How to Auto-Lower Game Volume When Speaking in OBS

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to use the Compressor filter’s sidechaining feature in OBS Studio. By setting up this feature, commonly referred to as “audio ducking,” OBS will automatically lower your desktop or game audio whenever you speak into your microphone, ensuring your voice remains clear and audible for your viewers without manual volume adjustments.

Step 1: Access the Filters for Your Game Audio

To set up sidechaining, you must apply the Compressor filter to your Game Audio (or Desktop Audio) source, not your microphone.

1. Locate the Audio Mixer dock in OBS Studio.
2. Find your Desktop Audio or Game Audio source.
3. Click the three dots (options icon) next to the volume slider of that source.
4. Select Filters from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Add the Compressor Filter

1. In the Filters window, click the plus (+) icon in the bottom-left corner.
2. Select Compressor from the list of filters.
3. Name the filter (e.g., “Ducking Compressor”) and click OK.

Step 3: Configure the Sidechain Source

With the Compressor filter selected, look at the settings panel on the right side of the window.

1. Find the dropdown menu labeled Sidechain/Ducking Source.
2. Select your Microphone from this dropdown list. This tells the compressor to monitor your voice to decide when to lower the game volume.

Step 4: Adjust the Compressor Settings

To achieve a natural-sounding volume drop, adjust the compressor sliders to the following recommended baseline values:

• Ratio: Set this between 4:1 and 6:1. A higher ratio (like 10:1) will drop the game volume more aggressively, while a lower ratio will make the drop more subtle.
• Threshold: This controls how loud you must speak to trigger the volume drop. Start at -30 dB to -35 dB. If the game volume drops when you make quiet background noises, raise the threshold (closer to 0 dB). If it doesn’t drop when you speak normally, lower the threshold.
• Attack Time: Set this to a fast speed, between 2 ms and 10 ms. This ensures the game volume drops almost instantly the moment you begin to speak.
• Release Time: Set this between 500 ms and 700 ms. This prevents the game volume from bouncing back up instantly during brief pauses between your words, creating a smooth transition back to full volume.
• Output Gain: Leave this at 0 dB. You do not want to boost the game volume after compressing it.

Step 5: Test and Fine-Tune

Speak into your microphone while game audio is playing. Watch the Audio Mixer to ensure the green/yellow bar for your game audio visibly drops whenever you speak and smoothly rises back to its original level when you stop speaking. Adjust the Threshold and Ratio sliders until the balance feels natural for your stream.