[FAQ]

I’m new to streaming and I’m having a hard time getting my audio levels right. Sometimes my viewers say my game audio is way too loud and they can’t hear me, or that the background music is distracting.

What are the best practices in 2025 for mixing these three things – my voice, the game sound, and any background music? Are there any recommended levels or tools in software like OBS or Streamlabs that can help make sure my voice is always clear and on top?

Any tips on getting a clean, professional audio mix would be a huge help!

[Jeff Bullas]

That’s a fantastic question to ask. Getting your audio mix right is one of the most critical, and often overlooked, aspects of creating a professional-sounding live stream.

The golden rule is that your voice must always be the clearest and most prominent sound in the mix. Your audience is there to listen to you above everything else. Here is how you can structure your audio to achieve that.

First, your voice is the top priority. Your microphone audio should be the loudest element. In your streaming software, like OBS or Streamlabs, you should aim for your voice to consistently hit the ‘yellow’ section of the audio meter, which is typically around -15 to -10 decibels (dB). Using a compressor filter on your microphone track is a key technique that helps to even out your volume so you do not get too loud or too quiet.

Second, the game audio provides immersion but must never compete with your voice. A good starting point is to set your game audio level significantly lower than your voice, usually around -25 to -30 dB. It should be clearly audible but firmly in the background.

Third, if you use background music, it should be the most subtle element. You should set your music levels even lower than your game audio, often around -35 to -40 dB. It should add to the atmosphere without ever being distracting or making it difficult to hear in-game sounds.

Fourth, for a truly professional mix, you should use a technique called sidechain compression, which is also known as ‘ducking’. You can set this up as a filter in your streaming software. It automatically lowers the volume of your music and game audio whenever you speak, and then smoothly raises their volume back up when you are quiet. This guarantees your voice will always cut through clearly.

Finally, you must always monitor your own audio mix with headphones while you are doing a test recording. This is the only way to truly hear what your audience will hear and to fine-tune your levels for that perfect balance.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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