How to setup a VAC (Virtual Audio Cable) on Linux and use OBS with it

Why? #

Filters like noise suppression only work when your recording. However, what if you need those filters when speaking live? Such as when NOT on Zoom or Discord. Those filters won’t apply in that case. However if we use a virtual mic, we can!

Create virtual mic #

Let’s capture the sound from our actual mic, this would be called a sink

pactl load-module module-null-sink sink_name=Source sink_properties=device.description="SinkForVirtualMic"

Let’s monitor that sink and direct it to the virtual mic, this would be called a source

pactl load-module module-virtual-source source_name=VirtualMic master=Source.monitor

Now in your Sound options, you’ll see SinkForVirtualMic from outputs and see VirtualMic from inputs

Use Filters from OBS #

Here is a youtube video that does a good explanation on using the OBS filters. He uses Windows here, but the setup is the same.

Head into OBS #

Go into the properties of your actual microphone and switch to Monitor Off to Monitor and Output

• You’ll hear yourself when doing this

Then go to OBS settings > Audio > Advanced > Click Monitoring Device and select SinkForVirtualMic

• You’ll no longer hear yourself, meaning we’ve redirected our input (voice) to this sink

Select the filters you want and apply them your actual microphone. Then select your Virtual Mic for the input

Your input (voice) is now filtered!