What is an audio controller, and why use one for streaming?

An audio controller is a versatile tool designed to manage and control various audio inputs and outputs in real-time during your stream. For streamers, whether they’re gaming, podcasting, or live-streaming music, controlling the audio elements of their broadcast is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore what an audio controller is and the key benefits it brings to your streaming setup.

What is an audio controller?

An audio mixer is a hardware or software device that allows you to manage multiple audio sources, such as microphones, music, sound effects, and streaming software. It provides real-time control, ensuring that your audio mix remains balanced and professional. In the past, streamers would rely on basic audio settings within their software to adjust sound levels, but this often led to a lack of fine-tuned control and made it difficult to adapt to unexpected changes in the environment.

Modern audio controllers allow streamers to make real-time adjustments, providing a hands-on experience that enhances the overall production quality. With an audio controller, streamers can easily balance game sounds, music, voice chat, and more without relying solely on their streaming software. This results in a more professional-sounding stream and a better experience for both the streamer and the audience.

Key functions of an audio controller

1. Mixing and balancing audio sources

Audio controllers allow you to adjust the volume levels of different audio sources separately. This feature is especially useful for streamers who juggle multiple sound sources, such as their microphone, music, sound effects, and the in-game audio.

With an audio controller, you can ensure that your voice stays at an appropriate level while balancing the background elements like music or sound effects. This results in clearer communication with your viewers and helps create a more immersive experience.

2. On-the-fly adjustments

One of the key advantages of using an audio controller is the ability to make quick adjustments during your stream. Most audio controllers feature physical knobs, sliders, or buttons that let you adjust audio levels in real-time.

This is invaluable for streamers who need to respond quickly to changes in their audio environment, such as adjusting the volume of a guest’s microphone or raising the background music during an intense gameplay moment. Having tactile controls means you don’t have to stop your stream to adjust audio settings on-screen or within software, reducing the chances of any disruption during live broadcasts.

3. Audio routing

An audio controller helps route audio signals efficiently between different devices and platforms, ensuring that your viewers receive a smooth and high-quality audio experience. For instance, a controller can direct microphone input to the stream, while ensuring that game audio and music are routed to the appropriate channels. This creates a more organized and professional-sounding stream, avoiding issues like overlapping sounds or unbalanced audio that could detract from the viewer’s experience.

Benefits of Using an Audio Controller for Streaming

1. Enhanced audio control

An audio controller gives you precise control over your audio mix, allowing you to manage each element of your sound individually. You can adjust the volume of your microphone, background music, sound effects, and more to ensure that your voice remains clear and prominent, while other elements support rather than overpower your content. This level of control helps you avoid awkward situations where audio levels are off-balance, ensuring a more enjoyable listening experience for your audience.

2. Better sound quality

Using an audio controller reduces the risk of audio issues like peaking, distortion, and echo. Dedicated hardware typically offers superior sound processing, which helps you maintain a clean, professional sound throughout your stream. This results in higher audio quality and avoids technical issues that can detract from your content.

3. Reduced CPU usage

By offloading audio processing tasks from your computer to dedicated hardware, an audio controller can help reduce the strain on your system. Streaming and gaming can be resource-intensive, and adding audio processing to the mix can cause lag or performance drops. An audio controller handles this workload separately, allowing your computer to focus on running the game or streaming software without worrying about sound quality.

4. Streamlined setup

An audio controller simplifies your entire audio setup. Instead of dealing with multiple software-based mixers or adjusting audio settings within various programs, a physical audio controller allows you to manage everything from one central location. This reduces the complexity of your audio configuration and makes it easier to handle your stream’s audio needs.

Choosing the right audio controller

For users looking for dedicated, physical control over their audio, hardware audio controllers are the ideal option. These devices offer tactile control, such as gain knobs, mute buttons and action buttons, making it easy to manage multiple audio sources on the fly.

Hardware controllers are reliable, efficient, and offer the flexibility to customize your audio setup. Some popular options include the Stream 100 for basic needs and the Stream 200 XLR for more advanced setups requiring XLR microphones.

Stream 100: A versatile USB audio controller that allows you to manage audio levels, adjust gain, and route audio with ease.

Stream 200 XLR: A high-quality XLR audio interface that provides greater flexibility for streamers who use professional microphones and need additional control over their audio mix.

The bottom line

An audio controller can be a game-changer for streamers aiming for professional sound quality. Investing in an audio controller gives you better audio management, enabling you to create a seamless and engaging stream for your audience. The precision, control, and clarity offered by an audio controller can elevate your stream’s production value, ensuring that your sound quality matches the quality of your content.