Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) offers several brilliant features designed to make streaming and offline recording seamless. One of the most stand-out features of OBS is its ability to create a noise gate to handle background sounds.
OBS noise gate settings are accessible through the main Settings menu. Users can create a threshold for OBS to ignore sounds below a given decibel rating, supporting clearer audio streams overall.
Tweaking your OBS noise gate settings for great results could be hard when users don’t have access to the right details. That’s why this article looks at every important detail about OBS noise gate settings.
Streamers and PC users keen on high-quality recordings will get more from each session with the info in this guide.
Table of Contents
How to Set Noise Gate in OBS
Step 1: Open OBS
Launch the OBS app already installed on your computer. It’s better to update your OBS app to its latest version to get access to better features and relevant fixes.
Step 2: Create an audio input source
On the Sources tab, click ‘+’ and audio input from options available. Select your microphone as the default audio input source, rename it (optional), and click OK.
Step 3: Left-click gear icon in the Audio Mixer window
Next, locate the gear icon beside your newly created audio input source. Clicking on the icon reveals a set of options and effects.
Step 4: Select Filters
Next, click Filters from all options available.
Step 5: Click + and choose Noise Gate
At the Filters side bar, click on ‘+’ and choose Noise Gate from the options on display.
Step 6: Name your filter and click OK
Rename your filter and click OK.
Step 7: Adjust open/close threshold as desired
Check for your standard close threshold and make sure it is above your standard noise volume. Also, confirm that the open threshold is below your regular voice input.
Getting these two ratings (in decibels) makes it easy to get your noise gate set properly for the best results.
Step 8: Click Close
Clicking Close completes the entire noise gate setup, creating two thresholds to improve your audio input on OBS.
What is a Good Noise Gate Threshold OBS?
The best noise gate close threshold for OBS should be above your regular noise volume of your environment (minus background noise). An excellent noise gate should have an open threshold just above your standard voice input for better audio.
Setting a proper noise gate allows you record offline and stream content with impeccable audio quality.
How to Make a Good Noise Gate in OBS
Step 1: Open OBS
Launch the OBS client app installed on your computer. Consider updating your OBS app to its latest version before setting a suitable noise gate.
Step 2: Test open/close threshold
Test the default open and close threshold of your audio input. OBS has default noise gate settings in the Audio Mixer tab.
Step 3: Open Audio Mixer settings
After opening the Audio Mixer menu, select Filters from all available options.
Step 4: Click + and choose Noise Gate
Next, click ‘+’ and choose Noise Gate from the entire options available.
Step 5: Name your filter and click OK
Rename your noise gate filter if you want and click OK
Step 6: Adjust open/close threshold as desired and click Close
Tweak your OBS thresholds to accommodate your voice input and noise volume. OBS will not pick up any sound outside the open and close threshold.
Best OBS Settings for Noise Gate
The best OBS noise gate settings are:
- Noise suppression: ON
- Close threshold (dB): ~-60dB
- Open threshold (dB): ~-38dB
- Attack time: 15 – 20 milliseconds
- Release time: 80 – 100 milliseconds
- Hold time: 170 – 200 milliseconds
Note that these settings will differ based on your background noise intensity, type of voice, environment, etc. These figures are a guide, but you may get better output after tweaking settings to suit your voice and environment.
Best OBS Mic Filter Settings
The Best mic filter settings for background noise and surround disturbance limitation is OBS’ default. Users can tweak the open/close threshold, attack/hold/release times, as desired.
How to Use Noise Limiters in OBS
Step 1: Open OBS
Launch OBS from your PC and go to the Sources tab. Next, go to the Sources tab and create an audio input source if you’ve not created any earlier.
Step 2: Right-click audio source
Next, right-click on the audio source on your preferred scene. A pop-up menu with at least a dozen settings will appear.
Step 3: Select Filters from options
Choose ‘Filters’ from the list of options. Selecting Filters will open a custom Filters sidebar with more options.
Step 4: Click on ‘+’ from Filters sidebar, select Limiter and click Close
On the Filters sidebar, click the ‘+’ icon and choose Limiter from all options available.
Rename your limiter filter as desired and click Close.
