Question / Help Audio Mixer ->Audio Monitoring

[Michael Koh]

At the Audio mixer, there is a dropdown from the "Audio Monitoring". The options are "Monitor off", "Monitoring only(mute output)" and "Monitoring and output".

Can someone please explain them.

 

[Lain]

"Monitor (mute output)" allows you to hear the audio on your speakers, but it mutes it going out to the stream. The reason why this option is available is because often people have a desktop audio capture active. Without this option, the audio from the device would potentially have an echo from being output to the stream and being captured by desktop audio capture. So a "mute output" option was provided to mute it going out to the stream simply because a desktop audio capture may already be active.

 

[Michael Koh]

"Monitor (mute output)" allows you to hear the audio on your speakers, but it mutes it going out to the stream. The reason why this option is available is because often people have a desktop audio capture active. Without this option, the audio from the device would potentially have an echo from being output to the stream and being captured by desktop audio capture. So a "mute output" option was provided to mute it going out to the stream simply because a desktop audio capture may already be active.

Thanks. Now it makes sense. I use OBS not for games...but multi-cam broadcast for a very small church. I only need one audio input source, it is a USB source using Zoom H6. Should I config that input as "monitor and output"?

 

[Nancerella]

I'm working on a Mac. I muted the output on the mixer and this stopped the echoing problem I was having. But now it's not picking up the audio from my mic (a plugged in one). On the Mic/Aux there is no setting for "external mic" . Suggestions? (p.s. the mic is working fine - I use it all the time on Skype)
Thanks! (also if you could please specify how to do something if you have a suggestion, because there's a good chance I don't know how :)

 

[kenman345]

This is old, but when you have "Monitor off" set, does that still output to stream?

 

[DEDRICK]

Audio Monitoring is for using a separate sound device so you can hear what a source sounds like.

By default though it will output to your default playback device, when using Monitor (Mute Output) the stream will still hear the audio because it is being played back on the default playback device through the Desktop Audio Source.

When using Monitor and Output you end up duplicating the audio because the source itself and Desktop Audio Source are both playing the same output.

When you correctly configure Audio Monitoring to use a sound device that is not your Default, that is when Monitor (Mute Output) will actually mute it for stream. It is important to use Monitor and Output when using a separate sound device unless you intentionally don't want the stream to hear it.

Monitor off just means do nothing, don't listen.

Audio Monitoring is generally not for the streamer, it is for the producer to monitor levels/sources on their own set of headphones. Think big time setups where the host/streamer is not by the PC.

It has limited use in smaller setups, the delay is far too high to be used as a psuedo sidetone to monitor your microphone, it can cause you to stutter, slur or jam your speech entirely

 

[HeySarge]

I am a one person operation and I do an occasional FB Live...what settings should I use to do a skype interview?
Basically I get a skype call going and once I fire up OBS, I can't tell what I am listening to...when I start the FB stream there is a 10 second delay. If I use "Monitor off", I can't hear my intro music until 10 seconds after it plays...If I use "Monitoring only(mute output)" Does that stop all sound from getting to FB and if I use "Monitoring and output" I have the huge echo...any suggestions? Thanks for anyone that offers help

 

[isidroco]

I have two independent inputs from same source, and can't mute any of them (which causes double audio when OBS is open). Mute everything doesn't help... OBS v26.0.2, any ideas?