Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is mentioned below. SofaDeck isn't a soundboard; this guide shows how to use any deck, including SofaDeck, to trigger one. Facts about other products were checked on their makers' own sites on 10 October 2026 and can change — confirm before you buy.
A soundboard button — air horn, rimshot, "bruh", your stream's jingle — is one of the first things people put on a Stream Deck. The part that trips people up is where the sound goes. A button that just plays a file makes noise in your headphones; your Discord friends or stream viewers hear nothing. Getting it right takes two pieces: a soundboard program on the PC that sends audio where it needs to go, and a deck (hardware, or your phone) that triggers it.
Step 1: choose where the sound should be heard
- Only in your stream: add the sound as a source in OBS, or let a soundboard play to a device OBS captures. Your voice chat won't hear it.
- In voice chat (Discord, a game): the sound must enter your microphone signal. That's what dedicated soundboard programs are for.
- Just in the room: any player will do — play the file through the speakers.
Step 2: pick a soundboard that has hotkeys
The deck triggers sounds by pressing keys, so the soundboard needs a global hotkey per sound. Options worth knowing:
- Soundpad (sold on Steam) — gives each sound its own hotkey and plays sounds into your recording device, so people in voice chat hear them. It's a paid program; check the Steam page for the current price in your region.
- Discord's built-in soundboard — plays sounds to everyone in a voice channel. Discord lists Ctrl+Shift+B (Cmd+Shift+B on Mac) as the shortcut to open the soundboard, which you can put on a button.
- Voice-changer apps with soundboards — several include one; check which features their free tier covers before you build a page around it.
- OBS — a Media Source per sound, with a hotkey for each under Settings → Hotkeys, plays into the stream only.
Step 3: put the hotkeys on your phone
In the soundboard, bind each sound to a key nobody uses — F13 to F24 are ideal if your soundboard accepts them, otherwise a combination like Ctrl+Alt+1. Then make one button per sound on your deck with the same key. With SofaDeck: add a button with a key action, enter the hotkey and label it with the sound's name. Single keys are free; combinations need Pro ($9.99 once).
Because SofaDeck buttons can be pressed by voice, saying air horn
into the phone fires the button labeled "Air horn" — handy when your hands are on a controller.
Layout tips
- Keep a soundboard on its own page so a stray tap during a scene change doesn't play a meme.
- Put a Stop all sounds button (most soundboards have a hotkey for it) in the same corner on every page.
- Normalise the volume of your clips first; a deck makes it very easy to blast a too-loud file.
- Respect the room: many Discord servers have rules about soundboards.
For the rest of a streaming deck — scenes, mic mute, Go Live — see use your phone as a Stream Deck for streaming and the OBS phone remote guide.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getSofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio LLC and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elgato, Corsair or any other company named here. Stream Deck is a trademark of Corsair Memory, Inc.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use my phone as a soundboard for Discord or a stream?
Yes, as the trigger. The sounds should be played by a soundboard program on the PC, which mixes them into your microphone or stream. The phone deck just presses each sound's hotkey. Playing sounds out of the phone's own speaker won't reach your voice chat cleanly.
How do Stream Deck soundboards play through the microphone?
The sound has to be routed into the audio your chat app or OBS captures. Soundboard programs do this by extending or replacing your recording device; with OBS you can also add the sound's output as an audio source. A button that only plays a file through your speakers is heard by you, not by your listeners (unless your mic picks it up).
Does SofaDeck have a built-in soundboard?
No. SofaDeck can open a sound file in your default player, which plays it through the PC's speakers, but it doesn't mix audio into your mic. For a real soundboard, use a soundboard program and put its hotkeys on SofaDeck buttons.