> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vaudiolink.eu/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connection modes

> Choose between Direct, Follow Discord, and a self-hosted relay.

| Mode                 | Products                    | Host account | Guest account                | Best for                                        |
| -------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------ | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Direct hosted room   | All products                | Required     | Not required                 | Private key-based sessions                      |
| Follow Discord       | ASMR and Music when enabled | Required     | Depends on managed-room flow | Communities using Discord voice presence        |
| Self-hosted from OBS | ASMR Collab and Scene Share | Not required | Not required                 | Running the relay locally from the product dock |

## Direct room

Direct is the universal connection path across vAudioLink.

1. The signed-in host creates a room.
2. The host privately shares the expiring guest key.
3. The accountless guest pastes the key in the matching product dock.
4. Both peers manage media from their vAudioLink docks in OBS.

Use Direct for one-off sessions, guests who are not in your Discord server, and any Scene Share workflow.

<Card title="Choose a role-based Direct guide" icon="route" href="/quickstart">
  Follow exact host, guest, sender, or receiver steps.
</Card>

## Follow Discord

Follow Discord is available to ASMR Collab and Music Collab when the feature is enabled for the account and community. It uses Discord voice presence to select the collaboration room.

Discord carries presence and talkback. vAudioLink carries production audio.

<Warning>
  Scene Share does not use Follow Discord. It is a one-way whole-program video workflow, not a live audio call.
</Warning>

Sending does not start merely because you join a Discord voice channel. The dock requires the relevant opt-in before it begins sending.

<Card title="Set up Follow Discord" icon="discord" href="/guides/follow-discord">
  Link the account, join the bound voice channel, opt in, and verify room changes.
</Card>

## Self-hosted

Self-hosting starts the bundled local relay or server from the product's **Self-host** tab in OBS. The host creates the connection in the dock and sends the generated guest key or Receiver SRT URL to their partner.

Use the [Self-host from OBS guide](/self-hosting) for the complete ASMR Collab and Scene Share flows.

## Avoid duplicate routing

If Discord audio and vAudioLink audio both enter the OBS stream mix, the audience may hear the same person twice or hear delayed echo.

* Decide whether Discord is talkback-only or part of the program mix.
* Keep incoming vAudioLink sources on **Monitor Off** by default.
* Check OBS Advanced Audio Properties before going live.

<Card title="Troubleshoot echo or routing" icon="stethoscope" href="/troubleshooting/audio#unexpected-echo-or-delayed-self-voice">
  Work from the incoming source toward the OBS program mix.
</Card>