Monitor Audio Levels of Unselected OBS Scenes

This article explains how to configure OBS Studio to monitor audio levels for multiple unselected scenes while using the Multi-view projector window. Since the Multi-view window natively only displays video previews, you will learn how to configure your audio sources and workspace layout so you can visually check audio meters for all your scenes simultaneously in real-time.

The Limitation of OBS Multi-view

The OBS Studio Multi-view projector (both fullscreen and windowed) is designed strictly for video monitoring. It does not display audio dB meters on the individual scene preview boxes. Furthermore, by default, the OBS Audio Mixer only displays audio sources that are active in your currently selected scene.

To check audio levels across multiple unselected scenes while using Multi-view, you must configure your audio sources to remain active globally and position your Audio Mixer dock alongside your Multi-view window.

Step 1: Make Audio Sources Globally Active

To see audio meters for scenes you do not have selected, those audio sources must be configured to load globally so they never disappear from the Audio Mixer.

  1. Open OBS Studio and click Settings (bottom right) or go to File > Settings.
  2. Click on the Audio tab in the left menu.
  3. Under the Global Audio Devices section, map your various audio inputs (like microphones, desktop audio, or auxiliary inputs) to the available slots.
  4. Click Apply and OK.

Alternative Method (for capture cards or media sources): If your audio comes from specific scene sources (like a media file or console capture card), create an “Audio Master” scene. Add all these audio sources to this single scene. Right-click each source in the mixer, go to Advanced Audio Properties, and set their Audio Monitoring to Monitor Only or Monitor and Output. You can then nest this “Audio Master” scene into your other scenes, keeping the audio meters active at all times.

Step 2: Configure the Audio Mixer Dock

Once your sources are global or constantly active, you need to ensure they are visible in your mixer interface.

  1. Look at your Audio Mixer dock in the main OBS window.
  2. Right-click anywhere inside the Audio Mixer dock.
  3. Ensure that Unhide All is selected so no active audio meters are hidden from your view.
  4. (Optional) Right-click the mixer again and select Vertical Layout if you prefer vertical dB meters, which can be easier to read side-by-side.

Step 3: Arrange the Multi-view and Audio Mixer Windows

Now that your Audio Mixer is displaying all levels simultaneously, you can set up your screen layout to monitor both video and audio.

  1. In the top menu of OBS, click on View > Multiview (Windowed).
  2. Drag the Windowed Multiview projector to your preferred monitor.
  3. Resize the main OBS Studio window (which contains your Audio Mixer dock) and place it directly adjacent to or below your Multiview window.
  4. You can now use the Multiview window to watch your video feeds, while referencing the constantly active Audio Mixer dock to check the audio levels of your unselected scenes.