OBS Audio Setup Complete Guide: Perfect Microphone & Sound Settings 2025

# OBS Audio Setup Complete Guide: Perfect Microphone & Sound Settings 2025

## Why Audio Matters More Than Video

**Viewers will tolerate 720p video, but they'll LEAVE if audio is bad.**

Poor audio includes:
- Background noise (fans, keyboard, AC)
- Echoing or hollow sound
- Volume too quiet or too loud
- Clipping/distortion
- Inconsistent levels

This guide fixes all of these issues.

---

## OBS Audio Basics

### Audio Channels in OBS

OBS has **6 audio tracks**:
- **Desktop Audio** – All PC sounds (game, music, alerts)
- **Mic/Aux** – Your microphone
- **Tracks 3-6** – Additional sources (Discord, alerts, music player, etc.)

**Where to See Audio:**
- Bottom of OBS window → Audio Mixer section
- Shows live volume meters for each source

---

### Understanding the Audio Meter

**Green** → Good level (-20 to -6 dB)
**Yellow** → Approaching max (-6 to -3 dB)
**Red** → Clipping/Distortion (0 dB+) ⚠️ Avoid red!

**Target:** Keep your mic in green, peaking into yellow on loud parts.

---

## Step 1: Basic Microphone Setup

### Add Your Microphone

1. **Settings → Audio**
2. **Mic/Auxiliary Audio** dropdown
3. Select your microphone:
- USB Mic: "USB Audio Device" or mic name
- XLR Mic (with interface): Audio interface name
- Headset: "Headset Microphone"

### Set Sample Rate
- **48 kHz** (professional standard) ✅
- Not 44.1 kHz (music production)

### Set Channels
- **Mono** for single mic ✅
- **Stereo** for dual-mic or audio interface

---

## Step 2: Microphone Positioning

**Physical setup matters more than software!**

### Optimal Mic Distance
- **USB/Dynamic Mic:** 2-4 inches from mouth
- **Condenser Mic:** 4-8 inches from mouth
- **Headset Mic:** 1-2 inches from corner of mouth

### Mic Angle
- Point mic capsule toward your mouth
- **NOT** pointing at ceiling or side
- Check your mic's polar pattern (usually front-address)

### Avoid These Mistakes
❌ Mic too far = hollow, echo-y sound
❌ Mic too close = plosives (P, B, T sounds pop)
❌ Mic facing keyboard = loud typing sounds

**Pro Tip:** Use a boom arm to keep mic close without being in your face!

---

## Step 3: Set Proper Mic Volume

### In Windows

**Step 1: Open Sound Settings**
- Right-click speaker icon (taskbar)
- "Sound settings"
- "Sound Control Panel" (on the right)

**Step 2: Set Mic Level**
- "Recording" tab
- Double-click your microphone
- "Levels" tab
- Set microphone level to **70-100%**
- Set microphone boost to **0 dB** (unless mic is super quiet)

**Step 3: Test**
- "Listen" tab
- ☑ "Listen to this device" (temporarily)
- Talk into mic
- Adjust until comfortable level
- ☐ Uncheck "Listen to this device" when done

---

### In OBS

**Adjust OBS Mic Volume:**
1. Look at Audio Mixer (bottom of OBS)
2. Find your "Mic/Aux" slider
3. Talk at normal streaming volume
4. Adjust slider so meter sits in **green zone** (-20 to -6 dB)
5. Peaks should briefly hit yellow on loud parts

**Target dB Levels:**
- Normal talking: -18 to -12 dB
- Loud talking/laughing: -9 to -6 dB
- Never hit red (0 dB)

---

## Step 4: Essential Audio Filters

OBS has built-in audio filters to clean up your mic sound.

**How to Add Filters:**
1. Audio Mixer → Click ⚙️ (gear icon) next to "Mic/Aux"
2. Select "Filters"
3. Click **+** (plus) in bottom left
4. Add filters in this exact order:

---

### Filter #1: Noise Suppression ✅ Must-Have

**What It Does:** Removes background noise (fans, AC, PC hum)

**Add Filter:**
- Click + → Noise Suppression
- Name it "Noise Suppression"

**Settings:**
- **Method:** Speex (most compatible) or RNNoise (better but newer)
- **Suppression Level:** -30 dB (default)

**When to Use RNNoise:**
- If using OBS 28+ and want better noise removal
- Requires more CPU but worth it

**Test:**
- Stop talking → meter should show -60 dB or lower
- If noise is still visible, use RNNoise instead

---

### Filter #2: Noise Gate ✅ Must-Have

**What It Does:** Mutes mic when you're not talking (prevents breathing, keyboard, background sounds)

**Add Filter:**
- Click + → Noise Gate
- Name it "Noise Gate"

**Settings:**
- **Close Threshold:** -35 to -45 dB (adjust to your noise floor)
- **Open Threshold:** -30 to -40 dB (slightly higher than close)
- **Attack Time:** 25 ms (how fast gate opens)
- **Hold Time:** 200 ms (how long gate stays open after you stop talking)
- **Release Time:** 150 ms (how fast gate closes)

