Question / Help Audio Compressor when no filters are used PLEASE help

[bbma1234]

I am a professional audio engineer, so both frustrated and perplexed...
I am using obs without ANY audio filters applied. I am using a single vocal large diaphragm condenser mic into a single preamp with phantom +48 power, usb output. It is the only audio device the system is using.

It recognizes fine in obs.

The direct monitor on the mic preamp sounds correct. The direct monitor in obs is very clearly compressing the signal- when voice is not present, It raises background noise- talk- pushes noise far into background until it returns at a steady slope. Literally zero audio filters selected.

I do not want any dynamic effects on the signal- just clean audio path. OBS is without a doubt compressing the audio signal.

Everyone swears it uses no audio compression unless selected- it is clear as day and only from direct monitor in OBS, and when livestreaming.
Please, please help if you can- I'd like this to actually sound good and do not wish to use any noise suppression, audio compression or other filters for audio.
Thanks!

 

[Osiris]

OBS does not do anything to the audio when there is activity on the mic (unless using the compressor filter is used with the sidechain option set). It probably is the default behaviour in Windows that lowers other volume when it detects activity on the mic.

 

[DEDRICK]

The direct monitor on your interface is the true signal yes, but that signal is then being sent over USB to Windows. Monitor the device in a DAW using WASAPI as your audio driver, do not use ASIO, REAPER supports WASAPI. See if you still hear in the DAW.

 

[bbma1234]

The direct monitor on your interface is the true signal yes, but that signal is then being sent over USB to Windows. Monitor the device in a DAW using WASAPI as your audio driver, do not use ASIO, REAPER supports WASAPI. See if you still hear in the DAW.

Thank you, I will try that. I've never heard of windows doing that from its end, and I develop audio software which is often tested in Reaper, so I'll try that right away. This is my 'streaming' computer so I've kept all of my testing environment off of this machine- ironically it is the one magically adding an effect! lol. Thanks again will check

 

[bbma1234]

Thank you again. Yes, the issue was in win 10 control via wasapi. I had chosen 'never' but it did not save it when I did so. I believe that I first even found that via advanced settings in obs, but this time via control panel, found windows was set to turn 'other' sounds down still. Voila. Thanks again SO much, and I would recommend you placing this advice somewhere easy to find under audio issues, bc others probably would not even know what audio compression was doing, but that the sound was not as good as it could be. Thanks!!!

 

[mtbest]

I have exactly the same problem. Which DAW do I have to use? Is it possible to disable WASAPI compressor for usb microphone stream somehow? I only want to use OBS for streaming, but this Window 10 WASAPI is spoiling everything... I need clearer explanation what to do to stop WASAPI interfering with my microphone signals. Can someone help please?

 

[mtbest]

I downloaded Reaper, set up my Zoom 6Hn recording mixer in Reaper using WASAPI and the situation is exactly the same. Mic signal is heavily compressed in OBS. What do I need to do to turn off this WASAPI compression?

 

[mtbest]

Monitoring in Reaper is irrelevant. What helps is actually allowing applications exclusive control of the usb microphone device (in Windows 10 sound settings for this device). Reaper can request this too, but it is not needed. When WASAPI setting is a shared mode for the usb microphone, an undocumented audio compression takes place for this microphone with no user control.

Is it Win 10 bug or undocumented/accidental feature?

 

[mtbest]

Did some more tests and Windows 10 WASAPI compression for usb microphones seems universal and unavoidable. Tested 2 different codecs with analog mixer and Zoom 4Hn in direct usb streaming mode. All compressed by WASAPI for recording and for streaming with OBS. Any chance to have OBS supporting audio inputs other than via WASAPI like most DAWs ???