OBS Microphone Settings: How to Set Up, Configure, and Optimize Your Mic

OBS Studio offers many microphone controls across different menus. Some settings may seem confusing when you first open them. This guide explains each step, from adding your mic to reducing background noise and balancing audio levels. The Hollyland LARK MAX 2 wireless microphone serves as the example throughout. This gives you clear directions based on a real product.

What OBS Microphone Settings Actually Control?

OBS audio settings are split into three main levels. The first level is global audio settings found in Settings > Audio. These settings act like default rules for your whole project. They decide things like sample rate, audio channels, and which devices go into each audio slot.

The second layer is per-source settings. When you add an Audio Input Capture to a specific scene, you choose a device and configure how OBS handles it within that scene only.

The third layer is the filter chain. Filters such as noise gates, compressors, and noise suppression sit between your hardware input and OBS output and shape the signal in real time. Knowing which layer you are adjusting prevents you from hunting through the wrong menu when something sounds off.

How to Add Your Microphone as an Audio Source in OBS?

OBS offers two methods for bringing in microphone audio. Choosing the wrong one leads to duplicate audio tracks or a mic that disappears when you switch scenes.

Method 1: Global Device Assignment via Settings > Audio

This method adds the mic as a persistent, always-active input that works across all scenes.

1. Plug the Hollyland LARK MAX 2 USB-C receiver into your computer.

2. Confirm the receiver LED is solid blue, not flashing. A solid blue LED means the transmitter is paired and actively sending a signal. If the LED is flashing, press and hold the pairing button for 3 seconds on the transmitter until both LEDs go solid.

3. Open Windows Sound Settings (right-click the taskbar speaker icon > Sound Settings > Input)

Or macOS System Settings > Sound > Input. Confirm the LARK MAX 2 USB-C receiver appears as an active input device. 

This OS-level check tells you the hardware is recognized before you open OBS.

4. Open OBS and go to Settings > Audio.

5. Under Mic/Auxiliary Audio, open the device dropdown and select the LARK MAX 2 receiver by its device name.

6. Click Apply, then OK.

7. Check the Audio Mixer panel at the bottom of the OBS interface. A new channel for your mic should appear with an active level meter.

Method 2: Per-Scene Audio Input Capture via the Sources Panel

Use this method when you only want the mic active in specific scenes, not globally.

1. In the Sources panel, click the plus (+) icon.

2. Select Audio Input Capture.

3. Name the source and click OK.

4. In the properties dialog, open the Device dropdown and select the LARK MAX 2 receiver.

5. Click OK.

Note: If you use both methods simultaneously with the same device, OBS will create duplicate audio tracks. Pick one method and stick with it for each device.

Configuring OBS Global Audio Settings

After you connect your microphone, go to Settings > Audio first. This sets your basic audio quality before changing other options.

1. Set Sample Rate to 48kHz. The Hollyland LARK MAX 2 records audio at 48kHz by default. Setting OBS to 48kHz keeps audio aligned without extra conversion. If sample rates do not match, small pitch changes can appear. It can also add extra processing load in OBS. Even if other devices in your setup run at 44.1kHz, 48kHz is the safer choice for voice-focused OBS work.

2. Set Channels to Mono. Even though the LARK MAX 2 receiver may appear as a stereo device in OBS, your voice signal is mono by nature. Leaving Channels set to Stereo doubles the channel count without adding useful information and can result in audio appearing only on one side of a stereo field when the signal is unbalanced. Set Channels to Mono for clean, centered voice audio in both recordings and streams.

3. Confirm the Mic/Auxiliary Audio slot: Verify the device dropdown still shows the LARK MAX 2 receiver after making sample rate and channel changes. OBS occasionally resets device assignments after settings are modified.

4. Click Apply, then OK to save.

Pro Tip: When you stream and record at the same time, keep 48kHz as the global setting. Do not adjust each source separately for different outputs. This gives a stable base for both recording and streaming tasks.

