A lot of our customers with portable devices like the Zen Go, Zen Q, and the Discrete 4 are using them not only for audio production, but for different purposes like streaming for example. Due to our Internal routing mechanisms and workflow - it might take time to get our devices to work properly with Streaming Software like OBS for example.
We've decided to create this article in order for users to understand how to get everything up and running properly. The things covered in the Article are not only for OBS, but for any other Streaming app which uses the same Inputs/Outputs settings.
OBS Offers 2 Inputs and 2 Outputs - meaning that using 2 channels of system audio and at least 1 input channel might be a bit hard to figure out. Each Antelope Audio device has its own Internal Mixers - with the portable devices having the Mixers hard routed to a certain output.
Discrete/Zen Go/Q Interfaces
Let's first check out what you have to do in the Discrete series simplified panels.
First off - go to the "DAW I/O" Section of your device - I will be applying Screenshots from my D4.
In the DAW I/O - select the first 2 Record Channels' Inputs to be "Loopback HP1/Mon 1/2", or "Loopback HP2 1/2" -I'd select the second one, as I'd still like to be able to make changes to the Monitor one without affecting anything else within OBS. The "Loopback 1/2" Channels are basically the summed signal from each Internal Mixer.
After that, go to the HP1/Monitor Mixer, or the HP2 Mixer (depending on which one you decided to use), set the 3rd and 4rd channel to play signal from "Computer Play 1" and "Computer Play 2", and then set channels 5, 6, etc. to play signal from your Preamp/Preamps, while also muting the Loopback channels within the mixer:
In this way - the first 2 Input channels, which OBS Uses, will be your Stereo Computer Audio and your Mic/Mics.
This helps go around the 2 channel limitation, as you're effectively summing multiple channel into a signal Stereo Couple. This stereo couple is sent back to the Record Channels of your Interface as Loopback 1 and Loopback 2 channels.
Devices with advanced routing matrix
Now let's see how we can do that with devices with advanced routing matrix like the Orion series interfaces.
The logic is the same as in the simplified panel, however the approach is a bit different.
Firstly - go the Routing Section of your device and select the "USB Play/TB Play/Computer Play/DAW Out" 1/2 channels (They are named in a different way depending on the device, but are basically the computer audio 1/2 (Left/Right channels)).
On the Lower Part of the Routing Panel - you will see the "MIX CH 1-4" rows of blocks. Those are the Input Points of the Antelope's Internal Mixers. Each row has 32 Blocks, which represent its 32 Inputs. Send the Computer Play 1-2 Channels to which ever pair of blocks on whichever Mixer you decide. For this example - let's use Mixer 2 and send Computer Play 1-2 to the Mixer 2's First and Second inputs, then send the Mic signal from the Preamp to the Mixer's 3rd input:
Simply drag and drop the "USB Play/TB Play/Computer Play/DAW Out" 1/2 channels into "MIX CH 2" first and second blocks (From left to right)
After that - send the Preamp 1 Signal to the third block of "MIX CH 2" (From left to right)
After that, navigate to the "MIXERS" tab of your Control Panel, go to Mixer 2 and Pan/Set the Volumes of the Computer Audio and Preamp/Preamps from there. After that - navigate to the "MIXERS" tab of your Control Panel, go to Mixer 2 and Pan/Set the Volumes of the Computer Audio and Preamp/Preamps from there.
The Signal from Mixer 2 then goes to the "MIX 2 L/R" channels in the upper part of the Control Panel of your device. The 1-2 Blocks from the "MIX 2 L/R" row actually represent this Mixer's Left/Right Outputs, containing the sum of all audio sent to the second Mixer.
Select the MIX 2 L/R blocks and drag and drop them to the first Computer/USB/TB/DAW Rec Channels. As OBS only uses the first 2 inputs of your interface, this will make those 2 inputs capture all the Audio which we've sent to Mixer 2 (The DAW/System's Outputs, and the Mic/Mics Signal)
*It's Important to note that OBS has an ASIO Plugin for Windows Users, which is used in order to be able to stream signal from your DAW. If you have any questions on that topic - we'd recommend consulting with OBS's support on the Topic, so that they can give you the most detailed information on how to set up your configuration.