In this guide
Add Noise Gate to the intended microphone, set its thresholds between your usual background and quietest speech where possible, and test the recorded result. A gate reduces pauses; noise can still pass while you speak.
For OBS noise gate settings, add a Noise Gate filter to your microphone and set the close threshold above the normal background level, with the open threshold slightly below your quietest intended speech. Record a short test and adjust until words are intact and pauses are acceptably quiet. There is no single best setting: your microphone gain, distance and room all change the levels.
A gate reacts to level, not meaning. It can quiet the microphone between phrases, but a loud keyboard click can open it and background sound can still pass while you speak. OBS describes the controls and defaults in its Noise Gate reference.
Before changing the gate
- Improve the input. Position the microphone close enough for clear speech and away from a keyboard or fan where practical. Set a stable input gain without clipping. Use headphones to reduce speaker sound entering the mic.
- Test normal conditions. Include a quiet phrase, normal speech, a natural pause and any fan or typing you expect during a stream. Check that the intended microphone's Audio Mixer meter moves when you speak.
- Check existing filters. Note any gain, suppression, compressor or expander already on that source. Filter order and gain can change the signal reaching the gate, so retest if you change the chain.
Add a Noise Gate in OBS Studio
- In the Audio Mixer, open the menu for the microphone you actually use and choose Filters.
- Under audio filters, add Noise Gate. Leave it enabled and use the controls below as a starting point for testing.
- Observe the source during a normal quiet pause, then speak softly at the distance you will use. Choose a close threshold above the usual pause noise and an open threshold below the quietest voice that should reliably open the gate. The open threshold should be higher than the close threshold.
- Record a short local test. Listen to the actual saved file from before a phrase through its end, not just the meter. Check source and recording track selection if the mic is missing.
- Change one setting at a time. Repeat the same phrase and pause, then compare the result with the filter bypassed. Recheck after changing input gain or microphone position.
For example, if your usual background falls below the quietest speech, place both thresholds in the gap, with open above close. Those levels are only useful if your own test shows a gap: if soft words and typing overlap in level, no threshold can reliably separate them. Reduce noise at its source, move the microphone or compare another treatment.
What each OBS gate setting does
OBS's reference lists the following defaults. Treat them as initial values to audition, not settings that will work for every room or voice.
| Setting | Default | How to adjust by listening |
|---|---|---|
| Close Threshold | −32 dB | The level below which the gate can close. If quiet word endings disappear, try lowering it; if background stays open in pauses, check whether it is above the room noise. |
| Open Threshold | −26 dB | The level speech must cross to open the gate. If a soft first word fails to open it, try lowering it while keeping it above the close threshold. |
| Attack Time | 25 ms | Controls how quickly the gate opens. A faster attack can help preserve a first consonant; listen for abrupt changes. |
| Hold Time | 200 ms | Keeps the gate open briefly after the signal falls below the close threshold. More hold can prevent closure between syllables but may retain noise longer. |
| Release Time | 150 ms | Controls how quickly the gate closes after the hold. A longer release can make the end of a phrase sound smoother, but background remains audible longer. |
In dB, −40 is quieter than −30. Raising a threshold means moving it toward zero; lowering it means making the value more negative. Don't set a threshold from an example alone: a microphone with different gain may need a very different value.
Fix voice cutting out or noise getting through
| Problem | Check |
|---|---|
| First word is missing | Try a lower open threshold or faster attack. Test soft speech after a full pause. |
| Ends of words disappear | Try a lower close threshold and review hold and release. Other suppression filters can also remove quiet speech. |
| The mic cuts in and out between syllables | Check the thresholds and try more hold or a smoother release. Compare with the gate bypassed. |
| Keyboard clicks open the mic | The clicks may be louder than the threshold. Move the mic or keyboard, reduce input noise and test again; a gate cannot identify the source. |
| Noise remains under speech | The gate is open for the voice. Improve the source or compare noise suppression; don't raise thresholds until quiet words disappear. |
| OBS records no microphone | Bypass filters and check the selected device, mute state, meter and recording track. See OBS audio monitoring for listening versus output routing. |
Noise gate, suppression or expander?
An OBS gate closes the microphone path below its thresholds. Noise suppression is a separate filter intended to reduce background noise, including while the gate is open; it can also alter speech. An OBS expander can reduce quiet sounds more gradually with an adjustable ratio. Compare one method at a time on the same test before combining them. The OBS noise suppression guide covers setup and tradeoffs; the OBS mic filters guide compares the broader microphone chain.
For a recording already saved, the free browser noise gate processes supported short MP3 or WAV files locally; it does not change your live OBS input. For a different problem involving an unwanted sound overlapping speech, the separate voice isolator estimates a voice from an uploaded file. Its result may alter words or retain noise, and AI WAV downloads require an account and credits.
Common questions
What are the best OBS noise gate settings?
The best thresholds depend on the actual noise and quietest wanted speech. OBS's defaults are a starting point; set thresholds using a test at your normal gain and distance, and protect speech before maximizing silence.
Should the open threshold be above the close threshold?
Yes. Using separate thresholds helps prevent rapid opening and closing near one level. Set the close threshold above typical pause noise and the open threshold below quiet speech where a usable gap exists.
Does a gate remove keyboard noise while talking?
It may reduce quiet clicks in pauses, but it is open during speech and loud clicks can open it themselves. Microphone placement and a quieter input are often better first steps.
Will changing the gate fix an old recording?
No. The OBS filter affects the live source in that setup. Edit a saved file separately, keep the original and compare quiet words after processing.