Calibrating Microphone Levels in the OBS Audio Mixer

Proper gain staging is the difference between clean, intelligible audio and a recording that needs heavy post-processing. The target range for voice in OBS is -12 to -6 dBFS during normal speech. The Audio Mixer shows levels using three color zones. Green means audio is safe. Yellow means it is getting close to the limit. Red means the sound is clipping.

Calibration Sequence

1. Start with the Hollyland App (hardware gain first): Before adjusting anything in OBS, open the HollyAudio App (LarkSound App) and navigate to the gain control screen for the LARK MAX 2 transmitter. Set Dynamic Gain (Low, Medium, or High), or custom gain by adjusting the levels for each TX under the Set gain to option. 

Hardware gain adjustment is always the first priority because it controls what enters the entire signal chain. Getting it right here reduces the work OBS needs to do downstream.

2. Check the transmitter mute state: The multi-function button on the TX of LARK MAX 2 acts as a pairing, noise-canceling, as well as mute button. When you press it twice, the LED color changes to red, confirming that the TX is muted. 

If no signal appears on the OBS Audio Mixer meter, check the transmitter mute status before troubleshooting anything in OBS. A hardware mute silences the signal upstream of all software, including OBS’s own monitoring.

3. Speak at normal volume and watch the OBS Audio Mixer meter: Speech peaks should settle between -12 and -6 dBFS. If they consistently peak in the yellow or briefly touch red, reduce the transmitter gain in the Hollyland App.

4. Use the OBS volume slider as a trim tool: The fader in the Audio Mixer is a trim control, not a replacement for proper hardware gain. If levels are slightly high after the HollyAudio App adjustment, pulling the OBS slider down a few dB is acceptable. If you are pulling it down more than 10 to 15 dB, return to the HollyAudio App and reduce the TX gain first.

5. Add a Gain filter only if the signal remains consistently low: If even maximum hardware gain leaves peaks below -20 dBFS, add a Gain filter via right-click on the source > Filters > + > Gain. Keep any boost under +10 dB to avoid amplifying the noise floor to audible levels.

Setting Up OBS Audio Filters for Better Microphone Quality

OBS filters stack in order from top to bottom, and that sequence matters. Each filter receives the output of the one above it, so an incorrect order can cause the wrong processes to interact.

To access filters, right-click your microphone source in the Audio Mixer and select Filters. Click the plus (+) icon in the Audio Filters window to add each filter.

Recommended filter order:

1. Gain (if needed) 

2. Noise Gate

3. Noise Suppression 

4. Compressor

Add them in this order so the signal is properly leveled before gating, cleaned before compression, and dynamically controlled last for consistent output.

Noise Gate

A noise gate silences the microphone input when the signal falls below a set threshold, cutting off room noise, keyboard clatter, and background hum between sentences.

Key settings and starting values:

• Close Threshold: The level below which the gate shuts. Recommended starting value: -32 dB. 

• Open Threshold: The level above which the gate opens. Recommended starting value: -26 dB. 

• Attack and Release: For voice, 10ms attack and 200ms release are stable starting points.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. With the room quiet, observe the OBS meter. The reading when you are not speaking is your noise floor. 

2. Set the Close Threshold 5 to 8 dB above the noise floor reading. 

3. Set the Open Threshold 4 to 6 dB above the Close Threshold. 

4. Speak normally and confirm the gate opens cleanly without clipping the beginning of words.

Because the Hollyland LARK MAX 2’s built-in AI Noise Cancellation already reduces the noise floor significantly before the signal reaches OBS, you can afford a more conservative (lower) Close Threshold without risking legitimate speech being cut off. A cleaner input signal means the gate only needs to catch residual noise rather than doing heavy lifting, so aggressive threshold values are unnecessary with this hardware.

Noise Suppression

The OBS Noise Suppression filter reduces steady background sounds using digital processing. It targets noise like fans, air conditioning, and electrical hum in the audio signal.

Recommended settings:

• Method: RNNoise (preferred for voice; uses a neural model trained on speech separation) 

• Suppression Level: -30 dB default; adjust toward -10 to -15 dB if your mic already applies hardware noise cancellation

RNNoise produces noticeably better results than Speex for voice content by preserving speech harmonics that Speex tends to smooth over. Use Speex only if your system is significantly CPU-limited.

