The main limitation: one cable, without mixing controls
VB-CABLE is a virtual audio cable, not a mixer. Its free package provides one route between applications, and the driver has no built-in volume control or way to combine several sound sources. That makes it unsuitable when you need to balance multiple inputs before sending them onward.
A direct route between applications
Within that scope, VB-CABLE handles a simple task: it sends audio played by one program to another program as an input. The driver adds CABLE Input as a playback device and CABLE Output as a recording device. Choose CABLE Input as the source application’s output, then select CABLE Output as the receiving application’s microphone. The ExeDepot page for VB-CABLE describes the same straightforward device-to-device workflow.
For example, to send music into a call, set the music player’s output to CABLE Input and select CABLE Output as the call application’s microphone. The receiving program then gets the player’s audio through an input device, rather than through a physical microphone. A streamer or podcaster can use the same arrangement to route audio from one application into another that records or transmits sound.
Application and Windows support
The driver supports applications that use MME, DirectSound, KS or WASAPI. This lets many programs send audio through the virtual route using their existing audio-device settings; VB-CABLE itself does not require a separate routing configuration beyond choosing the devices.
VB-CABLE supports Windows XP to Windows 11, including 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 systems. The notes also list macOS 10.10 and later. Because the Windows workflow relies on the added playback and recording devices, confirm that both appear in the relevant applications before testing a route.
Installation and everyday setup
The Windows installer is supplied as a ZIP archive. Extract its files, run the 64-bit setup program as administrator, and reboot after installation. After the restart, configure the source and receiving applications as described above. A reboot is also required after uninstalling.
Do not set CABLE Input as the default Windows output unless you intend to route system audio through the cable; doing so can stop you hearing system sounds through your usual playback device. For a single application-to-application connection, selecting CABLE Input only in the source program keeps the route limited to that program.
License and scope
VB-CABLE is donationware: it is free to use, with payment optional for users who want to support VB-Audio Software. The free package includes one cable. Separate VB-CABLE A+B and C+D packs provide additional independent cables, but they are separate products.
When a setup needs several sources combined or their levels adjusted, the single cable’s fixed routing is not enough. For one source sent to one application input, however, its device-selection approach keeps the process clear: choose the playback endpoint in the source and the recording endpoint in the destination.