How to Use Two Microphones at the Same Time in Windows 10

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Windows 10 can have two microphones plugged in at once, but most apps record from only one input at a time, so choosing both in Windows Settings won’t work. To use two microphones together, either use an app that can capture several inputs at once (OBS Studio is the easiest free option), or combine both mics into a single input with a USB audio interface, manufacturer software such as RØDE Connect, or a virtual mixer such as Voicemeeter.

The right choice depends on what you’re doing: streaming or recording a video, recording a podcast with separate tracks, or joining a call where both people need to be heard. This guide explains each option, step by step, with a table to help you decide.

Quick Answer

  1. Plug in both microphones and confirm Windows sees them in Settings > System > Sound.
  2. For streaming or screen recording, add each mic in OBS Studio as its own Audio Input Capture source.
  3. For podcasts with XLR mics, use a USB audio interface with two inputs; it appears as one device with two channels.
  4. For compatible RØDE USB mics, use the free RØDE Connect app to mix up to four.
  5. For calls or apps that accept only one mic, merge both inputs with a virtual mixer such as Voicemeeter.

In This Guide

Why Windows Uses One Microphone at a Time

Windows 10 lets you connect as many microphones as you have ports for, and it lists them all. But in Settings > System > Sound, you pick just one as your input device. That device becomes the default microphone, and most apps, including voice recorders and many call apps, listen only to whichever single input is selected.

So the problem isn’t connecting a second mic; it’s getting software to listen to two at once. There are two ways around it:

  • Use software that opens several inputs. Streaming and recording apps such as OBS Studio can capture from multiple devices at the same time.
  • Make two mics look like one device. Hardware (an audio interface or mixer) or software (RØDE Connect, Voicemeeter) combines them into a single input that any app can use.

This guide covers Windows 10 as of September 2026. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. The same approaches work on Windows 11, although some Settings labels differ.

What You Need

  • Two microphones. They can be USB mics, XLR mics (the professional kind with a three-pin plug), or a headset and a USB mic. The type decides which method fits best.
  • Enough ports and power. Each USB mic needs its own USB port. If you use a hub, a powered hub (one with its own power adapter) is the safer choice because microphones can draw more power than an unpowered hub supplies. Our guide to USB power settings in Windows 10 helps if mics disconnect randomly.
  • Microphone access turned on. In Windows 10 privacy settings, apps need permission to use the mic. Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and make sure access is on, including for desktop apps.
  • Headphones. When two mics are live in one room, speakers can feed sound back into them and cause echo. Headphones prevent that.

Check that Windows sees both microphones

  1. Plug in both microphones.
  2. Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
  3. Under Input, open the device list. Expected result: Both microphones appear.
  4. Select each one in turn and speak. Expected result: The input level bar moves for each mic.

If a mic doesn’t appear or the bar stays flat, Microsoft’s Fix microphone problems page covers permissions, drivers, and the recording troubleshooter.

Method 1: Record or Stream Two Mics in OBS Studio

OBS Studio is free, open-source recording and streaming software. It can capture several microphones at once because each mic is added as a separate source. According to the OBS audio sources guide, the Audio Input Capture source adds an input device such as a microphone to a scene.

  1. Install and open OBS Studio. Download it from the official site, obsproject.com.
  2. Add the first mic. In the Sources box at the bottom, click the plus (+) button and choose Audio Input Capture. Name it, for example “Mic 1 – Host,” and click OK.
  3. Pick the device. In the Device list, choose your first microphone and click OK. Expected result: “Mic 1 – Host” appears in the Audio Mixer with a level meter.
  4. Add the second mic. Repeat steps 2 and 3, choose the second microphone, and name it “Mic 2 – Guest.”
  5. Test the levels. Have each person speak. Expected result: Each mic’s meter moves independently. Drag the volume sliders so both voices peak at a similar level, in the yellow range rather than the red.
  6. Avoid doubles. Warning: if either mic is also selected in Settings > Audio (under the global mic or auxiliary audio devices), OBS will capture it twice and you may hear echo. Set those global mic entries to Disabled or remove the duplicate source.
  7. Record or stream. Click Start Recording or Start Streaming. Both mics are included.

Record each mic on its own track (optional)

For editing later, OBS can put each source on a separate audio track. In the Audio Mixer, open the gear or menu icon and choose Advanced Audio Properties, then tick different track numbers for each mic. In the output settings, set Recording to Advanced mode and enable those tracks. Labels can vary between OBS versions, and your video editor must support multitrack files to see them separately.

Method 2: Use a USB Audio Interface or Mixer

An audio interface is a small box that connects microphones to your computer through one USB cable. A model with two or more XLR inputs lets you plug in two mics, and Windows sees the interface as a single input device with multiple channels. This is the most reliable setup for podcasts and music because both mics share one clock, so they never drift out of sync.

  1. Connect the interface to your PC with its USB cable and install the maker’s driver if it provides one.
  2. Plug in both mics using XLR cables. If you use condenser mics, turn on phantom power (often labeled 48V) on the interface.
  3. Set the gain for each input with the interface’s knobs, so each voice is loud without clipping (most interfaces show a red light when a signal clips).
  4. Choose the interface as the input in your recording app. Expected result: The app sees input 1 and input 2.
  5. Record. In a multitrack app, assign input 1 and input 2 to separate tracks. In a single-input app such as a call app, both mics are heard together.

A small analog mixer with a USB output works in a similar way, but many mixers send one stereo mix to the PC, so you can’t edit each voice separately later. If you need separate tracks, choose a multitrack interface.

