BranchOut Audio Documentation

1

Getting Started

01 Download & Install

1. Download from Downloads
2. Run the installer
3. Launch from Start menu

02 First Launch

• Default Output shows your current Windows audio device
• Available Speakers lists all other audio outputs

03 Select Speakers

1. Check the boxes for speakers you want
2. Selected speakers move to "Branching To"
3. Unselected stay in "More Speakers"

04 Start Branching

1. Select at least one speaker
2. Click Start Branching
3. Audio plays everywhere!

Basic Controls

V

System Volume

Controls Windows master volume

S

Per-Speaker Volume

Adjust each speaker independently

R

Rename Speakers

Click pencil icon for custom names

2

Features

🔊

Audio Branching

Captures audio from Windows default output and routes it to all selected speakers in real-time.

Spotify YouTube Games System Sounds Everything

🎧

Device Management

Automatic Detection - Plug in a speaker and it appears instantly.

🔊

Speaker

3.5mm, Built-in

📶

Bluetooth

Wireless

🔌

USB

DACs, Speakers

📺

HDMI

Monitors, TVs

🎚 Volume Control

System Volume - Master slider
Per-Speaker - Independent 0-100%
Volume Meters - Real-time levels

⚙ Automation

Branch on App Start - Auto-start
Pause on Silence - Save resources

📌 System Tray

Minimizes to tray • Green = ready, Orange = active • Right-click to toggle • Double-click to open

!

Understanding Latency

Why Latency Happens

Different audio paths have different processing times. When you branch audio to multiple speakers, each may receive the signal at slightly different times.

🔌

Wired USB

5-20ms

Minimal

📶

Bluetooth

100-300ms

Noticeable

📺

HDMI

Variable

Depends on display

When It Doesn't Matter

If speakers are in different rooms, you won't notice the delay. For whole-home audio - music in the kitchen and living room - the 100-300ms delay is unnoticeable.

Same-Room Workarounds

1. Use wired speakers only
2. Turn down the closer speaker
3. Avoid mixing Bluetooth with wired
4. Position speakers at different distances

🎚

Zero-Latency USB Audio Driver

Coming Soon

We're developing a custom USB audio driver for true zero-latency monitoring, eliminating delay between speakers. Sign up to be notified when it's ready:

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Troubleshooting

No Audio on Branch Speakers ▼

1. Check branch speaker volume isn't at 0%
2. Verify speaker is powered on and connected
3. Look at volume meter - if moving, audio is being sent
4. Stop and restart branching

Echo or Delay ▼

Different speakers have different latencies. Bluetooth adds 100-300ms.

Solutions:

• Use wired speakers when sync matters
• Put speakers in different rooms
• Turn down the closer speaker

Learn more about latency →

Device Not Appearing ▼

1. Check Windows Sound settings - device must appear there first
2. Click Refresh button in BranchOut
3. Disconnect and reconnect the device
4. Check Device Manager for driver issues

Branching Stops Unexpectedly ▼

If "Pause on silence" is enabled, branching stops after 4 seconds of no audio. This is normal - play audio to restart automatically.

App Won't Start ▼

1. Ensure .NET Runtime is installed
2. Try running as Administrator
3. Delete settings to reset: %APPDATA%\BranchoutAudio\settings.json

Q

FAQ

Is BranchOut really free?

Yes, completely free. No trial, no premium tier, no limits.

Will it work with my speakers?

If Windows can see them in Sound settings, BranchOut can use them.

Does it work with Spotify/YouTube?

Yes - any audio playing through Windows gets branched.

Can I add speakers while branching?

Yes, changes apply immediately.

Where are settings saved?

%APPDATA%\BranchoutAudio\settings.json

Is there a Mac version?

Not currently. BranchOut uses Windows-specific audio APIs.

System Requirements

✓ Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)

✓ .NET Runtime

✓ 1+ audio output devices

BranchOut Audio