When streaming with OBS, you may encounter audio issues, such as hearing your own voice through the microphone or experiencing echo or double sound. Knowing the causes of these problems can help you address them without panic, improving the quality of your streams.

This article introduces solutions for when you hear your voice or hear two voices during OBS streaming, covering what needs to be checked both within and outside OBS.

It also explains external plugins that can be used for troubleshooting and other audio issue solutions.

Causes of Hearing Your Own Voice or Echoing in OBS

The main causes of hearing game sound or your own voice, or hearing doubled sound or voice during OBS streaming are usually due to the following two reasons:

• Audio from the same device is outputting from multiple places
• Audio monitoring is enabled, leading to hearing your own voice (echo)

Solutions for hearing your voice or echoing can be broadly divided into the following three categories:

• Capturing the audio of the same device in one way
• Avoid looping the audio from the same device
• Wearing headphones

To prevent hearing your voice or game sound during OBS streaming, it’s crucial to correctly configure settings in both OBS and other equipment or software.

The following chapters will provide a detailed explanation of solutions for troubleshooting, taking into account the elements and concepts of OBS audio.

Basic Elements and Concepts of OBS Audio

Before understanding how to address audio issues in OBS, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the elements and concepts of OBS audio. Knowing what sound is playing where and how it’s captured into OBS can lead to effective troubleshooting.

OBS audio is primarily composed of the following three components:

OBS Audio Types	Audio Features
Microphone Audio (Starting point of sound acquisition)	・Refers to an external USB microphone or mixer ・Set up in “Settings” → “Audio” and configure under “Global Audio Devices” as Microphone Audio
Desktop Audio	・Audio playing on the PC ・Refers to audio from video platforms like YouTube, PC games, media players, etc.
Source Audio	・Audio from OBS sources like “Media Source,” “Video Capture Device,” “Audio Input Capture,” or “Audio Output Capture” ・Applies only to specific scenes

Understanding the types and features of audio is essential to knowing how sound enters the microphone and listening to audio from OBS.

Solutions for When You Can Hear Your Voice in OBS

Below are six solutions for resolving the issue of hearing your voice or echoing sound in OBS. Try the following methods one by one to ensure your voice is not picked up during OBS streaming.

• Adjust the microphone position
• Limit to one microphone audio
• Delete and re-add audio sources
• Change audio monitoring settings
• Alter video capture device settings
• Solutions when using a capture card

Adjust the Microphone Position

Before adjusting OBS settings, the first step should be adjusting the microphone position. This is because the position of the external microphone may play a role in the issue of hearing your own voice or echoing sound during OBS streaming.

To avoid the microphone picking up sound from the speakers, which can cause echoing, ensure you position the microphone so it doesn’t pick up speaker audio.

If adjusting the microphone position doesn’t solve the problem, proceed to the next step.

Limit to One Microphone Audio

If changing the microphone position doesn’t resolve the audio issue, then it’s necessary to modify the OBS microphone settings to capture sound from only one microphone. Follow the steps below to adjust the microphone settings:

1. Click “Settings” on the bottom right of OBS

2. Go to “Audio” once the “Settings” window opens

3. Under “Global Audio Devices” in the “Audio” tab, set any microphones other than “Microphone Audio,” (like “Microphone Audio 2” to “Microphone Audio 4”) to “Disabled”

If the situation doesn’t change after adjusting the “Microphone Audio” settings, try other solutions.

Delete and Re-Add Audio Sources

If the above two methods don’t solve the issue, it’s recommended to delete the following audio sources configured in OBS. After deleting the audio sources, re-add them and set the “Microphone Audio.”

• Browser
• Media Source
• Audio Input Capture
• Audio Output Capture
• Application Audio Capture

Here are the methods to re-add the removed items:

Audio Source	Method to Re-Add
Browser	・Mute video audio played on the browser
Media Source	・Click the gear icon under “Media Source” and set “Audio Monitoring” to “Monitor Off”
Audio Input Capture	・Go to “Settings” → “Audio” and set “Desktop Audio” to “Disabled”
Audio Output Capture	・Go to “Settings” → “Audio” and set “Microphone Audio” to “Disabled”
Application Audio Capture	・Go to “Settings” → “Audio” and set either “Desktop Audio” or “Microphone Audio” to “Disabled”

Once the above is completed, proceed to “Audio” in the “Settings” and configure the “Microphone Audio.” The microphone audio settings are the same as in the previous section, “Limit to One Microphone Audio.”

