In this guide
Choose an audio bitrate your destination accepts, leave upload headroom for video and network variation, and test a recording or private stream. Bitrate is different from sample rate, microphone gain and source separation.
OBS audio bitrate is the approximate amount of data used per second for an encoded audio stream, usually shown in kilobits per second (kbps). A higher setting can give an encoder more room for detail, but the outcome also depends on the codec, source and destination. Choose an accepted setting and test your own voice and music rather than assuming the largest number fixes every problem.
For a starting point, OBS's overview guide suggests around 160 kbps for streaming, with a lower value when upload speed is limited. This is a starting point from OBS, not a universal platform requirement. Check the current destination's audio codec and bitrate limits and leave room for video, overhead and fluctuations in upload capacity.
Where to change audio bitrate in OBS
- Open Settings → Output. In Simple output mode, locate the audio bitrate control for the stream. Labels and available choices can differ by OBS version, encoder and output mode.
- Check your destination. Pick a value and codec supported by the service, then compare the total video and audio rate against a stable measured upload connection. Do not use the connection's advertised maximum as the entire budget.
- For multiple recording tracks, inspect Advanced output. Switch Output Mode to Advanced, review the audio settings for the relevant tracks and enable the intended tracks in Recording. Assigning a bitrate does not itself route a microphone or game source to a track.
- Make a representative test. Record normal and quiet speech, music or game sounds, and a moment with both. Check the saved file in a player and, when using multiple tracks, in an editor that exposes each one.
OBS's advanced recording guide explains track selection and source routing. A standard player may play one track at a time. Record a combined track as well as separate sources when useful, and mute the combined track in an edit that plays the individual tracks together.
What changes when you increase audio bitrate?
| Change | What to expect | What it does not solve |
|---|---|---|
| Higher audio bitrate | More encoded data and, for similar constant-bitrate settings, a larger audio payload. | It cannot undo clipping or remove room noise already captured by the mic. |
| Lower audio bitrate | Less bandwidth and a smaller payload, potentially with more audible encoding artifacts. | It does not reduce video bitrate or guarantee a stable connection. |
| Different sample rate | A different number of samples per second before or during encoding. | It is not the same control as compressed bitrate. |
| Separate audio tracks | More flexibility in an editor when the sources and recording tracks are routed correctly. | Tracks do not automatically remove keyboard bleed picked up by the microphone. |
At a fixed 160 kbps, one hour of encoded audio is roughly 72 MB of payload: 160,000 bits per second × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8. This excludes container overhead and video. Multiple recorded audio tracks add payload; variable bitrate and actual encoder behavior can change the result. The audio size calculator helps estimate an individual audio stream, not the complete OBS video file.
Streaming and recording are different checks
For a stream, verify the destination's current requirements and test the whole connection. For a local recording, choose a supported container, quality setting and tracks that your editor can open. OBS's recording guide explains that Advanced output exposes track selection and recommends MKV for recordings when an unexpected interruption is a concern.
To keep microphone and game audio editable, follow the OBS separate-track guide. Check source assignment, recording track selection and the editor's import; a bitrate value alone does not create separate usable sources.
How to compare bitrate settings fairly
Save two short recordings of the same scene with the same microphone gain, sources, filters, codec and video settings. Change only audio bitrate, then listen to the same speech and music passages at a similar playback level. Note the settings and check which audio track your player or editor actually plays. An apparent quality difference can come from a changed source or track rather than the bitrate alone.
For a stream, repeat the check using a private or unlisted test if the destination offers one, and compare what arrives at the destination with the local recording. Leave enough time to hear quiet consonants, sustained music and busy sections. Do not publish a private test without checking its visibility setting. If the stream drops frames or disconnects, investigate the full video-and-audio bitrate and network stability rather than assuming the audio encoder is responsible.
Why does the audio still sound bad at a high bitrate?
Listen to the microphone before encoding. If it clips, lower input gain and make a new test. If it captures a fan or keyboard, improve placement and compare the app's suppression settings. If the problem occurs only after delivery, compare the local recording and playback setup to isolate the cause. A higher bitrate cannot recreate detail lost during capture or remove a competing sound.
For an existing mixed recording, the voice isolator can test an estimated spoken-voice output on a supported file. It may retain noise or alter words; AI WAV downloads require an account and sufficient credits. For live input, use OBS's own controls and the microphone noise guide.