Question / Help Desktop Audio low on stream, loud in headset

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Xeno057

New Member
Hi guys,

I just downloaded OBS to stream to Twitch. I love the ability to customize, but I am having issues with the desktop volume - more specifically the gameplay volume.

When listening to one of my streams, I've noticed that my desktop volume is too low. When trying to raise it, I deafen myself because it makes the volume in my headphone too loud.

I have already increased the Desktop gain in OBS by +9 dB, but its still a bit low and is starting to sounds a bit distorted. I also have no in-line volume on my headset. It doesn't matter if the game is at 100% and windows slider at 10%, or the other way around. Does anyone have any thoughts, or is the gain boost the only way to go?

I wish there was a way to independently increase the output volume from the headset volume.

Thank you!
 
BK-Morpheus

BK-Morpheus

Active Member
What about the simple way: Reduce Headset/Master Volume in Windows and increase game volume. This way your headset won't blow off your ears, but in the stream/recording, the game volume will be higher.
 
X

Xeno057

New Member
BK-Morpheus said:
What about the simple way: Reduce Headset/Master Volume in Windows and increase game volume. This way your headset won't blow off your ears, but in the stream/recording, the game volume will be higher.
Click to expand...

It seems to not matter if I have windows high/game low, or windows low/game high. Either way, I either have to bump one or the other up until it's way to loud for me.

Am I doing something wrong? I am outputting "desktop" sound.

Will a log help?
 
BK-Morpheus

BK-Morpheus

Active Member
You could record a short video where you show your OBS volume sliders/settings and your Windows Audio Mixer.
Then open a game or desktop audio source that makes some sound to showcase the problem.
I'm pretty sure, there is something messed up with you windows volume settings.
Maybe you have a sound card with some kind of volume normalizer which boosts or reduces the volume that your headset/speaker will output dynamically, no matter the volume of the playback application?
My Asus Xonar has this option and if this is enabled, I have no way of making sure that my stream volume is correct, as only I am hearing the dynamically boosted/reduced output and the stream is hearing the "real" Windows volume which might be too low or too high.
 
c0nsecro

c0nsecro

Member
Hey, I've got the same problem, but I'm using the wireless gaming headset G930 from Logitech. The problem is, that it got own drivers and a USB connection, so you're not able to change any specific sound-options in windows. But the minor problem is the volume control: I play with 21% loudness, because for my ears it's very loud, but OBS captures only the 21% volume, so the recorded desktop sound is bit to quiet in contrast to the recording of my mic volume. In general the desktop sound is ok, but in a lot of games, the ingame sound is ok but the ingame-dialogs are to quiet (got the problem in Watch Dogs 2 and PREY). But very messy is the recoring of NVIDIA shadowplay, there the desktop sound is like a whistle and my mic like a megaphone.

Or do you use a normal 3,5 inches connection (don't know how to translate it in english, but it's a one plug you connect on the mainboard)?
 
X

Xeno057

New Member
BK-Morpheus said:
You could record a short video where you show your OBS volume sliders/settings and your Windows Audio Mixer.
Then open a game or desktop audio source that makes some sound to showcase the problem.
I'm pretty sure, there is something messed up with you windows volume settings.
Maybe you have a sound card with some kind of volume normalizer which boosts or reduces the volume that your headset/speaker will output dynamically, no matter the volume of the playback application?
My Asus Xonar has this option and if this is enabled, I have no way of making sure that my stream volume is correct, as only I am hearing the dynamically boosted/reduced output and the stream is hearing the "real" Windows volume which might be too low or too high.
Click to expand...
Ok I will try that.

c0nsecro said:
Hey, I've got the same problem, but I'm using the wireless gaming headset G930 from Logitech. The problem is, that it got own drivers and a USB connection, so you're not able to change any specific sound-options in windows. But the minor problem is the volume control: I play with 21% loudness, because for my ears it's very loud, but OBS captures only the 21% volume, so the recorded desktop sound is bit to quiet in contrast to the recording of my mic volume. In general the desktop sound is ok, but in a lot of games, the ingame sound is ok but the ingame-dialogs are to quiet (got the problem in Watch Dogs 2 and PREY). But very messy is the recoring of NVIDIA shadowplay, there the desktop sound is like a whistle and my mic like a megaphone.

Or do you use a normal 3,5 inches connection (don't know how to translate it in english, but it's a one plug you connect on the mainboard)?
Click to expand...
Yes, I use a Creative FATAL1TY USB headset. Interesting... so do you think Voicemeeter will work?
 
c0nsecro

c0nsecro

Member
Well, I used voicemeter banana some times, but I'm not sure if it support the feature that you need. The general idea is as follows: you create a new virtual audio channel, mirror your real signal to that virtual one and edit it like you want. So you can stream that edited audio-channel instead of your headphone line. I know that you can create multiple audio- and microphone sources in voicemeter, but I'm not sure that it creates a separate virtual line in the windows device manager. When that's not possible, search for virtual cable, that tool defenitely can manage that, but I'm not sure if it was a free tool. Also, when you use voicemeter you should adjust the equalizer settings, I can remember that voicemeter killed a lot of dynamics from my headset.
 
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