You can play music through your mic by disabling Stereo Mix in your Windows sound settings, then using audio mixer software like VoiceMeeter, Soundpad, or Clownfish to route audio through your microphone input. This works whether you are using an earphone mic, headset, or a dedicated microphone.
This guide covers how to set this up in Windows, the best software options, and how to play music through your mic in Discord or in-game.
How to Play Music Through Mic in Windows 10
If you have seen streamers or gamers play music through their mic during streams, this is usually done with audio mixer tools. Some of these tools can be expensive, but there is also a simpler, low cost approach.
Steps to Play Music Through Mic
- Open the Windows search bar and look for “Manage audio devices” to access your audio settings
- Go to the Recording tab
- Right-click the Microphone option and select Disable
- Right-click Stereo Mix and select Disable as well
From here, audio mixer software can take over routing audio through your microphone input.
Playing Audio Through Microphone Using Software
Several audio mixer tools can help you play music through your mic. Here is a closer look at some of the most useful options.
VoiceMeeter + Soundboard
VoiceMeeter is a user friendly option with multiple features for editing or recording audio input. Pairing it with Soundboard lets you play music using shortcut keys or commands.
To set this up:
- Download VoiceMeeter and Soundboard from their respective websites
- Open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, and enable both so they launch automatically when your computer boots
- Adjust settings by enabling VoiceMeeter’s output and input, setting VoiceMeeter’s input as Soundboard’s output
- Set your speakers and microphone as your hardware input and output
- Make sure the app you want to use with VoiceMeeter is actually set to use it
MorphVox
MorphVox lets you play music through your mic and add background effects or sounds easily. It is a paid tool, but the free version still allows for solid input options.
A standout feature is its text to speech function combined with a voice changer, letting you convert text into speech that plays through your mic, or speak with different voice effects applied. MorphVox works on both Windows and Mac.
Soundpad
Soundpad is a popular, easy to use tool for playing music through your mic.
With Soundpad, you can:
- Choose sounds or audio files and assign hotkeys to play them
- Set a hotkey to block another person’s mic input on Discord or in-game
- Build a playlist for quick access, with hotkeys to play sounds on demand
Holding Ctrl and Enter together lets you browse and select sound effects from its built-in library.
Rust Soundboard
Rust Soundboard focuses on fun, sometimes intentionally annoying sound effects that play through your mic during Discord calls, games, or other apps.
It includes sounds like screeching or metal scraping noises, along with funny voice effects, all assignable to hotkeys. It is lightweight and doesn’t take up much disk space, making it a simple option if you mainly want sound effects rather than full audio playback.
Clownfish
Clownfish is one of the most complete audio mixer tools for playing music through your mic. It includes built-in sounds such as robotic voices, alien effects, and more.
You can also change your voice while chatting online, with adjustable key arrangements or manual triggers for voice effects. Clownfish supports Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, and Mac OS, making it a flexible choice for Discord, TeamSpeak, or any app that accepts microphone input.
Play Music Through Mic in Discord
To play music or voice effects through your mic in Discord:
- Open Discord and go to Settings (the gear icon near the bottom left)
- Select Voice & Video from the side menu
- Set your input device to Stereo Mix
- Under input mode, enable Voice Activity so others can hear you whenever sound plays through your mic
- Turn off “Automatically determine input sensitivity” and manually set sensitivity to around -10 decibels
- Test that music plays correctly through your mic
If your microphone quality is solid and you have good audio sources lined up, this setup works well for informal DJ sessions, gaming with friends, or general fun on platforms like Discord and TeamSpeak. For microphone options well suited to this kind of setup, see our guide to best mic for Discord.
How to Play Music Through Mic in a Game
This is a straightforward process. Open the Windows Control Panel, go to Hardware and Sound, then Sound, and select the Recording tab. Change your microphone input from “No device” or your default microphone to “Microphone/Auxiliary Audio Device.”
With this set, your in-game audio will be recorded along with whatever audio source is currently selected, such as your game sound.
Testing Sounds Played from Mic
You can test how your mic sounds when playing audio using Discord or Audacity. Play music through your mic while recording in either app, then play back the recording to check the sound quality.
You can also ask friends to play music or sounds through their mic on a call with you, then describe how it sounds or flag any issues, which can help you fine-tune your settings.
FAQ
Can I use my speaker as a microphone?
Yes, though this generally requires some technical knowledge of how to modify a speaker using amplifiers, since speakers are not designed to function as microphones by default.
How do I play music and talk at the same time on the mic?
This is simple: turn on your microphone and start talking while music plays on your system. Both audio sources will typically be picked up and heard by the other person, depending on your input settings.
Conclusion
Playing music through your mic doesn’t require expensive equipment. Adjusting your Windows sound settings and using free or low cost software like VoiceMeeter, Soundpad, or Clownfish can get you set up quickly for Discord, games, or general use.
If you want to improve your overall microphone sound quality while using these tools, see our guide on easy hacks to improve microphone sound quality.
