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Mastering Audio: How to Use an OBS Microphone in Discord

So, you want to level up your Discord audio using the superior capabilities of your OBS microphone setup. Excellent choice! Ditching that tinny headset mic for the richness and control offered by OBS is a game-changer. Here’s the direct route: You’ll need to create a virtual audio cable using software like VB-Cable or Voicemeeter Banana, route your OBS audio output to that cable, and then select that virtual cable as your microphone input device within Discord’s settings. Now, let’s dive deeper and explore the process step-by-step, and ensure you’ve conquered any hurdles along the way.

Step-by-Step: Connecting OBS Audio to Discord

Let’s break down this process into manageable, easily digestible steps. It may seem intimidating at first, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t do this sooner.

1. Install a Virtual Audio Cable

This is the crucial first step. Discord can’t directly access your OBS microphone output. Think of a virtual audio cable as a bridge, a software-based intermediary that routes audio from one application to another.

VB-Cable: This is a straightforward, lightweight option. Download and install it from its official website. It creates one input and one output virtual audio device.
Voicemeeter Banana: This is a more advanced, feature-rich option. It allows for more complex audio routing, including multiple inputs and outputs, EQ adjustments, and more. This is what I personally recommend for future-proofing your setup. Download and install from the official Voicemeeter website.

Choose whichever one you prefer based on your needs. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll refer to it as “Virtual Audio Cable” generically from here on.

2. Configure OBS Audio Output

Now, you need to tell OBS to send its audio output to this newly created virtual cable. This is usually done through Audio Monitoring.

Open OBS Studio.
Go to Settings > Audio.
In the “Advanced” section, you’ll find “Monitoring Device.”
Select the “Virtual Audio Cable” that you installed earlier. It will likely be labeled as “Cable Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)” or something similar in Voicemeeter.
In the Audio Mixer (usually at the bottom of the OBS window), find the microphone/audio source you want to use in Discord.
Click the Gear Icon > Advanced Audio Properties.
Find your microphone source again, and under “Audio Monitoring,” change it to “Monitor and Output.” This sends the audio to both your speakers and the virtual cable.

Important Note: Hearing your own voice echoing back can be distracting. Adjust the volume of the monitoring device in your system settings or through the advanced options in Voicemeeter (if you are using it).

3. Configure Discord Audio Input

Almost there! Now, it’s time to tell Discord to listen to the virtual cable instead of your physical microphone.

Open Discord.
Go to User Settings (the gear icon at the bottom left).
Select “Voice & Video.”
Under “Input Device,” select the “Virtual Audio Cable”. It will likely be labelled as “Cable Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)” or similar.
Adjust the Input Sensitivity if needed. Disable “Automatically determine input sensitivity” for more control. Speak into your microphone and adjust the slider until the input level is consistently in the green.
Test your microphone. You should see the input meter in Discord reacting to your voice as processed through OBS.

4. Fine-Tune Your Audio (Crucial Step!)

This is where the magic happens! OBS gives you incredible control over your audio.

Filters: Add noise suppression, noise gates, compressors, and equalizers within OBS to clean up and enhance your microphone audio. Experiment to find the best settings for your environment and voice.
Volume Levels: Carefully balance the volume levels of all your audio sources in OBS to ensure that your microphone is clear and audible in Discord without being overpowered by game audio or other sources.

Pro Tip: Ask a friend to join a Discord voice channel with you and provide feedback on your audio. This is the best way to ensure that your setup is working correctly and that your audio sounds great.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 of the most common questions I get asked about using OBS microphones in Discord, along with my expert advice:

1. Why bother using OBS with Discord?

OBS gives you unparalleled control over your audio. You can apply noise suppression, noise gates, compression, and EQ to make your microphone sound significantly better than a typical headset mic. It also allows you to manage multiple audio sources, like game audio, music, and microphone input, all in one place. It gives you the ability to deliver professional audio to your Discord friends.

2. Do I need a powerful computer to run OBS and Discord simultaneously?

While OBS can be resource-intensive, using it solely for audio processing is relatively lightweight. As long as your computer meets the minimum requirements for both Discord and OBS individually, you should be fine. However, running demanding games alongside both programs might strain your system. Monitor your CPU and RAM usage to ensure smooth performance.

