[FAQ]

I’m comfortable with my audio setup for my solo streams, but I’m planning to start having co-hosts and guests on my show. I’m worried about how to properly manage the audio so that everyone is at a consistent, clear volume. I don’t want one person to be really loud and the other to be too quiet.

What are the best practices in 2025 for mixing audio for a multi-person live stream? Are there specific tools or filters in software like OBS I should be using to get a balanced, professional sound?

[Jeff Bullas]

That’s an excellent question. Getting your multi-person audio mix right is what separates a confusing, amateur stream from a professional broadcast that is enjoyable to listen to.

The absolute goal is consistency. Every single person on the stream should be heard clearly and at roughly the same volume. No one should be so loud that they are overpowering, and no one should be so quiet that your audience has to strain to hear them.

Here is how you achieve that. First, and this is non-negotiable for a good mix, you must get each person’s microphone onto its own separate audio track in your streaming software like OBS. This gives you independent control over each person’s volume and allows you to apply different effects to each voice.

Second, everyone involved in the stream must wear headphones. This is essential to prevent audio from one person’s speakers being picked up by another person’s microphone, which is what causes distracting echo and feedback loops.

Third, you should apply a basic chain of audio filters to each person’s track individually. This usually starts with a “Noise Gate” filter to cut out their background noise when they are not speaking. Then, you should add a “Compressor” filter to even out their volume levels, making their quiet speech louder and preventing them from peaking when they get loud or laugh. You can also use an “EQ” (equalizer) filter to shape the tone of each voice for better clarity.

Fourth, once each track is individually processed, you need to level-match. Have everyone talk in a normal conversational tone and watch the audio meters in your software. You will need to adjust the main volume fader for each person so that everyone is consistently peaking in the same ‘yellow’ range, which is typically around -15 to -10 decibels.

In summary, a clean multi-person mix comes from giving each speaker their own audio track, applying individual filters like compression to each one, and then carefully setting the levels so that everyone sounds consistent. It is a technical step that makes a huge difference in the professionalism and listenability of your stream.

Cheers,

Jeff

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