When you stream on Discord, your microphone input can pick up background noise like keyboard clicks, fans, or room chatter. NVIDIA Broadcast is a free app that uses AI to remove unwanted sounds from your microphone in real time. This article explains how to set up NVIDIA Broadcast as your microphone input in Discord so your stream audio stays clean. You will learn the correct audio device selection and settings to avoid common issues like no sound or echo.
Key Takeaways: Setting Up NVIDIA Broadcast as Your Discord Mic
- User Settings > Voice & Video > Input Device: Select “Microphone (NVIDIA Broadcast)” to use AI noise removal for your stream
- NVIDIA Broadcast app > Microphone tab: Choose your physical mic and enable Noise Removal before starting Discord
- Discord Stream settings > Microphone Mode: Set to “Push to Talk” or “Voice Activity” depending on your preference — both work with Broadcast
What NVIDIA Broadcast Does for Discord Streaming
NVIDIA Broadcast is a free desktop application for Windows 10 and Windows 11 that uses AI to remove background noise, echo, and room reverb from your microphone. It works by creating a virtual audio device that processes your physical microphone signal before any other app sees it. When you select this virtual device in Discord, your stream audio is cleaned before being sent to your viewers.
To use NVIDIA Broadcast with Discord, you need a compatible NVIDIA GeForce RTX or Quadro RTX graphics card. The app is available from NVIDIA’s website. You must install and configure it before Discord can use the virtual microphone. No additional hardware is required beyond your existing microphone and supported GPU.
How the Virtual Microphone Works
NVIDIA Broadcast creates two virtual audio devices: a microphone and a speaker. The virtual microphone takes audio from your physical microphone, applies AI noise reduction, and outputs the cleaned audio. Discord sees this virtual device as a standard microphone. The virtual speaker lets you apply effects to system audio, but for streaming you only need the microphone part.
Steps to Set NVIDIA Broadcast as Your Discord Mic Input
Follow these steps in order. Do not skip any step or the virtual device may not appear in Discord.
- Download and install NVIDIA Broadcast
Go to the NVIDIA Broadcast download page on the NVIDIA website. Click Download and run the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions. Restart your computer when prompted. - Open NVIDIA Broadcast and configure your microphone
Launch NVIDIA Broadcast from the Start menu. On the Microphone tab, click the dropdown under Input Device and select your physical microphone. Make sure the toggle for Noise Removal is set to On. You can adjust the removal strength with the slider — 100% works well for most environments. - Test the virtual microphone in Broadcast
Speak into your microphone. The audio meter in Broadcast should show green bars moving. If you see no movement, check your physical mic connection and input device selection. - Open Discord and go to User Settings
In Discord, click the gear icon next to your username at the bottom left. This opens User Settings. - Select Voice & Video from the left menu
In User Settings, scroll down the left sidebar and click Voice & Video. - Change the Input Device to NVIDIA Broadcast
Under Input Device, click the dropdown and select Microphone (NVIDIA Broadcast). If you do not see this option, close Discord and reopen it. The virtual device may appear after a restart. - Adjust input volume and test
Speak into your microphone. The Input Volume bar in Discord should show green bars. If the bars are too low or too high, adjust the slider. Click Let’s Check to run Discord’s built-in mic test. Speak normally for 10 seconds. Discord will play back your audio so you can hear the noise removal effect. - Start your stream
Join a voice channel. Click the Go Live button (monitor icon) next to the channel name. Select the screen or application you want to share. Your stream will now use the NVIDIA Broadcast microphone for audio.
If NVIDIA Broadcast Mic Does Not Work in Discord
Several issues can prevent the NVIDIA Broadcast microphone from working correctly in Discord. Below are the most common problems and their fixes.
NVIDIA Broadcast Virtual Microphone Not Showing in Discord
If Microphone (NVIDIA Broadcast) does not appear in Discord’s Input Device list, the virtual driver may not be installed or Discord may be running before the driver loads. Close Discord completely. Open NVIDIA Broadcast and confirm the Microphone tab shows your physical mic. Then reopen Discord. If the device still does not appear, restart your computer.
No Sound or Very Low Volume From Broadcast Mic
If viewers cannot hear you or your voice is too quiet, check two things. First, in NVIDIA Broadcast, make sure the Input Device is set to your actual physical microphone, not another virtual device. Second, in Discord’s Voice & Video settings, increase the Input Volume slider to 100. If the problem persists, go to Windows Sound Settings > Sound Control Panel > Recording tab, right-click Microphone (NVIDIA Broadcast), select Properties, and set the volume to 100.
Echo or Feedback During Stream
Echo occurs when your microphone picks up audio from your speakers or headset. NVIDIA Broadcast’s noise removal cannot fix echo. Use headphones instead of speakers. If you must use speakers, reduce your speaker volume and enable Discord’s Echo Cancellation feature in Voice & Video settings under Advanced.
Discord Stream Audio Options: NVIDIA Broadcast vs Standard Mic vs Krisp
| Item | NVIDIA Broadcast Mic | Standard Microphone | Discord Krisp (Noise Suppression) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise removal method | AI on NVIDIA GPU | None (raw mic audio) | AI on Discord servers |
| Required hardware | NVIDIA RTX GPU | Any microphone | No special GPU needed |
| Audio quality | High, preserves voice clarity | Depends on mic and environment | Good but can degrade voice slightly |
| Setup complexity | Install app + select device | Plug in and select | Toggle on in Discord settings |
| Latency | Low (real-time processing) | None | Low (server-side processing) |
You can now use NVIDIA Broadcast as your microphone input for Discord streams. The AI noise removal keeps your voice clear while blocking keyboard clicks, fans, and other background sounds. After setting up the virtual device, test your audio with a friend before going live. For even better stream quality, combine NVIDIA Broadcast with Discord’s Echo Cancellation and use a headset to prevent audio feedback.