The most effective way to reduce background noise on a streaming microphone is to stop it reaching the mic in the first place: move the microphone closer to your mouth, lower the gain, switch to a directional or dynamic microphone if you can, and quiet the noisy sources around you. Software filters in OBS, such as noise suppression and a noise gate, then clean up whatever is left. This guide walks through the order to follow, what can go wrong, and when the problem is a hardware fault rather than a settings issue.
What you need before you start
You need a headphone setup so you can hear what the mic hears without feedback, a recording or the OBS audio meter, and about twenty minutes. Identify the noise first, because each type has a different fix. Record ten seconds of silence, then ten seconds of normal speech, and listen back.
| Noise heard | Likely source | Best first fix |
|---|---|---|
| Steady hiss | Gain too high, cheap preamp | Lower gain, move the mic closer |
| Low rumble or whoosh | PC fans, air conditioning, desk vibration | Boom arm, shock mount, move the tower |
| Keyboard and mouse clicks | Desk vibration, wide pickup | Off-desk mount, dynamic mic, noise gate |
| Echo or hollow sound | Bare walls and hard surfaces | Soft furnishings, closer mic |
| Buzz or hum | Electrical interference, USB or cable issue | Change port or cable, separate power |
Step-by-step fixes in the right order
- Move the microphone to about a hand-width from your mouth, angled slightly off-axis to soften plosives. Distance is the biggest single lever, because a closer mic makes your voice louder relative to the room and lets you turn the gain down.
- Lower the input gain until normal speech peaks comfortably below the top of the meter. High gain amplifies every noise equally.
- Confirm the microphone pickup pattern is set to cardioid if it has a switch, and point its back side toward the noise source.
- Mount the mic on a boom arm with a shock mount so that desk knocks and key thumps do not travel into it.
- Switch off background sources: fans on a heater, a nearby television, a loud monitor or speakers.
- Apply software filters in OBS as described below.
Fix the sources of noise in the room
Soft materials absorb sound. Curtains, rugs, bookshelves, a bed or a couch behind you and a thick blanket pinned behind the monitor all reduce echo. You do not need a studio; the goal is to avoid bare parallel walls.
For computer noise, relocate the PC away from the mic, run quieter fan curves in the firmware, and clean dust from filters. Our guide on stopping PC fan noise from reaching your stream mic covers placement, cable routing and fan settings in more detail.
Other common culprits are mechanical keyboards, which can be softened with a desk mat or a lighter switch type, and USB cables that run beside power bricks. If you notice hum, plug the mic into a different USB port, ideally one directly on the motherboard rather than a hub, and keep cables separate from power adapters.
Use OBS filters, in a sensible order
In OBS, right-click the microphone source, choose Filters and add them in this order: noise suppression, then noise gate, then compressor, then a limiter. The suppression stage removes steady background sounds, the gate silences the mic when you are not talking, the compressor evens out loud and quiet speech, and the limiter prevents clipping.
Start with the noise suppression filter and pick the method that suits your computer. Heavier methods generally do a better job but use more processor power, which may matter on a system that is already busy encoding video. If you notice dropped frames after enabling them, see our guide to fixing OBS high CPU usage while streaming.
Set the noise gate thresholds just above your room noise and just below your quietest speech. Too high and your words get chopped; too low and the gate does nothing. Adjust while watching the meter and speaking naturally.
Worked example with stated assumptions
Assume a streamer with a USB condenser microphone sitting on the desk about 20 inches from their mouth, a tower under the desk, and a gain setting near the top of the dial. The recording shows constant hiss, keyboard thumps and a faint room echo.
Moving the mic to roughly 6 inches away on a boom arm shortens the path from voice to capsule by about two-thirds, so the gain can be turned down considerably. Lowering gain cuts the hiss, the shock mount reduces thumps, and a blanket behind the monitor tames the echo. Only then are noise suppression and a gate added, with the gate threshold set just above the remaining hum. The numbers are illustrative; the sequence is the point.
Check the Windows and app settings
A surprising amount of hiss and echo comes from settings rather than hardware. Open the sound settings, select the microphone, and confirm that its input level is not pushed to maximum. Switch off any “enhancements” or “listen to this device” option unless you deliberately use it, because listening through the speakers can create echo and feedback.
Check that the sample rate and format in the sound properties match what OBS is using, and keep only one app in exclusive control of the mic at a time. Chat programs with their own automatic gain control can pump the volume up and down, so disable that option in each app and let a single compressor in OBS handle level.
When a better microphone is the answer
If the room cannot be fixed, consider the microphone itself. A cardioid dynamic mic used close to the mouth generally rejects more room sound than a sensitive condenser. A headset boom microphone sits near the mouth by design, which is why headsets often sound less echoey in noisy rooms, though their overall tone is usually thinner. Whichever type you use, positioning, gain and a calm room still decide the result.
What can go wrong
Overdoing suppression makes a voice sound watery or robotic. If this happens, reduce the strength or choose a lighter method and fix more of the problem physically. A gate set too aggressively clips the ends of words. Boosting gain after filters can bring noise back, so make gain changes before the filter chain.
Windows features such as enhancements or an extra noise suppression layer from the sound card or headset driver can fight with OBS filters and cause odd artifacts. Turn off duplicate processing and keep one stage in charge.
When to stop and check the hardware
If noise persists with the mic muted at the source, or crackles when you move the cable, the cable, port or device may be faulty. Test another cable and another computer before replacing the mic. Do not open the microphone or a power supply yourself, and if a PC fan or component is causing a grinding noise, power the system off, unplug it and consult the manufacturer or a qualified technician.
Related guides
- When I Turn On Record Game In Background On Gamebar. Gamebar Crashes, What Do I Do?
- Poly Computer Accessories Company Streaming Evaluation
- How To Set Up A Stream Deck Alternative In Software
Frequently asked questions
How do you get rid of background noise on a streaming mic?
Start physically: move the microphone closer to your mouth, lower the gain, use a boom arm and shock mount, and quiet noisy sources like fans and keyboards. Then add OBS filters in order: noise suppression, noise gate, compressor and limiter. Fixing the source first usually gives cleaner results than leaning on software alone.
Is a dynamic or condenser mic better for background noise?
A dynamic microphone is generally less sensitive to distant sound, so it tends to pick up less background noise, especially when placed close to your mouth. Condensers capture more detail but also more of the room. Many streamers in untreated rooms prefer dynamic microphones, though placement and gain remain important for either type.
What is the best noise suppression setting in OBS?
There is no single best setting. Heavier suppression methods usually remove more noise but use more processor power and can make speech sound artificial if pushed too hard. Pick the lightest method that handles your room, and check your encoding performance afterward. Read the descriptions in the filter menu and adjust while listening.
Why does a streaming microphone pick up keyboard noise so loudly?
A desk-mounted microphone transmits vibrations from keystrokes through the surface, and a sensitive capsule picks up the sound itself. Use a boom arm and shock mount so the mic is off the desk, place it closer to your mouth, lower the gain, and consider a noise gate. A desk mat or lighter keyboard switches also reduce the sound.
How far should a streaming microphone be from your mouth?
As a starting point, about a hand-width or roughly four to six inches for most dynamic and many condenser microphones, angled slightly off-axis. Closer placement improves the voice-to-room balance but can increase plosives and proximity boost. Check the manufacturer’s documentation for the recommended distance and adjust until speech sounds natural.