Avoid a simple Y-cable that joins two mics into one headset jack. It can split the small power the computer supplies to the mics, lowering volume, and results are unreliable.

Method 3: Use Manufacturer Software (RØDE Connect)

Some microphone makers offer free software that merges their USB mics. RØDE Connect is free for Windows and Mac and supports up to four compatible RØDE microphones on one computer, including the NT-USB Mini, PodMic USB, and Wireless GO II.

  1. Download and install RØDE Connect from RØDE’s website.
  2. Connect your compatible RØDE mics. Use a powered USB hub if you run out of ports.
  3. Open RØDE Connect and assign each mic to one of the channels in the setup screen, then continue.
  4. Adjust levels and processing in the mixer view.
  5. Record inside the app, or choose the RØDE Connect virtual output as your microphone in another app. RØDE says this works with streaming and call apps such as OBS and Microsoft Teams.

Only listed RØDE models work with RØDE Connect, and RØDE notes that some features are limited on certain devices. If you use another brand, check its website for similar software.

Method 4: Merge Mics With Voicemeeter

Voicemeeter Banana is a third-party virtual audio mixer for Windows, offered as donationware (free to use, pay what you want). It has three hardware inputs and two virtual inputs, and it creates virtual devices that other apps can select as a microphone. It’s the option to use when an app, such as a video call app, accepts only one mic.

  1. Install Voicemeeter Banana from the developer’s website and restart your PC when prompted.
  2. Assign your mics. Under Hardware Input 1, choose your first microphone; under Hardware Input 2, choose the second.
  3. Route both inputs to the same virtual output bus using each strip’s routing buttons (labels can vary by version).
  4. Pick Voicemeeter as your mic in your call or recording app. Look for an input with Voicemeeter in its name. Expected result: Both mics are heard through that one input.

Voicemeeter is powerful but has a learning curve, and a mixed feed means you can’t separate the two voices later. It isn’t made by Microsoft, so download it only from the developer’s official site.

What About Audacity?

Audacity is a popular free audio editor, but its manual states it records from only one sound device at a time. That means two separate USB mics won’t record into Audacity at once unless you combine them first. The Audacity recording FAQ suggests routing tools such as Voicemeeter, and it warns that two separate devices have independent clocks, so their recordings can drift apart over time.

Audacity works well with Method 2: plug both mics into one multichannel audio interface, pick that interface as the recording device, and set the channel count to 2 in the recording settings.

Which Method Should You Use?

Your goal Best method Separate tracks? Cost
Streaming or screen recording OBS Studio Yes, with tracks enabled Free
Podcast with XLR mics USB audio interface Yes Interface purchase
Podcast with RØDE USB mics RØDE Connect Mixed, or per channel in app Free
Video call with two people Voicemeeter, or an interface No Voicemeeter is donationware; an interface is a purchase
Recording in Audacity Audio interface Yes Interface purchase

Troubleshooting

Only one microphone shows up

Try a different USB port, preferably one directly on the computer. If you’re using two identical USB mics, they may appear with the same name, which makes them easy to confuse. Unplug one to see which entry disappears. Some identical models may not both be recognized at once; manufacturer software or an interface avoids this.

One mic keeps cutting out

This usually points to power. Use a powered USB hub, and check that USB power saving isn’t turning the port off.

Echo or doubled voices

Wear headphones, keep mics a few feet apart and pointed toward each speaker, and make sure the same mic isn’t added twice in OBS.

One voice is much quieter

Adjust each mic’s gain or slider separately. For more options, see our guide to making a mic louder on Windows 10.

An app ignores the combined input

Many apps have their own microphone setting that overrides the Windows default. Open the app’s audio or device settings and choose the interface, the RØDE Connect virtual device, or the Voicemeeter input by name. In Windows 10, you can also set a microphone for a specific app from the Sound settings page, under an advanced option usually labeled App volume and device preferences; the label can vary by version. Restart the app after changing its input, since some apps only check for devices when they start.

OBS shows a mic but the meter doesn’t move

Open the source’s properties and confirm the right device is selected, since two similar mics are easy to mix up. Also check that the source isn’t muted in the Audio Mixer (look for a crossed-out speaker icon) and that Windows microphone access is on for desktop apps.

The two recordings drift out of sync

Separate USB devices use separate clocks. For long recordings, an audio interface with both mics keeps them locked together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Windows 10 use two microphones at once without extra software?

Not in the standard settings. Windows uses one default input at a time. You need an app like OBS Studio, or hardware or software that combines the mics.

Can I use two USB microphones on one computer?

Yes. Windows will detect both, and OBS Studio, RØDE Connect (for compatible mics), or Voicemeeter can use them together.

Will both mics work in Zoom or Teams?

These apps take one microphone input. Merge both mics with Voicemeeter, RØDE Connect, or an audio interface, then choose that single input in the app.

Is an audio interface worth it?

If you record regularly with two people, yes. It’s the most reliable way to get clean, synced, separate tracks.

Can I use a headset mic and a USB mic together?

Yes, with OBS Studio or Voicemeeter, although the two will sound different.

Does this work the same way in Windows 11?

Yes. The methods are the same; only some Settings names differ.

Summary

  1. Confirm both mics appear under Settings > System > Sound.
  2. Stream or record video with OBS Studio, adding each mic as an Audio Input Capture.
  3. For podcasts, use a USB audio interface with two inputs.
  4. For RØDE USB mics, use RØDE Connect.
  5. For single-mic apps, merge both with Voicemeeter.

Next step: plug in both microphones, check that Windows lists them, then add each one to OBS Studio as an Audio Input Capture and do a short test recording.

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