Hardware vs. software decision rule for LARK MAX 2 users: When the LARK MAX 2’s AI Noise Cancellation is active via the HollyAudio App toggle, the signal arriving in OBS is already substantially cleaned. In this scenario, set OBS Noise Suppression to a lighter value such as -10 to -15 dB rather than maximum. Layering both hardware AI Noise Cancellation and OBS Noise Suppression at full strength produces a hollow, robotic artifact that strips natural warmth from the voice. Use the lighter OBS setting as a secondary catch for anything the hardware layer missed.

Compressor

Compression lowers the difference between loud and quiet sounds. It turns down loud peaks that pass a set limit. It then raises the overall audio level to balance the output. For streaming and recording, this keeps your voice at a consistent level even when you move toward or away from the mic or shift between quiet and loud delivery.

These values target a natural, controlled voice without squashing your delivery. If your content involves frequent loud peaks such as gaming reactions, raise the Ratio to 4:1 and lower the Threshold slightly to -20 dB.

Gain Filter (When to Use It)

Add the OBS Gain filter only when the audio signal after HollyAudio App gain adjustment is still consistently too low. Hardware gain control via the app is always the better first option because it operates on the raw signal before any software processing introduces noise. If hardware controls are insufficient, add the Gain filter at the top of the filter chain and set it no higher than +10 dB. Beyond that point, you risk amplifying the noise floor enough that subsequent filters cannot clean it up effectively.

Setting Up Audio Monitoring in OBS

Audio monitoring lets you hear your microphone input through headphones while OBS is active. To configure it, right-click your mic source in the Audio Mixer and select Advanced Audio Properties. Locate the Monitoring Type column for your microphone source.

1. Monitor Off (default): No playback to your headphones. Signal goes to the recording or stream only.

2. Monitor Only (mute output): You hear the mic through your headphones, but it is not sent to the stream or recording. Useful for testing filter settings without going live.

3. Monitor and Output: You hear the mic through headphones, and it is sent to the recording or stream simultaneously.

To set the playback device, go to Settings > Audio > Monitoring Device and select your headphone output.

Latency issue: OBS software monitoring adds processing latency that can range from 50ms to several hundred milliseconds depending on your system. This delay makes your own voice feel out of sync during live performance.

Hardware monitoring with the LARK MAX 2: The LARK MAX 2 combo kit with wireless monitoring solution. By wirelessly connecting the provided OWS earphones, you can experience real-time, near-zero-latency monitoring that bypasses OBS entirely. Try this first before enabling OBS software monitoring.

Decision rule: Use hardware monitoring (OWS earphones into the receiver) when you want a natural, low-latency reference. Use OBS Monitor and Output when you specifically need to hear how your post-filter signal sounds during a live session, for example to confirm the noise gate is not cutting off your words at the start of sentences.

Troubleshooting Common OBS Microphone Problems

Microphone Not Detected in OBS

1. Check the LARK MAX 2 receiver LED. A flashing LED indicates the transmitter is not paired or is out of range. A solid LED is required before OBS can detect a valid audio signal. Press and hold the pairing button on the transmitter and wait for both LEDs to go solid.

2. Check the transmitter battery level in the HollyAudio App.. A depleted transmitter may not pair. Charge it before continuing.

3. Open Windows Sound Settings or macOS Sound preferences and confirm the LARK MAX 2 receiver appears as an enabled input device. If it is absent, remove the USB-C receiver, wait five seconds, re-seat it, and check a different USB port if the issue persists.

4. If the receiver appears in OS settings but not in OBS, go to Settings > Audio and re-open the Mic/Auxiliary Audio dropdown to reselect the device. If the dropdown is empty, close OBS completely, verify the receiver is recognized by the OS, then reopen OBS to force a device list refresh.

Audio Levels Too Low or No Sound in Recording

1. Open the HollyAudio App and check the LARK MAX 2 transmitter mute state. The mute indicator appears in the app and is reflected in the transmitter LED. If muted, press the physical mute button to unmute.

