How to Use Noise Gate in OBS Studio

Eliminating unwanted background noise is crucial for producing high-quality live streams and recordings. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step tutorial on how to apply and configure a noise gate filter to your microphone in OBS Studio, helping you silence keyboard clicks, fan hums, and other ambient sounds when you are not speaking.

Step 1: Access the Microphone Filters

1. Open OBS Studio.
2. Locate the Audio Mixer dock, which is typically situated at the bottom center of the screen.
3. Find your microphone input (usually labeled Mic/Aux).
4. Click on the three vertical dots next to the volume slider (or right-click on the microphone source) and select Filters from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Add the Noise Gate Filter

1. In the new Filters window, locate the Audio Filters section on the left.
2. Click the + (plus sign) icon in the bottom-left corner.
3. Select Noise Gate from the list of available filters.
4. Name the filter (e.g., “Noise Gate”) and click OK.

Step 3: Configure the Noise Gate Settings

The noise gate works by blocking audio signals that fall below a certain volume threshold. You will need to adjust the following sliders to match your environment:

• Close Threshold: This is the volume level (in decibels) at which the microphone will turn off. Set this slightly higher than the level of your background noise, but lower than your speaking voice. (e.g., -32 dB).
• Open Threshold: This is the volume level required to turn the microphone back on. Set this slightly below your normal speaking volume so that the gate opens immediately when you start talking (e.g., -26 dB).
• Attack Time: How quickly the gate opens when you speak. The default 25ms is recommended so your first syllables are not cut off.
• Hold Time: How long the gate stays open after you stop speaking. The default 200ms prevents the gate from closing during natural pauses in your speech.
• Release Time: How slowly the gate fades out after the hold time expires. The default 150ms creates a smooth transition instead of an abrupt cut-off.

Step 4: Test and Fine-Tune

To ensure the filter is working correctly, stop speaking and look at the green volume bar in the Audio Mixer. The meter should drop to zero (completely gray) when you are silent. If the bar still moves when you type or breathe, raise the Close Threshold slightly until the background noise is blocked. If your voice gets cut off when you speak softly, lower the Open Threshold and Close Threshold values.