amplifier-with-talkback/  

 

And at least TWO of these BALANCED cables for long distance, I'm not sure how far you have to go, these are 20ft(might even want to look into cable snakes which is multiple back and forth cable options)

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Mogami/Pure-Patch-1-4-1-4-TRS-Cable-20-ft-1369238774453.gc?pfm=krecs+1369238774453+30144+GCWPDPSI

 

 

 

Thank you!
Definitely going to look into these