Updated October 2026 · Streaming mic and noise
A good starting point in OBS is a close threshold of about −32 dB, an open threshold of about −26 dB, attack 10–25 ms, hold 150–250 ms and release 100–200 ms. Then adjust: set the close threshold a few dB above your room noise and below your quietest words.
A noise gate is a switch for sound level. When your mic is louder than the open threshold the gate opens and passes your voice. When the level falls below the close threshold it closes and mutes the mic. It removes noise only between words and sentences; it cannot remove noise during speech. That is why it works best together with noise suppression.
| Setting | What it does | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Open threshold | Level that opens the gate | −26 dB |
| Close threshold | Level that closes it again | −32 dB |
| Attack | How fast it opens | 10–25 ms |
| Hold | How long it stays open after you stop | 150–250 ms |
| Release | How fast it fades shut | 100–200 ms |
Use both. Suppression reduces noise while you talk; the gate silences the gaps. In the free Clean Streaming Mic, the gate is set automatically from the room noise it learned, so you can start there and fine-tune only if needed. For OBS-specific filter order, see how to remove background noise from your mic in OBS.
Learn your room noise, remove it live and feed OBS, Discord or Zoom. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Set the close threshold a few decibels above your room noise and below your quietest speech, then the open threshold roughly 5–6 dB higher. Around −32 dB close and −26 dB open is a common starting point in OBS.
The threshold is too high, the attack is too slow, or hold and release are too short. Lower the thresholds and lengthen hold and release.
It still helps. Suppression cleans noise during speech, and the gate silences the pauses, so the two work well together.