Change Audio Monitoring Settings

Changing the “Audio Monitoring” settings is also an effective solution if you hear your own voice or the sound is echoing.

“Audio Monitoring” is a feature used for microphone testing and to listen to audio files or capture card audio. When changing the settings, follow these steps:

1. Select the gear icon below the “Audio Mixer” and open “Advanced Audio Properties”

2. Set “Audio Monitoring” of “Microphone” to “Monitor Off”
※ If you want to hear your voice (not included in the stream): Monitor Only (mute output)
※ If you want to hear your voice (included in the stream): Monitor and Output

Note that setting “Audio Monitoring” to anything other than “Monitor Off” may cause delayed self-audio, so be cautious.

Alter Video Capture Device Settings

If audio issues occur while inputting camera footage (using Video Capture Device) in OBS, follow the steps below to change the Video Capture Device settings:

1. Double-click on “Video Capture Device” in the OBS Source Panel to open the “Properties” screen

2. Scroll to the bottom and, if “Use Custom Audio Device” is checked, uncheck it

3. In “Settings” of the “Control Panel,” select “Audio”

4. Check in “Global Audio Devices” under “Microphone Audio” that the microphone you want to use is set

Solutions When Using a Capture Card

If using a capture card for OBS streaming, try the above five methods first, particularly focusing on deleting “Audio Input Capture.”

When problems persist, consider the following solutions:

• Set “Audio Monitoring” to either “Monitor Off” or “Monitor Only (mute output)”
• In the Video Capture Device settings screen, configure “Audio Output Mode” to “Capture audio only”

Also, review other articles on using capture cards with OBS as a reference for detailed guidance on game streaming with capture cards.

[OBS] How to Stream Games Using a Capture Card: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Solving Troubles Through Settings Outside of OBS

If the sound issues such as hearing your own voice or echoing persist, you need to check settings outside OBS. Here are four methods for addressing the problem without altering OBS settings:

• Wear headphones
• Set streaming sites to mute
• Check Windows sound settings
• Make sure other software is not interfering

Wear Headphones

Wear headphones during recording or streaming to prevent your microphone from picking up audio from your computer speakers or TV. Outputting your PC audio through headphones keeps it from being picked up by the microphone.

If circumstances prevent you from using headphones, reducing the speaker volume on your PC is a recommended alternative.

Notably, wearing headphones is also beneficial when streaming with a capture card.

Set Streaming Sites to Mute

Mute the audio on streaming sites when checking your streaming screen during OBS streaming. It prevents microphone audio from looping. To mute the audio, simply click the speaker icon on the streaming site and set it to mute. Ensure that the audio remains muted throughout the streaming session.

Using a comment viewer is recommended for checking comments or chat during a stream.

Check Windows Sound Settings

If you’re using Windows OS, changing the sound settings might resolve the audio issue. Follow the steps below to check the sound settings and turn “Listen to this device” OFF.

1. Right-click the “Speaker” icon on the “Taskbar” at the bottom right of the desktop screen and select “Open Sound Settings”

2. Open the “Sound Control Panel,” the second from the top

3. From the “Recording” tab, right-click and open “Properties” for the connected microphone

4. In the “Listen” tab, if “Listen to this device” is checked, uncheck it

Make Sure Other Software Is Not Interfering

If other software is running simultaneously while streaming with OBS, it may cause audio issues. It’s important to turn off unnecessary settings in other software during streaming.

For example, if Discord’s monitoring is ON, it could interfere with OBS, so it’s recommended to turn it OFF.

Using an audio interface to connect a microphone or instrument to your PC can also cause your voice to be heard during streaming if monitoring is enabled on the equipment.

