Ability to limit broadcast audio to only game sounds.

[BlasphemousRoar]

(This topic was moved from general feedback/suggestions)

Right now the broadcast appears to capture the default audio device in regards to sounds being played to those watching the stream. This is a problem, as it means anything I can hear, everyone can hear. Which, when putting up a stream, may not always be what is wanted. I often listen to music, or need to make calls during my time playing games, and people being able to hear that is a big problem. Please allow audio playback controls.

[Satoru]

Do other streaming programs offer this? Windows generally pipes all the audio through teh default channel so there's no real opportunity to separate that out. You'd ahve to specifcy the applcaiotn to hook directly into the right sound device but I'm not sure if Steam would realistically know which exe is actually setting the output.

[Ninja]

bump. an option to stream only game audo is a must and a feature that twitch lacks

[BlasphemousRoar]

I'm not certain if others offer this. However, if Steam could enable it it'd certainly boost the usability. Possibly by creating an optional device, and streaming from that. Possibly by targetting the executable. I will be honest, I'd have no idea how to implement this, but this is the biggest dissuasion from using this service, and streaming in general.

[Daassie]

Well put, good title.

Last I checked, popular streaming software like OBS and Xsplit can only distinguish between audio devices, not actual audio sources (unlike, say, the Windows software mixer). This means - as stated above - that Windows' default output device will be captured in its entirety.

This is definitely a problem for Steam's broadcasting: the 'users' will be gamers first and broadcasters second or third or not at all! Broadcasting is after all a passive, always-on feature, or so far designed to be one. Compare that to the care needed to set up a stream on Twitch or Hitbox etc.

Most Steam players will probably intend to broadcast their game only, not their microphone audio (some may not realise theirs will be always on), not their music library (copyright), not the videos they watch on the side (again, copyright) etc. It puts you in an awkward position when all you want to do is play a game - suddenly you have to be very aware of what you may be showing, saying or hearing on the side. That's when we cross the line from spectating a game to breaches of privacy, possibly even copyright and all that nasty stuff.

So yeah, would be pretty damn logical and convenient to limit the audio to the game executable only with an option to include the microphone feed (and possibly other executables). Like all the comments I've read about this so far, I have no idea either how to technically implement it - but the Windows software mixer can bloody well do it, so why couldn't Steam?

[Daassie]

Interesting fix here: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steambroadcasting/discussions/0/624076751542549625/. Virtual Audio Cable has given some users trouble (crashes), and is not what I would call a quick and easy fix, but if it works, problem solved.

[BlasphemousRoar]

Correction: If it works, then it's a possibility. Steam might be able to do it too. Relying on another program that may or may not be stable, and third party certainly is not the most eloquent solution. However, it does open up to a realm of possibility by having Steam Broadcast declared to be an audio source.

[Daassie]

That's what I was trying to say, although the hour being late, did not successfully do so.

[=(e)= Lemonater47]

Its actually a windows problem. As all audio goes through the same audio track. Steam can't actually get around this there is no possible way.

You have to download a 3rd parry program and make any other audio go through a different audio track.

[Daassie]

Aye; this might just be wishful thinking, knowing how locked-down and archaic Windows architecture can be. Maybe there's more hope on Linux? At any rate, this would be really, really vital for a 'casual streaming' feature so players don't have to worry about anything other than the game.