2. In the HollyAudio App, confirm that transmitter gain is not set to minimum or near-zero.

3. Verify the transmitter is within operational range. Signal dropouts near the edge of the transmitter’s range can produce intermittent or absent audio without a clear visual indicator on the receiver.

4. In OBS, confirm the Audio Mixer channel is not muted (the speaker icon should not show an X), and the volume fader is not at zero.

5. If the OBS meter shows activity but the recording contains no audio, check your recording track assignments under Settings > Output > Recording and confirm the correct audio tracks are enabled.

Distorted or Clipping Audio

1. Check the HollyAudio App signal meter. If it shows clipping before the signal reaches OBS, reduce transmitter gain in the app first. Hardware-level clipping cannot be corrected in software.

2. If HollyAudio App levels look healthy but the OBS meter clips, reduce the OBS Audio Mixer volume fader for the mic channel.

3. As an alternative trim, add a Gain filter with a negative value such as -3 to -6 dB to attenuate an overly hot signal without adjusting the main fader.

4. Check that no filter in the chain is adding excessive gain. Compressor Output Gain values above +10 dB can push an already loud signal into clipping downstream.

FAQs

What sample rate should I use for my microphone in OBS?

Use 48kHz. It is the standard for video production and matches the native output of most professional wireless microphone systems, including the Hollyland LARK MAX 2. Setting OBS to 44.1kHz when your device outputs at 48kHz forces OBS to resample the audio, which can introduce subtle artifacts. Matching the sample rate to your hardware eliminates that step entirely.

Why is my microphone not showing up in OBS?

Several issues can cause this problem. The operating system may not detect the microphone yet. OBS might have launched before plugging in the mic. Sometimes the device list just needs refreshing manually. First, check if the mic appears in your OS settings (Windows/Mac). Then restart OBS and check. Or, pick the device again in Settings > Audio. For wireless microphones like the LARK MAX 2, check the receiver light. It should stay solid and not blink before checking OBS settings.

Should I use OBS noise suppression if my microphone already has noise cancellation?

Yes. But keep the setting lighter. Hardware noise cancellation, like AI Noise Cancellation on the LARK MAX 2, already reduces most background noise before OBS receives audio. In OBS, set Noise Suppression to around -10 to -15 dB instead of maximum strength. Using full strength on both sides can make audio sound thin and unnatural. Treat OBS as a backup layer, not the main noise remover.

What is the ideal dB level for a microphone in OBS?

During normal speech, microphone levels should peak between -12 and -6 dBFS in the OBS Audio Mixer. This range leaves enough headroom to prevent clipping during louder moments while keeping the signal comfortably above the noise floor. Sustained peaks above -6 dBFS risk distortion. Sustained peaks below -20 dBFS indicate gain is too low, and the signal will require heavy post-processing.

How do I stop my mic from picking up keyboard sounds and background noise in OBS?

Apply a Noise Gate with a Close Threshold set just above your room’s ambient noise floor and an Open Threshold 4 to 6 dB above that. Follow it with Noise Suppression using RNNoise at -15 to -30 dB depending on how much hardware noise cancellation your mic already provides. Positioning your mic closer to your mouth also reduces the problem at the source before any software processing is applied.

What is the difference between Monitor Only and Monitor and Output in OBS?

Monitor Only sends audio to your headphones for personal listening but excludes it from the stream or recording output. Monitor and Output sends audio to your headphones and to the recording or stream simultaneously. Use Monitor Only when testing filter settings in a non-live session. Use Monitor and Output when you need to hear your processed signal during a live stream. Both options introduce more latency than wireless monitoring through a device like the LARK MAX 2’s OWS earphones.

Conclusion

Start with global settings (48kHz sample rate, Mono channels), add your microphone source, calibrate hardware gain in the HollyAudio App before making changes in the OBS mixer, build your filter chain in order (Noise Gate, Noise Suppression, Compressor), and configure monitoring based on whether low latency or post-filter feedback matters more for your workflow. Following this sequence produces clean audio with minimal over-processing.