How to Set Up Audio in OBS for Recording and Streaming?

Updated: April 2026

Dialing In Your OBS Audio Settings

OBS Studio is the go-to tool for streamers, podcasters, and screen-recorders — but its default audio configuration is rarely good enough out of the box. Without adjusting input sources, gain levels, and filters, your viewers will hear hiss, echo, or desynchronized audio. This walkthrough covers microphone setup, desktop audio routing, and the key filters that turn raw input into broadcast-quality sound.

1. Check Input and Output Devices

  1. Open Settings → Audio.
  2. In Mic/Auxiliary Audio section, select your main microphone (USB, external card, etc.).
  3. In Desktop Audio section — select the source that will capture computer sounds.
  4. Click Apply and verify that audio meters are moving.

Tip: if you have multiple devices, keep only those actually in use to avoid echo.

2. Set Volume Levels

  • In the main OBS window at the bottom, find the audio mixer.
  • For microphone, volume should be around -10 dB to -5 dB.
  • For system audio — slightly lower, so voice isn't covered by music or game sounds.
🎚️ Ideal balance:
Microphone: -6 dB
System audio: -12 dB

3. Add Filters to Microphone

OBS allows adding filters to improve recording quality:

  1. Click the gear icon next to your microphone → Filters.
  2. Add in sequence:
    • Noise Suppression — removes background noise.
    • Noise Gate — disables microphone during silence.
    • Compressor — balances voice volume.
    • Limiter — prevents audio "clipping".

Example optimal filter order:

1. Noise Suppression
2. Noise Gate
3. Compressor
4. Limiter

4. Fix Delay and Echo

  • If you hear echo — disable the second microphone in sources.
  • If audio "lags" behind video:
    1. Go to Settings → Audio → Advanced.
    2. Add microphone delay in milliseconds (usually 100–200 ms).

5. Test Quality Before Streaming

  1. Click Start Recording and speak a few phrases.
  2. Check volume level and sound quality.
  3. If voice is too loud or quiet — adjust level in the mixer.

Tip: test audio in headphones to hear the real quality.

6. Additional Recommendations

  • Use an external microphone — quality is significantly better than built-in.
  • Save all settings to an OBS profile.
  • Regularly update OBS to the latest version.

Ready to Go Live

With balanced levels and the right filter chain, your OBS audio will sound clean and professional — even on budget hardware. The difference between an amateur stream and a polished one is often just three filters and five minutes of gain-staging. Always do a test recording before hitting "Start Streaming."

Verify your mic quality on DoCam.io before going live.