3. I’m getting a lot of static or noise in my Discord audio. What can I do?

This is where OBS filters come to the rescue!

Noise Suppression: Start with the “Noise Suppression” filter (either RNNoise or Speex). RNNoise is generally better but more CPU-intensive.
Noise Gate: Add a “Noise Gate” to cut off the audio when you’re not speaking. Adjust the “Close Threshold” and “Open Threshold” carefully to avoid cutting off parts of your speech.
Equalizer: Use an “EQ” to reduce harsh frequencies or boost your vocal presence.
Compressor: This can help to level out the dynamics of your voice, making it sound more consistent.

Experiment with these filters until you find the optimal settings. Also, ensure your microphone cable is properly connected and shielded to avoid interference.

4. My voice sounds muffled or distant in Discord. How can I fix this?

Check your microphone placement. Ensure it’s close to your mouth and not obstructed. In OBS, use an EQ filter to boost frequencies in the 2-5 kHz range, which is where vocal clarity resides. A compressor can also help to bring your voice forward in the mix. Also, double-check your input sensitivity in Discord.

5. I’m hearing an echo of my own voice in Discord. What’s causing this?

You likely have audio monitoring enabled in multiple places. Ensure that you only have “Monitor and Output” enabled for your microphone source in OBS, and that you don’t have any other applications monitoring your microphone input. Also, double check that you don’t have “hear myself” or similar options enabled within Discord itself.

6. Can I use this method with multiple microphones?

Yes! Voicemeeter Banana is particularly useful here. You can route multiple microphone inputs into Voicemeeter, apply separate filters to each, and then output the combined audio to the Virtual Audio Cable for use in Discord. This is ideal for podcasting or group discussions.

7. My friends say my audio is cutting in and out. What’s going on?

This could be due to several reasons.

Noise Gate: Your noise gate might be too aggressive. Adjust the “Close Threshold” to be less sensitive.
Discord’s Voice Activity: Discord’s automatic voice activity detection might be interfering. Try disabling “Automatically determine input sensitivity” in Discord and manually adjusting the input threshold.
Internet Connection: A poor internet connection can also cause audio dropouts.

8. I’m using Voicemeeter Banana. How do I route my microphone audio to Discord?

In Voicemeeter, assign your microphone to one of the hardware inputs (e.g., “Hardware Input 1”). Then, route that input to the “Virtual Input” (Voicemeeter VAIO). In Discord, select “Voicemeeter Output (VB-Audio Voicemeeter VAIO)” as your input device.

9. What are the best OBS filter settings for a clear and professional-sounding microphone?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as it depends on your microphone, environment, and voice. However, a good starting point is:

Noise Suppression (RNNoise): Experiment with the suppression level.
Noise Gate: Open threshold around -40dB, Close threshold around -50dB (adjust to your specific noise floor).
EQ: Gentle boosts in the 2-5 kHz range for clarity, and cuts below 100 Hz to remove rumble.
Compressor: Ratio of 4:1, Threshold around -20dB, Attack and Release times that sound natural to your voice.

10. Can I use this setup for streaming as well as Discord?

Absolutely! OBS is primarily designed for streaming. You can configure OBS to output your audio to both the virtual audio cable for Discord and your streaming service simultaneously.

11. I’m having trouble with the virtual audio cable installation. What should I do?

Run the installer as administrator.
Restart your computer after installation.
Ensure that the virtual audio cable is selected as the default playback and recording device in your Windows sound settings (Control Panel > Sound).
Check for driver updates for your sound card.

12. What are some good alternatives to VB-Cable and Voicemeeter Banana?

While VB-Cable and Voicemeeter are the most popular options, other alternatives include:

OBS Virtual Cam (only for video but can carry audio): Primarily used for sending OBS video output to other applications, but it can also carry audio.
SteelSeries Sonar: A comprehensive audio suite that comes with SteelSeries headsets, offering similar virtual audio cable functionality.
Equalizer APO with Peace GUI: A powerful system-wide equalizer that can also be used for audio routing.

By implementing these strategies and troubleshooting tips, you can harness the full power of OBS to deliver exceptional audio quality in Discord, leaving your friends impressed by your professional sound. Good luck, and happy chatting!