I admit, I’ve been responsible of shopping for gaming microphones which might be painfully out of my price range, if solely to not sound completely newbie in my group chats. But that was earlier than I found filters in OBS Studio. The reality is you don’t must lay our a fortune in your gaming microphone. In truth, even a sub-$50 mic can sound superb with a number of easy filters.
Further studying: The best USB microphones for streaming
Why I take advantage of OBS Studio for my gaming mic
An apparent query is: Why don’t I simply use my microphone’s companion app which has been optimized particularly for it? For me, there’s a easy purpose for this and that’s, OBS standardizes the settings and eliminates any annoying quirks particular to a selected microphone that I don’t learn about.
In OBS I can apply the identical filters and settings to simply about any mic, and it’ll sound terrific. Plus, any modifications I make additionally work in Discord, Zoom, and my recreation chats. But don’t simply take my phrase for it; in case you’ve acquired a gaming mic, let’s get it sounding nice…
The steps to broadcast high quality
For the sake of this “how to,” I’ve utilized OBS filters to a $120 HyperX Quadcast S, which was the one microphone I had available on the time of writing.
Admittedly, the Quadcast S is a grade above many cheaper mics. Still, with out making use of the OBS filters to it, it’s not going to sound broadcast high quality for my voice. In the previous I’ve utilized the identical filters to the $49.99 Razer Seiren Mini and had a equally good end result. The level is, this course of will work completely nice for almost any mic you wish to apply it to — so don’t spend loads; you can go low-cost!
Step 1: Adjust the acquire
In Windows 11, I right-click on my audio icon, then selected Sound Settings > More Sound Settings > Recording. Then, I double-click on Microphone and choose Levels. I then modify the acquire stage till the sound is registering within the yellow a part of OBS’s sound meter. The stage goes to be completely different for every microphone, so for greatest outcomes do that step in actual time till you get the specified end result. You might also want to regulate the amount stage in your microphone too.
Tip: If you set your acquire to 100 p.c in Windows and nonetheless aren’t recording within the yellow, open your filter menu in OBS, right-click, and add a Gain filter.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Step 2: Add a Noise Suppression filter
For this step I first have to alter some settings in order that I can hear my microphone by my headset. To do this, I click on on the icon with the three vertical dots within the OBS Audio Mixer and choose Advanced Audio Properties > Audio Monitoring. Next to my microphone supply (Mic/Aux) I then choose Monitoring and Output.
Now from my listing of filters in OBS I choose Noise Suppression. Several choices pop up. I’ve an Nvidia graphics card, so I select one of many Nvidia filters, Nvidia Noise Removal. If you don’t have an Nvidia card, one of many different choices ought to work nice. I then modify the suppression ranges with the slider till my voice sounds clear and crisp and freed from background noise.
Tip: This must be completed first earlier than you add some other filters. It clears your voice of any distracting or undesirable background sound. If you may’t see the Nvidia Noise Suppression filter in your listing, it’s possible you’ll must obtain an Audio driver from Nvidia.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Step 3: Add a 3-band equalizer filter
Getting this proper is absolutely vital to fine-tune the tone of my voice. First, I choose the 3-band equalizer filter from the OBS filter menu. Three bands seem. I then scale back the mids by a fraction from the start line of zero and enhance the highs and lows only a fraction. This offers my voice a heat broadcast-like high quality.
Tip: Play round with these values till you get a broadcast high quality to your personal voice. If your voice is already fairly low and authoritative, don’t elevate the slider for the lows by a lot; you don’t wish to overemphasize the bass.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Step 4: Add an Expander filter
This filter ensures that irrespective of how quietly I discuss my mates will nonetheless hear me. After choosing the filter from the menu, I modify the Ratio to 3 and the Release to 100. I then set the Attack worth to 1ms and transfer the slider for Threshold all the best way to the left.
Speaking very softly into my mic, I then regularly enhance the Output Gain till my OBS quantity meter is registering the sound of my voice within the yellow part of the meter. Then I creep the Threshold slider to the suitable, stopping it at some extent earlier than my voice turns into too quiet to listen to.
Tip: You may have to regulate the Threshold for various audio sorts you’re recording or completely different in packages, so keep watch over this setting and alter it when required.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Step 5: Add a Compressor filter
This ensures my voice will all the time be heard at a relentless quantity even when I make a loud noise. To allow it, I choose the Compressor filter from the menu. Once once more I modify the Ratio to 3 however this time, I transfer the Threshold all the best way to the suitable. I then set the Attack to 1ms and the Release to 100.
Now talking loudly, I regularly transfer the Threshold to the left till my quantity is comfortably showing within the yellow a part of the OBS quantity meter.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Step 6: Add a Limiter filter
This final filter ensures my audio has a high restrict for quantity so my listener’s ears aren’t blown out in case the odd loud sound enters my audio stream. After choosing this filter, I merely transfer the Threshold all the best way to the suitable and click on the down arrow in order that I get a worth of -0.1.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
A remaining step
Finally, I’ve to ensure my OBS filters works in my gaming chats and Discord. To do that, I obtain Virtual Cable and extract the file. I then right-click on VBCable_Setup_x64 and chosen Run as Administrator to put in it to my PC. In OBS, I then choose Settings and alter Monitoring Device from Default to Cable Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).
Tip: You’ll want to pick VB-Audio Virtual Cable because the output in each program you wish to use your microphone in. For instance, in Discord you merely go to User Setting > Voice and Video > Input Device and select Cable Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).
The end result
My Quadcast S appears like a brand new microphone! My voice sounds loads hotter and clearer than it did earlier than and has a broadcast-like high quality that makes me sound like a professional streamer. I’ve just about eradicated any background noise, and irrespective of whether or not I converse softly or loudly, my mates will hear my voice at an appropriate quantity.
If you’re in search of a USB microphone to do this out on, be sure you try our listing of the Best USB Microphones for Streaming. They work simply as effectively on your gaming wants. Happy tweaking!