Eliminating Microphone White Noise in OBS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Dealing with white noise from your microphone while using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) can be an annoying issue to tackle. However, with some simple adjustments, you can effectively eliminate the unwanted noise and improve the quality of your audio recordings or live-streams. In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you through a step-by-step process to help you minimize any distracting white noise.

1. Update your audio drivers: The first step to eliminate white noise is to ensure that your computer’s audio drivers are up-to-date. Check your manufacturer's website for the latest driver updates and install them according to the provided instructions.

2. Check your microphone settings: Ensure that your microphone's input level is set to an appropriate value. Navigate to your computer’s sound settings and increase or decrease the microphone input level, depending on your preferences and environment.

3. Optimize OBS audio settings: Open the OBS program, click on 'File' and then 'Settings.' From the settings menu, select 'Audio' and adjust the 'Mic/Auxiliary Device' to the microphone you are using. Make sure that the 'Mic/Aux Boost' is not too high as it may amplify the white noise.

4. Utilize Noise Suppression filters: With OBS open, click on the '+' sign under the 'Sources' window and add an 'Audio Input Capture' source. Through the 'Filters' window, add a 'Noise Suppression' filter to your microphone source. OBS offers two noise suppression algorithms: RNNoise and Speex, with RNNoise being the more advanced option. Experiment with both options and adjust the suppression levels to find the ideal balance between noise elimination and audio quality.

5. Use Noise Gate filters: From the same 'Filters' window, you can add a 'Noise Gate' filter. This filter prevents OBS from recording or broadcasting low-level audio (like white noise) when you’re not speaking. Adjust the 'Close Threshold' setting until the white noise is eliminated when not speaking, and then fine-tune the 'Open Threshold' setting, so your actual speech remains unaffected.

6. Invest in a higher-quality microphone: If none of the above solutions effectively eliminate the white noise, you may need to upgrade your microphone. Consider purchasing a microphone with better noise cancellation or a USB microphone with built-in preamps to improve overall audio quality.

By following these steps, you can achieve a cleaner audio output and remove unwanted white noise while using OBS for your recording or streaming sessions.