Windows & Linux
The same app. A different way in.
SoundRelay has the same features and the same sound files on Windows, Linux and Steam Deck. What differs is how each system lets an app send sound into a microphone, and how hotkeys reach an app in the background.
- Windows
- Linux
- Steam Deck
One library, every system
Your sound files work on Windows, Linux and Steam Deck
A sound file is the same file everywhere. A clip you add on Windows plays on Linux and on the Steam Deck with nothing to convert, and the other way round. Steam Cloud carries your sound files between your computers, and a Workshop clip is the same item on every system.
Side by side
What is different
The short version: Windows needs a driver and a restart once; Linux needs neither, but hotkeys depend on your desktop.
| Windows | Linux and Steam Deck | |
|---|---|---|
| The virtual microphone | Comes from VB-CABLE, a virtual audio cable driver from VB-Audio. It is included with SoundRelay. | SoundRelay creates it itself each time it starts, through PipeWire or PulseAudio. |
| Driver to install | Yes, once. The setup guide installs VB-CABLE. Windows asks for permission. | None. |
| Restart | Needed after the driver is installed. | Not needed. |
| How your voice gets in | You switch on Listen to this device for your microphone in the Windows sound settings and point it at the cable. The setup guide shows each click. | SoundRelay links your microphone to the virtual one by itself. There is no system setting to change. |
| Microphone to pick in Discord and games | CABLE Output | SoundRelay_Microphone_Input |
| Setup guide | 5 steps, including the Windows sound settings. | 4 steps. The system sound settings step is skipped. |
| Global hotkeys | Work while any window has focus. | X11: work while any window has focus. Wayland: always work while a game running through Proton has focus. On KDE Plasma, combinations with Ctrl, Alt or Meta and the F keys also work in every other window. Plain letter and number keys work in every window only after you set “Legacy X11 App Support” to “Always” in KDE's System Settings. |
| What the system needs | Nothing besides the included driver. | PipeWire with pipewire-pulse, or PulseAudio. |
| When the app is closed | The cable stays installed. Remove VBCABLE in Settings uninstalls it. | The virtual microphone is removed when SoundRelay quits. Nothing stays behind. |
| Before setup is finished | Without the cable, SoundRelay still plays clips on your speakers. | There is nothing to finish: the microphone is there when the app starts. |
| Tested on | Windows. | SteamOS, Bazzite and CachyOS. Most Fedora-based and Arch-based systems are expected to work, but they have not all been tested. |
| Sound files | The same on both. MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A and WebM. A clip from one system plays on the other with nothing to convert. | |
| Features | The same on both. Workshop, Steam Cloud, picture icons, tags, hotkeys, presets, editor and recorder. | |
Cross-compatible
What is the same everywhere
Use Windows at your desk and a Steam Deck on the sofa: it is one library.
- Sound files. The same MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A and WebM files play on Windows, Linux and Steam Deck. Nothing is converted.
- Steam Cloud. Your sound files sync between your computers, whichever system each one runs.
- Steam Workshop. A Workshop clip is one audio file. The same item can be subscribed to from every system, whichever one it was published from.
- Picture icons and tags. Workshop clips bring their picture and tags with them on every system.
- The app. The same library, editor, recorder, presets and settings pages.
- The price. One purchase on Steam covers Windows, Linux and Steam Deck.
Your clips. Your voice. One microphone.
SoundRelay is on Steam for Windows, Linux and Steam Deck. $4.99, bought once.