To prevent audio issues, adjust the microphone position, use headphones or earphones, and set monitoring on equipment to OFF.

Addressing Troubles Using External Plugins

Using external plugins can be a solution for audio issues like hearing your own voice or echoing during OBS streaming. Below are two recommended plugins for dealing with problems of hearing your voice or doubled audio.

External Plugin	Features
win-capture-audio ※ The OBS version 28.0 or above has a similar built-in feature (with slight differences)※ Windows only	・Allows separating voices of different apps and games using OBS audio mixer ・Enables selecting only the desired audio even with other sounds playing on the desktop ・Can apply individual filters to captured audio, facilitating smooth volume adjustments
VideoProc Converter ※ Compatible with Windows, Mac, and iPhone	・An all-in-one video processing software useful when encountering audio issues or recording failures during game recording with OBS ・Allows specifying the recording range and real-time depiction, with no recording time limits, enabling long recordings ・Less prone to dropped frames or desynced audio ・Low CPU usage ensures smooth operation even while editing videos concurrently ・Supports high-quality recording and high-quality video editing

Choose an appropriate external plugin according to the OS and OBS version you are using.

Other Audio Troubleshooting in OBS

Resolve other possible audio issues during OBS streaming by addressing the following three audio problems:

• Audio not playing
• Audio pitch changes
• Crackling audio

Refer to the detailed articles provided for each case for further assistance.

Audio Not Playing

The main causes of audio not playing during OBS streaming are usually the following three issues. Identify the root cause of the problem and apply the appropriate solution to solve the audio issue.

Cause	Solution
Improper connection of headphones or speakers	・Verify the connection status of headphones or speakers and ensure they function correctly ・Also check the condition of headphones cables and connectors
Incorrect OBS audio configuration	・Check if the “Monitoring Device” under the “Audio” tab in “Settings” is set to “Default”
Incorrect PC audio settings	・Verify the output device and volume level in the PC sound settings

For more detailed solutions, refer to articles exploring scenarios where no sound is produced in OBS.

No Sound in OBS? Clear Solutions for Audio Issues Based on Specific Symptoms

Audio Pitch Changes

When streaming or recording with a capture card in OBS, the audio pitch may change. The following are the three causes and solutions for this issue:

Cause	Solution
Attempting 4K output from a non-4K-compatible capture card	・Adjust the capture card’s resolution to match the output of the gaming console
Different USB formats between capture card and PC	・Switch the wiring on the capture card and PC to USB 3.0 compatible settings
Incorrect settings for OBS, output, or audio bitrate	・Set OBS settings, output, and audio bitrate to 128kbps

Read more about using capture cards with OBS for game streaming in the additional articles provided.

[OBS] Complete Guide to Streaming Games with a Capture Card

Crackling Audio

During OBS streaming, you may encounter crackling audio (audio distortion). Here are the main three causes of crackling audio. Try solutions appropriate to each cause:

Cause	Solution
High load on CPU or GPU	・Upgrade to a more powerful computer ・Adjust OBS encoding settings to reduce CPU and GPU usage ・Prioritize video editing and gaming tasks, adjusting high-load tasks accordingly ・Stop unnecessary background processes
Inappropriate OBS settings	・Lower microphone volume ・Adjust audio using filters
Malfunctioning audio driver	・Uninstall and update the audio interface driver to the latest version

If you’re experiencing crackling or distorted audio during OBS streams, the article below provides detailed solutions—be sure to check it out.

OBS Game Audio Crackling? 6 Effective Ways to Eliminate Noise

Summary

When experiencing audio issues like hearing your own voice or echoing during game streaming with OBS, it’s crucial to check both OBS and non-OBS settings.

If troubleshooting through OBS and peripheral equipment or software settings does not resolve the issue, utilizing external plugins can be beneficial. When selecting external plugins, carefully consider those suitable for your OS and equipment.

Knowing solutions to other potential audio issues during OBS streaming can provide peace of mind as you venture into streaming. Master OBS features and embrace enjoyable video broadcasting!

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