**How to Set Close Threshold:**
1. Don't talk → watch meter
2. See where noise sits (e.g., -55 dB)
3. Set Close Threshold 10 dB higher (e.g., -45 dB)

**Test:**
- Stop talking → meter should drop to -∞ (muted)
- Start talking → meter should immediately react
- If gate is "cutting off" your words → lower threshold

---

### Filter #3: Compressor ✅ Highly Recommended

**What It Does:** Evens out volume (loud parts quieter, quiet parts louder)

**Add Filter:**
- Click + → Compressor
- Name it "Compressor"

**Settings:**
- **Ratio:** 3:1 to 6:1 (higher = more compression)
- **Threshold:** -18 to -12 dB (when compression starts)
- **Attack:** 6 ms (how fast it reacts)
- **Release:** 60 ms (how fast it lets go)
- **Output Gain:** 0 to +10 dB (makeup gain if needed)
- **Sidechain/Ducking Source:** None

**Simple Explanation:**
- When you shout, compressor reduces volume → prevents clipping
- When you whisper, compressor increases volume → viewers can hear
- Result: consistent audio level

**Recommended Settings for Streamers:**

Ratio: 4:1
Threshold: -15 dB
Attack: 6 ms
Release: 60 ms
Output Gain: +5 dB

---

### Filter #4: Expander (Optional, Advanced)

**What It Does:** More aggressive noise reduction than Noise Gate

**When to Use:**
- Very noisy environment
- Noise gate alone isn't enough
- You understand audio engineering

**Settings:**
- **Ratio:** 2:1 to 4:1
- **Threshold:** -40 to -50 dB
- **Attack:** 10 ms
- **Release:** 50 ms

---

### Filter #5: Limiter (Optional, Safety Net)

**What It Does:** Prevents audio from EVER exceeding 0 dB (hard ceiling)

**Add Filter:**
- Click + → Limiter
- Name it "Limiter"

**Settings:**
- **Threshold:** -6 dB (prevents clipping)
- **Release:** 60 ms

**When to Use:**
- You yell/scream often in streams
- Playing horror games
- Extra safety to prevent distortion

---

## Complete Filter Chain (In Order)

Your filters should appear in this exact order:
1. ✅ Noise Suppression
2. ✅ Noise Gate
3. ✅ Compressor
4. ⚪ Expander (optional)
5. ⚪ Limiter (optional)

**Order matters!** Don't rearrange.

---

## Step 5: Desktop Audio (Game Sound)

### Set Desktop Audio Level

**Problem:** Game sound too loud drowns out your voice.

**Solution:**
1. Audio Mixer → "Desktop Audio" slider
2. Play your game
3. Talk at normal volume
4. Adjust Desktop Audio so it's **slightly quieter** than your mic

**Rule of Thumb:**
- **Your voice** should peak at -12 to -6 dB
- **Game audio** should peak at -18 to -12 dB

Viewers prioritize hearing YOU over game sounds.

---

### Sidechain Compression (Ducking)

**What It Does:** Automatically lowers game volume when you talk.

**How to Set Up:**
1. Desktop Audio ⚙️ → Filters
2. Add → Compressor
3. Settings:
- **Ratio:** 32:1 (maximum)
- **Threshold:** -30 dB
- **Attack:** 10 ms
- **Release:** 50 ms
- **Sidechain/Ducking Source:** Select your microphone

**Result:** When you talk, game audio dips by ~6-10 dB automatically!

**Great for:** Story-heavy games, tutorials, chatty streams

---

## Step 6: Monitoring Your Audio

### What is Audio Monitoring?

Monitoring lets YOU hear what OBS hears (with filters applied).

**Enable Monitoring:**
1. Audio Mixer → Mic ⚙️
2. "Advanced Audio Properties"
3. Your mic → Audio Monitoring → **"Monitor and Output"**

**Options:**
- **Monitor Off** – You don't hear yourself
- **Monitor Only** – You hear yourself, stream doesn't
- **Monitor and Output** – Both you and stream hear

**Warning:** If you use headphones, use "Monitor and Output". If you use speakers, DON'T monitor (causes feedback loop).

---

## Step 7: Multiple Audio Sources

### Separating Audio Sources

**Why?** Full control over each source independently.

**Common Setup:**
- Track 1: Mic
- Track 2: Desktop Audio (game)
- Track 3: Music
- Track 4: Discord

**How to Add Multiple Sources:**
1. Add audio source: Sources → + → Audio Output Capture
2. Name it (e.g., "Discord Audio")
3. Select device: "Virtual Audio Cable" or "VoiceMeeter"

