Question / Help Microphone audio levels different for mobile viewers

[Rel]

I have been streaming for a little over 20 days now and have noticed an issue that has constantly occured. Viewers watching my stream from a mobile device have a very hard time hearing my microphone when I speak. I have tweaked my audio settings in OBS and am very happy with how my audio sounds on PC. I enjoy listening to music as I game and constantly having it playing in the backround, audible but never overwhelming. I have asked many of my viewers how my audio sounds and those on PC often reply saying it is excellent but those on mobile ask me to turn myself up and my speaker audio down. In order to hear me they turn their device audio up but it serves no point as the speaker audio is overpowering regardless of it being low on PC. The speaker levels are exactly how they should be on mobile yet my microphone is not. Strangely I have found that using headphones on a mobile device solves the issue and returns it the audio to good quality. I have no idea why the microphone output would vary from Desktop to mobile then fix for mobile when using headphones. It has become quite frustrating as my mobile viewers are not able to fully experience my stream. I stream using a Rode NT1-A as my microphone. Any help in solving this problem would be very much appreciated. :)

My audio settings: http://imgur.com/a/0yih3

 

[NotMeAgain]

The speakers on any mobile are far below in terms of quality than any desktop solution.

You said it yourself, when they plug in headphones it works as expected. Is this not then the solution?

Alternatively, if you're willing to service primarily mobile users, make the move to:

Increase your Vocals (Mic Boost Multiplier: 2x-3x, introduction of a compressor,VST Chain to round out the mic audio)
Reduce your desktop levels to make your vocals more prominent (again, compressor chain to limit the variance in volume)
Advise "Best with headphones"

The responsiveness of mobile speakers is terrible for movies/commentary, especially with audio-busy scenes, it's not a mountain i've been personally willing to climb, especially when those complaining and demanding change can just plug in headphones... :)

 

[Rel]

Thank you very much. My issue is that if I were to follow your suggestion, while optimizing it for mobile viewers seems as i it would negatively effect the audio for desktop viewers. I occassionally play with friends and in my mix adjust their levels to a similar volume as mine. If I were to reduce speaker volume and make myself mor prominent they would be very hard to hear and the problem would start all over. While having mobile users use headphones is a solution it is not really the one I am looking for as I'd like everyone to be able to watch how they wish. What I find strange, however, is that it seems no one else really has this issue and audio levels are the same across platforms for most streamers. My only idea would be that the frequencey my voice outputs at for some odd reason doesn't get along with mobile speakers (as you said they aren't the best quality). Do you think this may be causing an issue and if so how could I fix it?

 

[NotMeAgain]

I ran into the same problem when muxing my friends and game audio.

What I have now is using VAC/VB Cable:

Skype output to "Line 1"
"Line 1" is listened to on "Line 2"
Mic output to "Line 2"
Skype device in: Mic
OBS Input: Speakers
OBS Aux: "Line 2"

Using the windows volume sliders for VAC/VB Cable, I can level off my audio and that of my friends on skype.
Then using the Mic Boost Multi x2 I can boost both mine and my friends audio, while the game audio is purely out to the speakers.

This has the added effect of when I want to have a private word - discuss the next server etc, I can just mute the Mic in OBS and it cuts out all skype chatter too, whilst keeping game sounds/music running.

If this is something you're looking for I could put together another resource (I'm sure there's plenty around already).

I think however that your sample set is too small to make an adequate judgement.

It's safe to say you're just as normal and regular as everyone else streaming on twitch, nothing particularly out of the ordinary about your voice, setup or hardware - just some people with not ideal listening conditions who would be better anyway plugging in headphones ;)

 

[Rel]

I am familiar with VAC and have used it in the past and have thought of using it for the reason you described. My issue with this is that I believe it would end up causing both my friend and I to become quiet. I feel as if it is solely my microphone output creating the issue. In a test I turned off all music and game audio in order for my viewers to hear me. While they could hear me cause I wasn't being drowned out they still had to turn up they're volume very much which should not be necessary. I am unsure of whether or not the mic boost will fix the issue but it's worth a shot. I'm worried it may cause myself to become too loud for desktop viewers who can already hear me loud and clear.

 

[Rel]

When I said "it seems no one else has this issue" I was referring to my primary one of microphone level being changed for mobile viewers. I understand mobile speakers are crummy but it is estimated that currently 30% of Twitch viewers view on mobile and that number is quickly rising. Many of those viewers most likely won't want to put on headphones to hear one stream when every other they go to sounds perfectly fine level wise. I frequently watch streams on mobile and have never seen a microphone level issue similar to my own in any stream I have watched before. If they are inaudible it is often because they're levels are not correct in OBS and their issue sounds the same on PC whereas mine is fine on PC and terrible on mobile.

 

[NotMeAgain]

When I said "it seems no one else has this issue" I was referring to my primary one of microphone level being changed for mobile viewers. I understand mobile speakers are crummy but it is estimated that currently 30% of Twitch viewers view on mobile and that number is quickly rising. Many of those viewers most likely won't want to put on headphones to hear one stream when every other they go to sounds perfectly fine level wise. I frequently watch streams on mobile and have never seen a microphone level issue similar to my own in any stream I have watched before. If they are inaudible it is often because they're levels are not correct in OBS and their issue sounds the same on PC whereas mine is fine on PC and terrible on mobile.

I did disregard the growing mobile demographic, however there's not much you can do other than prioritize one stream of audio over the other.

You could attempt auto-ducking, to dynamically reduce the volume of the game/music whilst you or your friends are talking?
That could be a semi-decent compromise perhaps?