Automute all other audio sources if a specific one is above certain level

[vin97]

Is there a plugin that could accomplish something like this?
Essentially I need to mute my mic once a specific audio source is above a certain level, of course with some buffer/tolerance duration.

 

[koala]

Usually it's the other way round: people want to lower other sources while they speak to make sure people understand what they say, not lower the mic while other sources play?!

Anyway, you can probably use the built in Compressor audio filter for this.
Notice the Sidechain/Ducking source. If activity is detected in the Sidechain/Ducking source, the source the filter is applied to is lowered.
So if you want to lower ("mute") your mic while some other source is playing, apply one compressor filter to the mic source and configure that other source as sidechain/ducking source.
How to set the other settings (that's important) see the description for the ducking feature: https://obsproject.com/wiki/Filters-Guide#sidechain-compressionducking
However, it's not that this filter will mute the mic, it's lowered according to the ratio setting. To make it stronger (more muting), increase the ratio. The threshold is probably the volume of the sidechain source at which the ducking kicks in. You have to experiment.

 

[vin97]

Yes, I know it's slightly unusual, kind of like a reverse push-to-talk.
This is for online instrumetal lessons. So the primary source in this case is the electric intsrument.

Alternatively, is there a shortcut button you can assign to toggle mute for a specific source?
Also, does OBS now support virtual audio like it does virtual cam?

 

[koala]

Yes, you can assign a hotkey to mute/unmute an audio sources in Settings->Hotkeys.
There is still no virtual audio for the virtual cam.

 

[vin97]

So what thats it?
No better solution?

 

[_Muecke]

Hi, I'm looking for a solution to a similar problem. I have a scene with around 20 audio & video sources in it. Those can be triggered by channel points. I would like that my music channel for example ducks down when one of these sources gets triggered. I thought it might be helpful if I could put a ducking on a whole scene instead of every single file (source) in it.
Is there any solution for such a problem?

Regards
Muecke

 

[stacker]

Anyone figure this out? I want to mute a Microphone that ends up picking up the music that is played from the same PC that OBS is running on at a ball field. My issue is when we play music the microphone at the camera picks it up and I need to just MUTE that mic when say spotify is playing or any audio is playing via what local default audio adapter on the computer. The Compressor / Auto Duck is not enough as youtube/facebook still detect the music even when its low. This seems like there should just be a check box for MUTE X if sound is coming from Y.

 

[AaronD]

I've cascaded two Compressors on the same source, both set as aggressively as they go, and both sidechained to the same thing. That finally got enough attenuation to kill a concentration-breaking echo going back to a remote meeting.

But you might also look at the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin. It's pretty much a one-stop-shop for any kind of automation that you'd ever want to do. For this case in particular, it has an Audio condition what watches for above or below some threshold of volume, and an Audio action than can mute/unmute or set volume.

 

[stacker]

I've cascaded two Compressors on the same source, both set as aggressively as they go, and both sidechained to the same thing. That finally got enough attenuation to kill a concentration-breaking echo going back to a remote meeting.

But you might also look at the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin. It's pretty much a one-stop-shop for any kind of automation that you'd ever want to do. For this case in particular, it has an Audio condition what watches for above or below some threshold of volume, and an Audio action than can mute/unmute or set volume.

I did stumble into this last night also... Might have to play around. From initial looks maybe I need to make 2 sceens (just duplicate the main) but have the 2nd with the audio muted and then let this switcher auto switch me back and forth based on the audio detected... Might be the only options just feels like its overkill for such a small item to do.

 

[AaronD]

From initial looks maybe I need to make 2 sceens (just duplicate the main) but have the 2nd with the audio muted and then let this switcher auto switch me back and forth based on the audio detected... Might be the only options just feels like its overkill for such a small item to do.

Yes, that's overkill! Adv. SS can change the volume of the source itself, or (un)mute it, with no scene switch at all.

The name is just a holdover from what it started as, which is the native Automatic Scene Switcher with some expanded functionality. If you uncheck the box in Adv. SS to hide the zoo of other tabs and then browse those tabs, you'll see some more-than-suspicious similarity between that and the original that OBS still has by default.

 

[AaronD]

This seems like there should just be a check box for MUTE X if sound is coming from Y.

The problem with that is noise. Some people have quiet studios, others don't. So how to define the intended sound?

In your specific case, it sounds like your trigger source is well-behaved enough to make it work. But a "simple checkbox" can't in general.