Discord, the popular communication platform beloved by gamers and communities alike, offers a variety of features beyond just voice and text chat. One of the most sought-after functionalities is the ability to play music directly in Discord servers. Whether you’re hosting a gaming session, throwing a virtual party, or simply want to enjoy some tunes with friends, Discord provides several methods to bring music into your server. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the various ways to play music in Discord, covering everything from bots to streaming services.
Using Music Bots
Music bots are third-party applications that integrate with Discord to provide music streaming functionality. These bots can join your voice channel and play music from a wide range of sources, including YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more. Here’s how to use them:
- Find a Music Bot: Start by searching for a music bot to add to your Discord server. Popular options include Rythm, Groovy, and FredBoat. You can find these bots on bot listing websites or by searching within Discord’s bot repository.
- Invite the Bot: Once you’ve found a bot you like, invite it to your server by following the provided invitation link. Make sure to grant the necessary permissions for the bot to join voice channels and play music.
- Summon the Bot: Use the bot’s prefix followed by a command to summon it to your voice channel. For example, you might type “!play [song name]” to instruct the bot to play a specific song.
- Control Playback: Most music bots offer a variety of commands to control playback, including pausing, skipping tracks, adjusting volume, and creating playlists. Refer to the bot’s documentation or help command for a list of available commands.
- Enjoy the Music: Once the bot is in your voice channel and playing music, sit back, relax, and enjoy the tunes with your friends.
Streaming Music with Discord’s Built-in Features
In addition to using third-party bots, Discord also offers built-in features for streaming music directly from your device. While not as feature-rich as dedicated music bots, this method can be useful for quickly sharing music with others. Here’s how to do it:
- Share Your Screen: Start by joining a voice channel in your Discord server and sharing your screen. You can do this by clicking the “Share Your Screen” button located next to your username in the voice channel.
- Play Music: Once your screen is being shared, open your preferred music player or streaming service on your device and start playing music. Discord will stream the audio from your device to everyone in the voice channel.
- Adjust Settings: Discord allows you to choose whether to share audio from specific applications or your entire screen. Make sure to adjust these settings according to your preferences before sharing your screen.
- Interact with Your Audience: While streaming music through Discord, you can still communicate with others in the voice channel via voice chat or text chat. This makes it easy to discuss the music being played or coordinate playlists with friends.
Using Discord Music Bots with Streaming Services
Some music bots support integration with popular streaming services like Spotify, allowing you to play music directly from these platforms within Discord. Here’s how to set it up:
- Find a Compatible Bot: Look for a music bot that offers integration with your preferred streaming service. For example, some bots may support Spotify, while others may support Apple Music or YouTube Music.
- Authorize Access: Follow the bot’s instructions to authorize access to your streaming service account. This typically involves logging in with your credentials and granting permission for the bot to access your account.
- Use Commands: Once you’ve authorized access, you can use the bot’s commands to search for and play music from the streaming service directly within Discord. For example, you might type “!play [song name]” to search for a song on Spotify and add it to the queue.
- Enjoy Seamless Playback: With the integration set up, you can enjoy seamless playback of music from your favorite streaming service without ever leaving Discord. This makes it easy to share your favorite tracks and playlists with friends.
Hosting Virtual Concerts and DJ Sets
In addition to playing music casually in Discord servers, some communities use the platform to host virtual concerts and DJ sets. This involves streaming live performances or DJ mixes directly into a Discord voice channel for attendees to enjoy. Here’s how to do it:
- Set Up a Voice Channel: Create a dedicated voice channel in your Discord server for the event, and make sure to set the appropriate permissions to allow attendees to join and listen.
- Use Streaming Software: Set up streaming software on your computer to broadcast audio to Discord. Popular options include OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS, and XSplit.
- Configure Audio Settings: Within your streaming software, configure the audio settings to capture your microphone and any music playing on your computer. This allows you to provide live commentary or mix music during the event.
- Promote the Event: Spread the word about your virtual concert or DJ set through social media, Discord announcements, or community forums to attract attendees.
- Host the Event: When the time comes, start your stream and begin performing live in the voice channel. Attendees can join the channel to listen and interact with you and other participants in real-time.
Conclusion
Playing music in Discord opens up a world of possibilities for socializing, gaming, and hosting virtual events. Whether you prefer using dedicated music bots, streaming music from your device, or hosting live performances, Discord provides the tools you need to share your favorite tunes with friends and communities. Experiment with different methods and find the approach that works best for your needs, and remember to respect copyright laws and Discord’s terms of service when sharing music in your server. Happy listening!
