How to remove background noise in OBS Studio

Background noise in OBS is super common, and the fix is usually quick once you stack the right filters. Here’s a clean, step-by-step way to remove background noise in OBS Studio.

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Method 1: Use OBS Built-in Audio Filters (Best & Free)

Step 1: Open Mic Filters

1. Open OBS Studio
2. In Audio Mixer, find your Mic/Aux
3. Click the ⚙️ gear icon → Filters

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Step 2: Add Noise Suppression (MOST IMPORTANT)

1. Click ➕ under Audio Filters
2. Select Noise Suppression
3. Choose:
   • RNNoise (recommended) → best quality, low effort
   • Speex → lighter, manual control

Recommended settings

• RNNoise: No changes needed
• Speex: Start at -30 dB, adjust between -20 to -40 dB

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Step 3: Add Noise Gate (Cuts sound when you’re not speaking)

1. Click ➕ → Noise Gate

Suggested settings

• Close Threshold: -32 dB
• Open Threshold: -26 dB
• Attack Time: 25 ms
• Hold Time: 200 ms
• Release Time: 150 ms

This removes keyboard clicks, fan noise, AC hum when silent.

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Step 4: Add Compressor (Optional but Recommended)

1. Click ➕ → Compressor

Suggested settings

• Ratio: 4:1
• Threshold: -18 dB
• Attack: 6 ms
• Release: 60 ms
• Make-up Gain: Checked

Makes your voice consistent and professional.

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Step 5: (Optional) Add Gain Filter

If your mic volume becomes low:

• Add Gain
• Increase by +2 to +5 dB

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Correct Filter Order (IMPORTANT)

Filters should be in this order:

1. Noise Suppression
2. Noise Gate
3. Compressor
4. Gain

(Drag to reorder if needed)

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Method 2: Improve Mic & Environment (Huge Difference)

Even the best filters can’t fix bad input.

Do this:

• Use a cardioid mic
• Keep mic 6–8 inches from mouth
• Turn off fans / AC if possible
• Use foam / pop filter
• Add curtains or cushions to reduce echo

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Method 3: Use External Noise Removal (Advanced)

If you want studio-level sound:

• NVIDIA Broadcast (RTX GPUs)
• Krisp.ai
• RTX Voice

Set these as your mic input in OBS.

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Quick Best-Quality Preset (Recommended)

If you want one-click style setup:

• Noise Suppression → RNNoise
• Noise Gate → Open: -26 / Close: -32
• Compressor → 4:1, Threshold -18
• Gain → +3 dB