How to make the microphone louder in OBS

Like any streaming software, OBS Studio is not immune to audio issues. Sure, you could have a crisp, clear image, but what’s the point if your viewers can’t hear a word you’re saying? Fortunately, there are several ways to deal with low-quality microphone audio in OBS.

In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to turn up your microphone volume while streaming and go over the basic settings. And since OBS Studio allows you to switch between various audio filters, we’ll show you how to do it with step-by-step instructions. So read on to learn how to up your mic game and stream like a pro.

How to make the microphone louder in OBS on a desk

Before moving on to some more advanced troubleshooting measures, it is best to check the basics first. The default volume setting is never too loud in OBS Studio, so simply increasing it might do the trick. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch OBS Studio from your computer. Add a preferred scene and source to the corresponding boxes at the bottom of the screen.
   
2. Next to the “Sources” box, you will see the “Mixer” panel on the right side. Slide the switch marked “Mic/Aux” to the right to increase the volume.
   
3. If the volume is already turned up, click the small gear icon in the bottom right corner.
   
4. A drop-down menu will appear. Choose “Advanced Audio Properties” from the list of options.
   
5. A new window will open. Next to the “Microphone/Aux” property, you will see a number indicating the volume percentage. Clear the field and enter a different value. Don’t be confused if the volume is already at 100%. You can go higher.
   
6. Once you are happy with the microphone volume, click “Close.”
   

Another thing you can do is check if you enabled the correct microphone. Since OBS Studio allows you to connect multiple devices simultaneously, it’s quite easy to lose track. Fortunately, the software is quite optimized, so you can switch between different microphones with ease. That is how:

1. Open OBS and click “Settings” in the lower right corner of the screen.
   
2. A new window will appear. Then, in the left side panel, click on the “Audio” tab.
   
3. In the “Devices” section, make sure only the microphones you want to use are enabled.
   
4. Click “OK” to save your changes.
   

Sometimes it is better to start over and add the device manually. You can also play with different microphone settings while you’re at it for even better results. This is what you should do:

1. Go to “Settings” and then open the “Audio” tab.
   
2. For “Sample Rate”, make sure it is set to 44.1 kHz as this is the optimal setting for OBS Studio.
   
3. For “Channel”, be sure to select “Stereo”.
   
4. Under “Devices”, proceed to disable all devices. Yes, even the microphone.
   
5. Click “Apply” once you’re done.
   

After turning off all devices, you can go ahead and add the preferred microphone manually. Here’s how to do it:

1. Scroll down to the “Sources” box at the bottom of the page. Then, click the small “+” button in the bottom left corner.
   
2. From the drop-down options panel, select “Audio Input Capture.”
   
3. A small pop-up box will appear. Enter the title and click “OK.”
   
4. Another window will appear. Click the small down arrow next to “Devices” to open a drop-down list. Then, select your microphone and press “OK.”
   

Once you’re done, check the “Audio Mixer” box to see if the microphone was added successfully.

Additional FAQs

How loud should my microphone be in OBS?

While the ideal volume level can be subjective, OBS provides a volume meter that lets you know if it’s too loud. It’s a pretty nifty feature that’s incredibly easy to interpret.

When you scroll down to the “Mixer” box, you’ll see a multi-colored bar below each audio source. The colors range from green to yellow and are there to indicate where you are in terms of volume. Depending on how loud you are, the colors will bounce from one extreme to the next, allowing you to adjust them accordingly.

The ideal is to stay in the “yellow zone” while speaking. On the other hand, game sounds, music, and similar audio should be somewhat lower so that your voice can be heard. In that case, aim for the “green zone.” Finally, just like a traffic light, if the color is flashing red, you should stop what you are doing and regroup.

Testing, testing: Is this working?

Microphone issues are not uncommon with OBS Studio or any other streaming software. Even with top-notch equipment, you can still appear silent. Luckily, it is not something difficult to solve.

The most obvious step is to increase the volume using the advanced audio settings. If that doesn’t work, you can try one of the many great filters that come with the app. Finally, your version of OBS Studio may be outdated. In that case, download the latest framework for better audio quality.

Do you often feel problems with the microphone? How well do you know OBS Studio? Feel free to comment below and tell us if there is another way to increase the microphone volume.