How to Use Voicemeeter with TouchDesigner

In this tutorial we will learn how to create complex audio mixes in Voicemeeter with TouchDesigner and how to turn audio into visuals.

Voicemeeter is a virtual and hardware mixing console for hybrid audio management. It allows for complex routing and mixing tasks and it is suitable for a wide range of applications, from broadcasting to interactive environments.

In this tutorial we already deepened the technical features of Voicemeeter. Today we want to focus our attention on how to use Voicemeeter with TouchDesigner.

Setting up Voicemeeter

Voicemeeter comes with three versions: Standard, Banana and Potato. They are distributed as donationware, so it’s possible to freely download and install them and eventually donate. Full details are available on the company website.  

In this tutorial we will use Voicemeeter Potato. It features five physical inputs/outputs, three virtual inputs/outputs and extensive send & return routing options.

First, we must select the Voicemeeter Input as main input on our computer audio settings.

Next we can setup the mixing console.

The creative side

I am passionate about ambient music. So we will create a soundscape based on four elements:

• A playlist of Brian Eno ambient works as the main audio source in the centre audio field
• Two streaming radio services – from BBC and CNN – as side counterpoints on left and right fields
• A microphone input for user interaction in the audio space

In Voicemeeter we will setup the mixing console as follows:

• The first channel will stream the Brian Eno playlist from Tidal. You can use your favourite streaming platform as well
• The second channel will stream audio from the BBC World Service radio via browser
• The third channel will stream audio from the CNN live service via browser
• The fourth channel will output the user microphone

In Voicemeeter we can assign different outputs to individual channels, to manage them independently. So we will configure outputs in this way:

• Track 1 to B1 output
• Track 2 to B2 output
• Track 3 to B3 output
• Track 4 to A4 output

To manage the A (analog) channels routing we can download VB-CABLE, which is a virtual audio device that works as a virtual audio cable. In this project, the A4 output is forwarded to TouchDesigner via the CABLE output.

If we want to use Voicemeeter as the main output master, we can configure A1 on all channels as the main output to speakers or headphones. For this tutorial, we will use TouchDesigner as the main output master, but that’s up to you.

We have completed the setup in Voicemeeter. Now let’s have fun in TouchDesigner.

Voicemeeter in TouchDesigner

In our TouchDesigner patch, first we create one Audio Device In CHOP for each channel. By opening the parameters, in the Device box we can see all the channels available on our Voicemeeter setup. We can simply select the right channel to route it inside the patch.

Then we connect the Audio Device In to the Audio Device Out CHOP, to manage volume and pan for each channel, connect the four Out to a Math CHOP for mixing and send the result to the final Audio Device Out CHOP. That’s all!

As we can see, using Voicemeeter in TouchDesigner is quite easy and straightforward. This is just a setup for educational purposes: we can manage complex routing and mixes as well as sub-mixes and send & return chains.

The visual side

Now our soundscape is fully playing in TouchDesigner. Why not to add audioreactive visuals? Let’s go.

We can apply audio analysis techniques on all our four channels and split the audio spectrum into low, medium and high frequencies. Then we can use them to apply changes on SOP and TOP components.

On track 2 and 3 – the BBC and CNN radio streaming channels – we also make use of a kick detection custom component, to find transients in the audio spectrum to rhythmically create changes to the visuals.

I did not develop the component on my own, I found it on a tutorial, so credits given to the developer.

So, track 1 is turned into a particle system and a feedback loop and acts as the main visual element. Tracks 2 and 3 are converted into Morse-code shapes on the left and right sides of the environment. Track 4 has not been used so far, which you can use to experiment.

Wrap Up

Using Voicemeeter and TouchDesigner together is a great way to design a powerful audiovisual platform for interactive and immersive purposes. Establishing a connection between the two software is quite easy, as we saw, thus paving the way for complex systems that can suit even the most demanding projects. As usual, the sky is the limit. 

Download the patch here