**Requires:**
- Virtual audio routing software (VoiceMeeter Banana – free)
- Route Discord output to Virtual Cable
- Add Virtual Cable as OBS source

---

### VoiceMeeter Banana Setup (Free)

**Download:** vb-audio.com/Voicemeeter/banana.htm

**Quick Setup:**
1. Install VoiceMeeter Banana
2. Set VoiceMeeter Input as Windows default playback
3. Set VoiceMeeter Output as Windows default recording
4. In OBS: Add "VoiceMeeter Output" as Desktop Audio
5. Route apps through VoiceMeeter channels

**Benefit:** Separate volume control for game, music, Discord, browser, etc.

---

## Step 8: Audio Bitrate

**Where to Set:**
- Settings → Output → Audio Bitrate

**Recommended:**
- **128 kbps** – Good (most streamers)
- **160 kbps** – Better (music streams)
- **192 kbps** – Best (audiophile quality)

**Most Platforms:** Default to 160 kbps, which is perfect.

---

## Common Audio Issues & Fixes

### Issue: Mic Sounds Muffled/Hollow
**Cause:** Low sample rate, bad mic position, or foam cover too thick
**Fix:**
- Set 48 kHz sample rate
- Move mic closer (2-4 inches)
- Remove windscreen if indoors

---

### Issue: Buzzing/Humming Sound
**Cause:** Electrical interference, ground loop
**Fix:**
- Use USB hub with separate power supply
- Plug PC and audio interface into same outlet
- Get a ground loop isolator ($10 on Amazon)

---

### Issue: Echo in Recording
**Cause:** Desktop Audio is capturing mic playback
**Fix:**
- Turn off "Listen to this device" in Windows
- Or use "Monitor Only" instead of "Monitor and Output"

---

### Issue: Volume Keeps Changing
**Cause:** Windows auto-adjusting mic volume
**Fix:**
- Sound Settings → Communications → "Do nothing"
- Prevents Windows from lowering volume during calls

---

### Issue: Sounds Robotic/Distorted
**Cause:** Sample rate mismatch
**Fix:**
- Set Windows mic sample rate to 48 kHz
- Set OBS sample rate to 48 kHz
- Restart OBS

---

## Testing Your Audio Setup

### Pre-Stream Audio Check

**Record 2-Minute Test:**
1. Start recording (not streaming)
2. Talk normally for 30 seconds
3. Play game with loud action
4. Talk while game is loud
5. Stop recording

**Watch Recording:**
- ✅ Can you hear yourself clearly?
- ✅ Is game audio balanced?
- ✅ Any background noise?
- ✅ No clipping/distortion?

**If issues → adjust and test again!**

---

## Professional Audio Upgrade

### Budget Mic Upgrades ($50-$150)
- **Blue Yeti** (USB condenser) – $100
- **Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+** – $150
- **Razer Seiren Mini** (budget) – $50

### Enthusiast Setup ($200-$500)
- **Shure SM7B** (dynamic XLR) – $400
- **Focusrite Scarlett Solo** (audio interface) – $120
- **Cloudlifter CL-1** (preamp for SM7B) – $150

### Professional Setup ($500+)
- **Rode PodMic** or **Shure SM7B**
- **GoXLR Mini** or **GoXLR** (mixer + interface)
- **DBX 286s** (hardware compressor/gate)

---

## Free Audio Optimization

Want us to check your audio setup?

👉 **[Free OBS Optimizer Tool](/obs-optimizer)**

We'll analyze:
- Your mic input levels
- Filter settings
- Background noise
- Audio balance

---

## Professional Audio Setup Service

Can't get it right? We'll remotely:
- Configure all filters perfectly
- Balance mic + game audio
- Set up VoiceMeeter if needed
- Test and verify quality

**Price:** $55 (30-minute session)
👉 **[Book Audio Optimization](/contact?service=obs-audio)**

---

## Summary: Audio Setup Checklist

✅ Mic positioned 2-4 inches from mouth
✅ Windows mic level at 80-100%
✅ OBS meter peaking at -12 to -6 dB
✅ Noise Suppression filter added
✅ Noise Gate filter added (threshold set correctly)
✅ Compressor filter added (smooth levels)
✅ Desktop Audio 6 dB quieter than mic
✅ Sample rate set to 48 kHz
✅ Audio bitrate at 128-160 kbps
✅ Recorded test clip and confirmed quality

---

## Related Guides
- [Best OBS Settings for Twitch 2025](/blog/obs-settings-twitch-2025-complete-guide)
- [How to Fix OBS Dropped Frames](/blog/fix-obs-dropped-frames-complete-guide-2025)
- [NVENC vs x264 Encoder](/blog/nvenc-vs-x264-encoder-comparison-2025)

Perfect audio makes your stream feel professional. Take 30 minutes to dial this in properly – it's worth it! 🎙️✨