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Which OBS audio filters should you use?
Start with the cleanest source you can. A filter chain is not an improvement by default: processing can change musical dynamics or damage the quiet details that make a meditation track work. OBS’s filter guides describe each tool’s purpose, but do not prescribe a universal meditation-music preset.
| Filter | Recommendation | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | Optional, only if the source is genuinely too quiet. | Prefer correcting the source level upstream where practical. Gain raises a quiet source; it is not loudness normalization and does not prevent peaks from clipping. OBS gain guide. |
| Compressor | Optional, only when audible level swings need control. | Compression reduces levels above its threshold and can change musical dynamics. OBS generally places it near the beginning of a chain. Listen to the resulting stream rather than assuming it will sound better. OBS compressor guide. |
| Expander | Usually omit for clean music; consider light reduction only for unwanted low-level noise. | It makes quieter sounds quieter and can act more smoothly than a gate. A threshold set too high may attenuate quiet instruments or ambience. OBS recommends placing it after compression and other effects, but before a limiter. OBS expander guide. |
| Noise suppression | Use only if there is mild background or white noise in the source or capture chain. | OBS says suppression may help with mild fan or environmental noise, but may be ineffective against substantial noise and can distort wanted sound. Compare the processed audio with bypassed audio. OBS noise suppression guide. |
| Noise gate | Do not use on an uninterrupted music bed. | A gate cuts sound below its close threshold. That can remove quiet notes, fades, and reverb tails. OBS describes it for removing background noise when not speaking, not for continuous music. OBS noise gate guide. |
| Limiter | A sensible final peak ceiling, set conservatively after listening. | It prevents peaks above a threshold that could cause clipping or distortion. OBS’s default threshold is -6 dB, which is a software default, not a universal target for this use. Place it last. OBS limiter guide. |
| VST 2.x plugin | Not required for a basic setup. | OBS supports VST 2.x plugins, but no third-party plugin is established as necessary for this use. OBS filters guide. |
Build and tune a minimal filter chain
If your source needs processing, a practical order is source-level adjustment, optional compressor, optional expander for identified noise, then limiter. Noise suppression is conditional on a mild noise problem; OBS does not prescribe one mandatory position for it relative to every other filter.
- Listen to representative passages. Include the quietest and loudest sections, fades, sustained notes, and ambience that will be on the stream.
- Correct the source level first. If it remains too quiet, add gain and check that peaks do not clip.
- Add compression only for a real level problem. Do not treat a particular ratio, threshold, or loudness target as a universal meditation-music setting; OBS’s generic defaults are not a use-case prescription.
- Address noise only if you can hear it. Try an expander or noise suppression for unwanted noise, then compare bypassed and processed audio to ensure quiet musical detail remains intact.
- Place the limiter last. Listen for occasional peak control rather than constant limiting. The OBS default threshold of -6 dB is a starting default, not a guaranteed ideal ceiling.
- Test the actual YouTube playback. Use a private or unlisted test stream and monitor playback, not just the OBS meter. OBS recommends testing the setup before going live. OBS overview.
Keep OBS filters separate from YouTube encoder settings
Filters process the sound; encoder settings specify how the stream is sent. YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS, with stereo audio at 128 kbps and a 44.1 kHz sample rate in its advanced settings. These are YouTube encoding recommendations, not filter settings. Check YouTube’s live encoder settings when configuring the stream.
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Plan for monitoring, bandwidth, and archives
- Test with representative content. YouTube recommends testing with audio and movement similar to the real stream, checking stream health, and continuously monitoring quality. Its streaming tips recommend leaving 20% network bandwidth headroom. See YouTube streaming tips.
- Keep a local recording. YouTube says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, but warns that streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. A continuous stream operator should plan archive continuity separately and should not assume a full 24-hour VOD will be retained. YouTube recommends recording a local archive as backup; check that the local file is growing. YouTube archive guidance.
- Do not mistake a filter chain for uptime protection. Filters address sound; they do not ensure a stable network, uninterrupted computer power, or a complete archive.
Troubleshooting common audio problems
| What you hear | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet notes or reverb disappear | A noise gate or expander threshold is cutting wanted low-level sound. | Disable the gate on continuous music. Lower or remove expansion, then compare the quiet passage with processing bypassed. |
| The music sounds unnaturally flat or pulsing | Compression is acting too strongly or on material that does not need it. | Bypass compression and compare. Keep it only if it addresses audible level swings; avoid treating generic defaults as a preset. |
| Peaks sound distorted | The source or gain stage may be clipping, or the limiter may not be catching peaks as intended. | Reduce the source level or gain first, check the full chain, and verify the limiter is last. Listen to the actual YouTube output. |
| Hiss or fan noise remains | Suppression may not be suited to the amount or type of noise, or the noise is in the source itself. | Fix the noise at its source where possible. Suppression is intended for mild noise and can distort music; compare it on and off. |
| The OBS meter looks fine, but the stream does not | The encoded and delivered playback can differ from local monitoring. | Run a private or unlisted test and monitor the YouTube playback and stream health before relying on the setup. |
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