In VoiceMeeter Banana, route each source strip to the buses that should receive it: A1, A2, or A3 for physical listening devices, and B1 or B2 for a virtual mix that another Windows application can capture. This gives you distinct output mixes; it does not, by itself, create separate tracks in a recording. The recording or streaming application must support and be configured for the tracks you want.
What “split audio tracks” means in VoiceMeeter Banana
Banana is a Windows virtual audio mixer. Its documented layout has five inputs—three physical and two virtual—and five outputs—three physical and two virtual. The source strips let you decide which outputs receive each source, such as a microphone, game or desktop sound, chat, or music.
There are two different outcomes people often call “splitting tracks”:
- Separate bus mixes: different combinations of sources are sent to different outputs. A bus is an output destination, not automatically an isolated recording track for every source.
- Multitrack recording: the streaming or recording application captures and assigns audio to separate recording tracks. That configuration is application-specific; routing a mix to a VoiceMeeter virtual output alone does not establish it.
Choose the right output bus
| Bus | Destination | Typical purpose |
|---|---|---|
| A1, A2, A3 | Physical audio devices | Listening locally through a headset, speakers, or another connected output |
| B1, B2 | Virtual outputs exposed as Windows recording devices | Providing a routed mix to another application, such as streaming or recording software |
These roles come from the VoiceMeeter Banana User Manual, version 2.1.2.2 (December 2025). The manual says A buses connect to physical audio devices and B buses connect to related virtual audio outputs that appear as Windows recording devices. The product page lists a newer package, version 2.1.3.0, dated September 2026, so the manual extract may not reflect every interface detail in that package.
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Route sources to monitoring and streaming mixes
- Install Banana using VB-Audio’s current guidance. The vendor says first-time users should follow the manual step by step, especially “step ZERO.” Its product page also instructs users to run setup as administrator and reboot after installation. Check that page and the current manual for the setup steps matching your download.
- Identify the inputs you will use. Decide which strips correspond to your microphone or other physical input and which correspond to virtual audio sources such as game, desktop, or chat audio. Hardware such as a separate microphone or audio board is optional; route the devices you already have if they meet your needs.
- Choose a physical monitoring bus. Select an A bus for the connected device you want to hear through. A1, A2, and A3 are the physical-output choices; the exact device association depends on your configuration.
- Assign each source strip to its intended bus. The strip’s Ax controls send that source to physical buses, while its Bx controls send it to virtual buses. Enable the relevant assignment on each strip. For example, send your voice and game audio to the virtual bus intended for your streaming mix, and send whichever sources you want to hear locally to your selected A bus.
- Check the mix in Banana. Confirm that the desired source strips are assigned to the intended buses and that sources you do not want in a particular mix are not assigned there. A bus receives a mix of the sources routed to it.
- Select the virtual output in your streaming or recording application. Choose the corresponding VoiceMeeter virtual output as an audio input or capture device, then use Banana’s strip assignments to build the mix that application receives. The exact device label and application menu path vary by software and version; the documented Windows recording-device behavior supports this routing concept, but does not establish a specific OBS setup.
When you need actual separate recording tracks
First decide whether you need multiple mixes or isolated sources in the final recording. If you need, for example, voice and game audio on independently editable tracks, verify that your streaming or recording application can capture the relevant inputs and assign them to separate recording tracks. Then configure that application’s track routing as well as Banana’s bus assignments. Do not assume that sending multiple sources to one B bus will preserve them as independent tracks: that bus is a routed mix.
Compatibility and licensing
VB-Audio’s VoiceMeeter Banana product page lists package version 2.1.3.0, dated September 2026. The vendor publishes support claims covering MME, DX, KS, WDM, and ASIO interfaces, and Windows XP through Windows 11 plus ARM64. These are vendor-listed compatibility claims, not a guarantee that every device or driver combination will behave identically on a particular system.
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- Analog mixing and equalization for pure sound
- Direct mixing of PC/gaming sounds into the streaming output
- Ultra-low noise analog mixer for streaming, podcasting and recording
- Stereo USB audio interface to connect your computer or mobile device
VB-Audio describes Banana as donationware. Its store describes a permanent license for a given PC configuration and different contribution levels; consult VB-Audio for current licensing details. The routing workflow does not inherently require purchasing a microphone, audio board, or headset.
Common routing checks
- You hear a source locally but the streaming application does not: check whether that source strip is assigned to the intended B bus, then confirm the application is using the matching VoiceMeeter virtual recording device.
- The application receives the wrong combination of sources: review the Bx assignment on each strip. A virtual bus carries the sources routed to it, so adjust those assignments to shape the mix.
- You get a mix but not separate recorded sources: a bus mix is not the same as multitrack capture. Check the recording application’s input and track configuration for the independent tracks you need.
- Installation or a device behaves differently from an instruction or screenshot: follow the current manual for your installed package and check the relevant device driver and Windows configuration. The manual extract cited here is version 2.1.2.2, while the product page lists 2.1.3.0.
Or let it run in the cloud
VoiceMeeter Banana routes audio on a Windows computer; it is not a cloud service for keeping a pre-recorded YouTube stream live. If your goal is to keep uploaded videos playing on a YouTube channel continuously, StreamNeo is a separate option: upload a recording or make a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It runs from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; it streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. Learn about StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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