Stream Audio dB Levels &
Gain Staging Mixer Studio
Balance your microphone, game sounds, Discord calls, and background music according to Twitch & YouTube LUFS broadcasting standards.
๐๏ธ Virtual OBS Channel Mixer
Your microphone sits perfectly atop the mix with a 7 dB volume lead over game audio. Viewers will clearly hear your voice over gunfights and ambient music without strain.
๐ก๏ธ Essential Mic Filter Order (Top to Bottom)
- Noise Suppression: RNNoise (Good Quality, low CPU).
- Noise Gate: Close -38 dB, Open -32 dB (Mutes keyboard clicks).
- Compressor: Ratio 3:1, Attack 3ms, Release 40ms (Evens out quiet whispers and shouts).
- Limiter: Threshold -1.5 dB, Release 60ms (Zero clipping guarantee).
OBS Audio Meter Color Coding Reference
๐ข Green Zone (-60dB to -20dB)
The bed of the audio mix. Background chill lo-fi music, gentle game ambience, and quiet environmental sound effects belong here. If your voice stays in green, viewers cannot hear you.
๐ก Yellow Zone (-20dB to -9dB)
The sweet spot for active content. Your regular conversational voice, Discord team calls, and primary game gunfire should live in the yellow zone. It provides clarity without harshness.
๐ด Red Zone (-9dB to 0dB)
Peak hype zone. Only loud laughs, jump-scare screams, or victory cries should touch -6dB to -2dB. NEVER hit 0dB: digital audio has no headroom beyond 0dB and will crackle terribly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the golden rule for OBS microphone volume levels?
Your voice when speaking normally should peak in the upper yellow zone between -12 dB and -6 dB. When laughing, shouting, or hyping a clutch, it should hit -3 dB to -1.5 dB, but NEVER touch 0 dB (the red zone), which causes harsh digital clipping and audio distortion.
Why is game audio always too loud on stream compared to voice?
Game developers mix explosions and gunfire to sound intensely dynamic in your own headphones. On stream, game audio should be pulled down to -18 dB to -14 dB. If game audio exceeds -12 dB, it drowns out your commentary and Discord teammates.
What limiter settings should I put on the OBS Master Audio Output?
Add a Limiter filter to your Master Output / Mic with a Threshold of -1.5 dB or -2.0 dB and a Release time of 60ms. This prevents any sudden scream, sneeze, or loud game explosion from blowing out viewers' headphones.