Make Any Mic Sound Expensive In OBS | Mic Settings & Filters (2023)

**Using Audio Filters to Improve Microphone Quality**

In this article, we'll explore how to use audio filters to improve the quality of your microphone signal. We'll discuss how to set up and adjust various filters to achieve the best results.

**Understanding Noise Gates and Expanders**

One common issue with microphones is background noise. A noise gate or expander can help mitigate this problem by automatically adjusting the volume of the incoming audio. However, these filters can also have negative effects if not used correctly. When a noise gate opens its gate for the audio, it can cause a noticeable "pop" or delay that can be heard when speaking into the microphone. This is especially true if the filter is set too aggressively.

To avoid this effect, we need to find the balance between removing background noise and preserving the natural sound of our voice. The key is to adjust the threshold for recording and the behavior of the gate or expander. By experimenting with different settings, you can find a sweet spot that works best for your specific use case.

**Adding a Limiter**

Another essential filter to add to your setup is a limiter. A limiter prevents the audio signal from exceeding a certain volume level, which can cause distortion and damage to your equipment. In this case, we'll add a limiter with a threshold set at -0.1 dB. This will ensure that if the microphone picks up extremely loud sounds, such as a sudden noise or an instrument hitting the floor, it won't blow out our viewers' ears.

**Setting Up Virtual Cable**

To connect our microphones to the filters and then to Discord, we need to set up virtual cable. Virtual cable is a software device that allows us to simulate a physical connection between two audio devices. It's free and can be downloaded from vbaudio.com. To install it, simply extract the files to your downloads folder, right-click on the executable file, and select "run as administrator." Then, navigate to the settings menu and choose "audio" as the input device.

**Configuring Discord Settings**

To complete our setup, we need to configure our Discord settings to use virtual cable. Open Discord and go to your settings. Select the voice and video settings and change the microphone input device to "Cable output - VB audio virtual cable." Then, click on "let's check" to test the connection. When you speak into your microphone, the sound should be transmitted correctly through virtual cable.

**Tips and Resources**

If you're interested in learning more about OBS Studio and how to use it with microphones, I have a free Skillshare course that covers everything you need to know. You can sign up for a one-month free trial and watch my course without paying anything. Additionally, if you want to learn more about audio filters and how to use them effectively, check out the articles on this website.

**Conclusion**

In conclusion, using audio filters is an essential part of setting up a high-quality microphone system. By understanding how noise gates and expanders work, adding a limiter to prevent distortion, and configuring virtual cable for seamless connectivity, you can achieve professional-grade audio quality. Whether you're streaming or recording audio, these tips will help you get the best possible results from your microphones.