The basics of audio management: Understanding volume levels

Effective audio management is crucial for creating a professional-sounding stream that engages and retains viewers. Poor volume levels can lead to distorted audio, causing frustration for your audience and making your content less enjoyable. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of audio management, discuss the different types of audio levels you need to manage, and explain why understanding volume levels is essential for high-quality streaming.

Why audio levels matter

Proper audio levels are crucial for ensuring that all elements of your stream sound balanced. Whether you’re delivering commentary, playing music, or featuring sound effects, the audio levels must be well-adjusted to create a seamless listening experience.

If your voice is too soft compared to background music or sound effects, it can be hard for viewers to hear what you’re saying. On the other hand, if the volume of your voice is too high, it can result in distortion, making it unpleasant to listen to. Balanced audio levels prevent these issues, ensuring clarity and focus on the most important audio elements.

Types of audio levels to manage

Microphone volume:

The most critical audio level to manage is your microphone volume. If your microphone level is too high, the audio will clip, creating distortion that makes your voice unintelligible. If it’s too low, your voice will be hard to hear over the other sounds in your stream. Finding the right balance is essential. A good rule of thumb is to adjust your microphone so that it captures your voice clearly without peaking into the red zone on your audio meters.

Many microphones, such as the HUD-600, feature a rotating knob that allows for easy adjustment of the mic volume.

System/Monitor volume:

The overall system volume includes background music, sound effects, game audio, and any other sounds that play alongside your microphone. These should be set at a level that complements your voice, ensuring they enhance your stream rather than overpower it.

Music or sound effects that are too loud can distract your audience, while sounds that are too quiet may go unnoticed. The key is to find a balance where everything can be heard but nothing overwhelms the microphone audio.

Gain control:

Gain control is used to adjust the microphone’s input sensitivity, ensuring it captures audio clearly. Proper gain levels are important for avoiding background hiss, distortion, or low-volume issues. If the gain is too high, the mic will pick up unwanted noise, and if it’s too low, your voice will sound distant and unclear. Fine-tuning the gain ensures clean, clear audio with no distractions.

Compression and EQ settings:

Compressors and equalizers are essential tools for further balancing your audio. A compressor helps control the dynamic range by reducing audio peaks that are too loud and boosting quieter sounds to create a more consistent level. Equalizers allow you to adjust frequencies, boosting or cutting certain ranges to enhance clarity. Together, these tools help smooth out volume inconsistencies and enhance the overall sound quality of your stream.

Setting up and testing your audio levels

Test and adjust microphone levels:

Before going live, it’s important to test your microphone levels. Use your streaming software’s built-in monitoring feature to listen to your audio while adjusting the mic volume. Aim for a level that’s neither too high nor too low. Pay attention to any distortion or clipping while making adjustments. This ensures your voice sounds clean and balanced throughout the stream.

Use a reference track:

To assess the quality of your audio setup, consider comparing your stream’s sound to a known source, such as professional podcasts or other streams you admire. Use this reference track to gauge the sound quality, ensuring that your audio levels match those of high-quality productions. If your levels are too high or low in comparison, make the necessary adjustments until your audio is on par with your reference.

Monitor background noise:

Unwanted background noise can be a major distraction for viewers. Use noise gates (available in the Stream 200 XLR), filters, or dedicated noise suppression software to reduce or eliminate background sounds. Noise gates work by cutting off sound when the volume falls below a certain threshold, preventing constant background hums or hisses from being heard. This allows your voice to remain the focal point without distraction.

Use your audio controller for precise adjustments:

With a dedicated audio controller like the Stream 100 or Stream 200 XLR, you can fine-tune your audio levels with greater precision. These controllers provide physical knobs and sliders that allow for instant adjustments of microphone, music, and other audio sources.

The Stream 100’s intuitive layout lets you control multiple audio channels simultaneously, while the Stream 200 XLR offers advanced features like XLR input support and separate volume controls the creator and the audience. Using these controllers, you can maintain a seamless audio experience, adjusting on the fly without needing to interrupt your stream.

Why consistency matters

Consistency in audio levels is key to maintaining a professional and enjoyable experience for your viewers. If your levels fluctuate wildly throughout the stream, viewers will be forced to adjust their volume, which can be annoying and disrupt the flow of the content.

By keeping audio levels consistent from start to finish, you allow viewers to sit back and enjoy the stream without worrying about adjusting their volume. Consistency also makes it easier for you to manage your audio setup and ensures that your stream sounds polished every time you go live.

Final thoughts

Understanding and managing audio levels is essential for delivering high-quality streams that engage and retain viewers. By ensuring your microphone volume is properly set, balancing your system audio, and using tools like gain control, compression, and EQ, you can significantly improve the audio experience.

Maintaining consistent levels throughout your stream creates a more professional atmosphere and ensures that your audience enjoys clear, balanced sound. Whether you’re streaming gameplay, music, or chatting with your audience, mastering audio management is a crucial step toward building a successful stream.