How to Automatically Lower Game Audio in OBS Studio

Streaming games can be tricky, especially when it comes to managing audio levels. You want your audience to hear both your commentary and the game without having to constantly adjust their volume. Fortunately, OBS Studio offers a solution to streamline this process: audio ducking.

What is Audio Ducking?

Audio ducking is a technique used by audio engineers to automatically adjust audio levels. When enabled, it lowers the volume of one audio source (like your game) whenever another audio source (like your microphone) is active. This ensures that your voice is clear and not drowned out by game audio.

How to Enable Audio Ducking in OBS

Here's a simple guide to setting up audio ducking in OBS:

1. Open the Filters Window for your desktop audio track.

Locate the "three dots" icon on your desktop audio track in OBS and click it. From the popup menu, select "Filters."

2. Add the Compressor Filter

In the Filters window, click the "+" button at the bottom left and select "Compressor." This will add a compressor filter to your track.

3. Configure the Compressor for Ducking

- In the compressor filter settings, set your microphone as the "Sidechain/Ducking Source."

- Adjust the "Ratio" to something strong like 32:1 to significantly reduce the game audio when speaking. (If you want to hear more of the game audio behind your speech, you can reduce this to 1:20)

- Set the "Threshold" higher than any other noise to ensure it only triggers from your voice and not background noise. But it should be lower than the dB value the Audio Mixer in OBS shows when you speak normally, so your speech will actually trigger it.

- Configure "Attack" to 1ms and "Release" to about 60ms to quickly lower the game volume when you speak and maintain it briefly after you stop.

After configuring these settings, close the Filters window and test the setup by playing some game audio and speaking into your microphone. You should see the desktop audio meter in OBS's Audio Mixer drop to about a third of its volume when you speak, ensuring both your voice and the game's environmental sounds are balanced.

Common Issues and Solutions with OBS Audio

OBS Not Picking Up Desktop Audio

• Ensure OBS is correctly configured to capture your system's audio output. Check the audio settings in OBS and verify that the correct device is selected for desktop audio capture.

OBS Not Recording Audio

• Double-check your audio source settings and mixer configurations. Make sure all relevant audio tracks are being recorded in the OBS settings.

Getting Started with OBS Studio 

To take advantage of OBS's audio ducking and other advanced features, you'll need to have OBS Studio installed on your PC. You can download OBS Studio for PC from the official website. It's free and open-source, making it accessible for everyone from amateur streamers to professional broadcasters. With OBS Studio, you have extensive control over your streaming setup, allowing you to deliver high-quality, engaging content to your viewers. By mastering tools like audio ducking, you can ensure your streams are both enjoyable and professional.

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