Applies to Vocaster One & Vocaster Two
Loopback allows you to capture your computer's audio and record it into your recording software on a separate channel alongside your mics or instruments. Loopback works by 'looping back' audio outputs from your computer to virtual input channels within your interface. The virtual inputs don’t have connectors on the interface, but you can record them in your DAW in the same way as any other input.
The steps below will walk you through setting up Loopback on Windows, or macOS.
Windows
If you're using a WDM application (such as a browser), you will need to 'expose' the Loopback channels to Windows. Follow the steps in the article below to do this.
Expose/Hide Windows Channels for non-ASIO Windows apps
Each Loopback channel will now appear on your system as a separate audio output device.
By default, any audio sent to Outputs 1 & 2 on your Vocaster (shown in Windows as Speakers), will be sent to Loopback 1. This will then appear on inputs 7 & 8 on Vocaster One or inputs 11 & 12 on Vocaster Two.
Sending audio to Vocaster 2 L + R will then appear on inputs 9 & 10 on Vocaster One and inputs 13 & 14 on Vocaster Two.
Providing you have 'exposed' Loopback 1 L + R and Loopback 2 L + R using the Focusrite Notifier, these inputs will appear as a separate audio device within Windows.
You can then select these inputs in your streaming/recording software.
For the full channel ordering, please see: Vocaster One & Vocaster Two: Channel Ordering
macOS
Loopback 1
By default, any audio sent to Outputs 1 & 2 on your Vocaster, will be sent to Loopback 1.
To receive the Loopback signal, set the input on your streaming application to inputs 7 & 8 (Vocaster One) or inputs 11 & 12 (Vocaster Two). When audio is playing through this channel, you will see metering in Vocaster Hub:
Loopback 2
Loopback 2 is not automatically shown as a separate audio device in macOS. Follow the steps below to set up Loopback 2 as a separate audio device on your Mac.
If you are using an application where individual audio outputs can be selected (such as a DAW), the following steps are not applicable. Instead select outputs 3-4.
- Head to Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup.
- Select the + at the bottom left of the application, and select Create Aggregate Device.
- Rename the device to Loopback 2, and tick Vocaster One/Two USB.
- Click Configure Speakers.
- Set the Left speaker to Vocaster 2 L and the Right speaker to Vocaster 2 R, and click Apply and Done. Loopback 2 will now appear as a separate audio output device on your Mac.
- Set the audio output of the application you are looping back to Loopback 2 to send audio to the second Loopback channel of your Vocaster.
To receive the Loopback signal, set the input on your streaming application to inputs 9 & 10 (Vocaster One) or inputs 13 & 14 (Vocaster Two). When audio is playing through this channel, you will see metering in Vocaster Hub:
For the full channel ordering, please see: Vocaster One & Vocaster Two: Channel Ordering
Why does Vocaster have two stereo Loopback channels?
Having two stereo Loopback channels allows you to feed each Loopback from a different software application. Which application you use with each Loopback input is configured in the application’s output settings.
You might want to use both Loopback inputs when you’re recording a show, but need independent recordings of other software sounds to mix later. For example, in your show, you want to record your conversation with a guest in a video call in addition to including a sound or jingle playback from another audio playback software.
Your video call software (e.g., Zoom), routes its output to Playback 1-2 by default. This appears as Loopback 1 in the mixer. You can then route the output of your playback software to Playback 3-4, which becomes available as Loopback 2.
For further information, please see the Vocaster User Guide.
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