The main limitation: one cable, with no mixer
VB-CABLE provides a single virtual audio path in its free package. It does not include a mixer or its own volume control, so it cannot combine several audio sources or adjust their levels. Its role is narrower: pass audio from one application to another.
A direct route between applications
For a simple connection, the ExeDepot page for VB-CABLE describes a driver that adds two devices to Windows. Choose CABLE Input as the playback device in the app producing sound, and that audio is forwarded to CABLE Output, which appears as a recording device. A second app can then select CABLE Output as its microphone input.
This setup is useful when an application needs to receive sound from another program rather than from a physical microphone. For example, a music player can send its output into a call, or game audio can be routed into a recorder. For a music player and Discord, set the player’s output to CABLE Input and select CABLE Output as the microphone in Discord.
Compatibility and setup
The driver supports applications using MME, DirectSound, KS or WASAPI. It runs on Windows XP to Windows 11, including 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 systems. VB-CABLE is also listed for macOS 10.10 and later.
Installation uses a ZIP archive: extract its files and run the 64-bit setup program as administrator. Reboot after installing, and reboot again after uninstalling. Once the driver is installed, configure the sending app’s output and the receiving app’s microphone input as described above; the cable itself does not require additional routing configuration.
Avoid setting CABLE Input as the default Windows output unless you intend to route system audio through the virtual cable. Doing so can make ordinary system sounds stop playing through the usual output device, because audio sent to CABLE Input is forwarded to CABLE Output instead.
Scope, licensing, and additional cables
VB-CABLE is made by VB-Audio Software and is donationware: it is free to use, and paying what you want for a license is optional support for the developer. The free package supplies one cable. Optional VB-CABLE A+B and C+D packs are separate products that provide additional independent cables.
The single-cable design suits a straightforward one-way connection, such as sending one program’s sound into another application. If the task requires mixing several sources or controlling their volume, VB-CABLE does not provide those functions. Its practical value is in keeping a simple audio handoff to device selection, rather than offering a full mixing workspace.