End of Transmission Cut Off After Foot Switch Release – Flex6000 with VoiceMeeter

Thanks for the response! I suppose I could tolerate a little latency in the TX audio path if there were an easy way to add a delay after releasing the foot PTT switch. However, what concerns me more is a potential additional small delay in the TX receive path when routing sound through VoiceMeeter. That would be completely unacceptable in a CW contest scenario.

Based on this, I’ve decided to remove VoiceMeeter entirely and hope that SmartSDR adds a built-in feature for sending pre-recorded messages in the future.

How I Eliminated Latency When Using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 + VoiceMeeter Potato with SmartSDR for Windows

1. Install and run VoiceMeeter Potato as administrator
   Download and install VoiceMeeter Potato (x64) from VB-Audio. Then right-click the VoiceMeeter icon and choose “Run as administrator.” This ensures Potato can detect and use the Scarlett’s ASIO driver correctly.
   
2. Install VB-CABLE Virtual Audio Device.
   https://vb-audio.com/Cable/
   
3. Set A1 hardware output to Focusrite USB ASIO
   In the main Potato window, click the A1 button (upper right). From the dropdown, choose “ASIO: Focusrite USB ASIO.” Now Potato is using the Scarlett’s native ASIO driver, instead of going through Windows WDM. You’ll see this confirmation under “OUT A1 Main Device” in System Settings.
   
   
4. Patch Scarlett inputs to Potato strips
   
   • Open Menu → System Settings / Options… and scroll down to “PATCH ASIO Inputs to Strips.”
     Make changes seen above and close the Settings.
     After this,you will see:
     
     
5. Disable any WDM/MME inputs on those ****s
   In the main Potato window, open the dropdown above the fader for “Stereo Input 1.” Click remove selection. That ensures **** 1 only listens to ASIO In 1. Do the same under “Stereo Input 2” so **** 2 only listens to ASIO In 2.
   
6. Route each **** to VB-Cable (Virtual Audio Cable)
   • Under “Stereo Input 1,” click the A3 button so it lights up green. That means “Send everything on **** 1 out via A3.”
   • Go back to Menu → System Settings / Options…, scroll down to “OUT A3,” and choose “WDM: CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).” Now RØDE NT1 (Scarlett In 1) is sent out to VB-Cable.
   • Under “Stereo Input 2,” click the A4 button so it lights up green. Then in System Settings → “OUT A4,” choose “WDM: CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).” Now RØDE NTH-100M (Scarlett In 2) is sent out to VB-Cable as well. (If you only have one VB-Cable installed, you can use A3 for both strips, but using A3+A4 lets you adjust two mics independently.)
     
7. Tell Windows to use VB-Cable as your microphone
   Open Settings → System → Sound → Input. Under “Choose your input device,” select “CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).” In SmartSDR (Windows), set Mic Source to “PC,” so it reads from your Windows microphone, i.e. VB-Cable.

Why SmartSDR’s Mic Volume Slider No Longer Works
Once your mic is routed through VB-Cable, SmartSDR sees a “fixed-level” virtual audio stream. Its Mic Volume slider only adjusts physical Windows mic gain; VB-Cable has no built-in gain control, so SmartSDR cannot change that level. You must control your mic level in VoiceMeeter Potato, via the **** fader before it hits VB-Cable.

Banana vs. Potato
If you only use a single mic and don’t mind about 10 ms of latency, VoiceMeeter Banana would have been simpler. I wouldn't do it.

Key Points & Tips
• Run VoiceMeeter Potato as administrator so it can see the Scarlett ASIO driver.

Following these steps eliminated both latency and weak-mic issues. I tested it this evening, no lag, strong mic levels, and I can even monitor my own mic with zero latency. I hope it helps. Good luck on the air!

Some more reading FWIW…

Using ASIO is the key because it bypasses Windows’s generic audio layers (WDM/MME), giving you:

1. Ultra-Low Latency
   ASIO talks directly to the Scarlett’s hardware, so your mic audio reaches VoiceMeeter and SmartSDR in under 5 ms—no perceptible lag.
2. Dedicated Channel Routing
   You get direct access to each physical input (In 1 vs. In 2) without Windows mixing them together. That means you can put your RØDE NT1 on one **** and your headset mic on another, with zero crosstalk.
3. Stable, Consistent Sample Rates
   ASIO locks onto the Scarlett’s native 48 kHz clock. You eliminate sample-rate drift, dropouts, and resampling artifacts that often plague WDM.
4. Full Dynamic Control
   Because ASIO hands off a clean, unaltered “bit-perfect” stream to VoiceMeeter, you can use VoiceMeeter’s fader, compressor, gate, and EQ to shape your signal—SmartSDR sees exactly what you send, with no hidden Windows gain staging.

In short, ASIO gives you a direct, high-performance path from microphone → VoiceMeeter → SmartSDR. Without it, you’ll suffer higher latency, weaker/unstable levels, and less precise control

Cheers!