OBS microphone: remove noise, set the compressor and avoid clipping

A dictionary without difficult abbreviations

Step by step · 1–4

1. Action

   Put on your headphones and mute the LIVE public preview.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   Sound from the speakers does not return to the microphone.

2. Action

   Select the correct microphone in the OBS and disable its second copy.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   You have one vocal track.

3. Action

   Place the microphone close to your mouth, slightly to the side, and maintain a similar distance.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   The volume doesn't change dramatically with each sentence.

4. Action

   Without filters, record silence, normal voice and louder sentences.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   You have a reference point.

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Step by step · 5–8

5. Action

   Reduce the input gain if the voice is already clipping before the filters.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   The raw recording does not crackle when speaking loudly.

6. Action

   Next to the microphone source, open Filters.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   You add processing to the correct source.

7. Action

   Add Noise Suppression and select an available method appropriate to your hardware.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   The monotonous hum may decrease, but the voice still sounds natural.

8. Action

   Compare the recording with and without the filter.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   You know, doesn't improvement cost comprehensibility?

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Step by step · 9–12

9. Action

   If you use a gate or expander, set it so that it does not truncate silent beginnings and ends of sentences.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   The words remain complete.

10. Action

    Add a compressor and start gently.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    Louder parts are evened out without pumping up the entire background.

11. Action

    Speak softly, normally and loudly when checking the compressor.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The filter does not turn all breaths into loud sounds.

12. Action

    Add a limiter at the end of the filter order.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The last filter limits the signal peaks.

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Step by step · 13–16

13. Action

    To test, set the limit slightly below 0 dB, e.g. −1 dB, and check the recording.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The output has a small headroom, but does not repair the damaged input.

14. Action

    Record 30 seconds of gameplay and speech.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    You can evaluate the voice in a real mix.

15. Action

    Turn down your game or music if it's covering the words.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    You don't make up for every problem by picking up the mic.

16. Action

    Save the working values ​​and return to the usual distance from the microphone.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    You start the next LIVE with a proven setting.

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The filter will not replace the correct input signal

First, move the microphone away from the keyboard and fan, limit the room reverberation, and set the gain to a reasonable level. Filters work better on a clear voice than on a quiet voice recorded from across the desk. The distortion created in the input device cannot be removed later with the OBS slider.

Noise suppression is best at dealing with specific types of noise. Strong settings can distort speech, music and laughter. RNNoise and Speex have different behavior and overhead. Confirm your selection by listening to your own microphone.

The compressor, limiter and gate do different things

The compressor reduces the difference between louder and quieter parts once the threshold is exceeded. The limiter limits the highest peaks and should be the last in the chain. The gate mutes the signal below the threshold, so if set incorrectly it can cut off words.

Don't immediately raise the compressor's output volume. You will also increase your breathing and other background. Evaluate the settings together with the game and music, not just with a single sentence in silence. Remember to use the same listening volume when comparing samples.

An example you can reproduce

Recording A: 5 seconds of silence and the phrase "Hi, I'm testing the microphone." Recording B: same conditions after one filter. If the background is quieter but the ends of the words disappear, lower the intensity or loosen the gate. The example −1 dB limiter is a starting point, not a universal recipe for all devices.

What do you see on the screen and how to fix it

Fix one thing at a time and try the same thing again. If you change several options at the same time, it will be difficult to determine what solved the problem. Don't delete a working source or entire configuration just because one widget isn't responding.

If you still need help, write down the program name and version, platform, approximate time of trial, expected result, and what actually happened. Attach a dump without passwords, keys and full private links. This description is much more useful than just the "not working" message.

Last attempt before use on LIVE

1. Save the changes using the button assigned to the edited function. If there are separate forms, check each changed part separately.
2. Open the settings again and compare the most important values. Simply moving the slider does not always mean a permanent save.
3. Check the result outside the editor itself: on the target scene, in the recording, or in the reopened configuration.
4. If the function uses the platform, separately acknowledge the new handled event during the active LIVE. Don't expect the appearance test to confirm account authorization.
5. Save the working values ​​and make a copy before the next major change. Next time you start up, start with a quick check.

Frequently asked questions