Updated October 2026 · Live streaming audio
Set your voice to a steady, comfortable level that sits clearly above the game and music, with the peaks kept well below the top of the meter. Check the level during a test, listen on a phone speaker, and adjust the balance rather than turning the stream up or down during the show.
A viewer’s first decision about a stream is often made in the first minute, and the level of the voice is a big part of that decision. If the voice is too quiet, the viewer reaches for the volume control. If the next sound is a loud game effect, the viewer reaches for it again. A stream with a steady, clear voice feels relaxed, and it keeps people listening even when the game is noisy.
This guide explains how to set the level, how to balance the voice against the other sources and how to check the result the way most viewers will hear it. The aim is a stream that needs no adjustment from the viewer once it has started.
Viewers listen on a range of devices, from headphones to small phone speakers and laptops. Each has a different sensitivity, and the same stream can sound very different on each. A voice set too low will disappear on a phone, while a voice set too high will sound harsh on headphones. The target is a level that works on all of them, which means a steady balance rather than a loud one.
Viewers also judge the sound by its consistency. A voice that rises and falls between segments is tiring, even when each part is acceptable on its own. Steady levels build trust, and they let viewers forget about the sound and enjoy the content.
Speak at your normal volume during the setup, and watch the level meter in your streaming software. Aim for the voice to sit comfortably in the middle of the meter, with the loudest words peaking well below the top. Leave some headroom, because a sudden shout or a laugh will push the peaks up. A voice that sits too close to the top will clip, and clipping sounds harsh and distorted to viewers.
Once set, keep the microphone position and the distance steady. Changing the distance changes the level, and then you will be chasing the meter throughout the stream.
Game audio, music and alerts should sit below the voice, so the viewer can follow the speech without strain. A common approach is to set the voice as the loudest source, then lower the game and music until they support it. Test with a real game scene, since a loud explosion can overpower a quiet voice in a way that the setup check did not reveal.
If the game is loud, consider a ducking setup that lowers the game when you speak. That keeps the voice clear without making the game too quiet during your silences. The ducking guide explains the principle, which applies to streams as well.
Listen to your stream on a phone speaker and on headphones, using the same platform the viewers will use if you can. Ask a friend to watch for a minute and tell you whether the voice is comfortable. Many streamers only listen through their own headphones, which hides the problems that viewers hear on a small speaker.
Record a short clip of the stream, and check its loudness with the LUFS meter. A recording gives you a steady reference for comparing one stream with the next.
When something sounds wrong mid-stream, adjust the balance between sources rather than turning the whole stream up or down. Changing the master volume affects everything, including what viewers hear as the level of your voice. Make small, planned changes, and note any change you make so you can return to the setting later.
Viewers come back to streams that feel comfortable, and a steady level is part of that comfort. A streamer who keeps the same voice level, the same balance and the same loudness across every stream is building a recognisable sound, in the same way a radio presenter does. Viewers may never name it, but they notice when a stream suddenly sounds different, and that difference can make them leave.
Write your level settings down, and keep them in a template for each new stream. When you change the microphone or the room, record a short reference and update the notes, so the sound returns to the same place after every change.
Viewer devices and platform playback settings vary, so no single level will suit everyone. The aim is a level that is comfortable for most people on common devices. Platforms may also adjust the audio on playback, which changes the final result, so check the stream as viewers will hear it rather than only the signal leaving your computer.
A clean voice makes the level easier to set, because there is less noise to fight. The Clean Streaming Mic offers live noise cancellation for OBS, Discord and Zoom. The Tunedzy Go page covers cleaning a phone recording for clips. For the full pre-stream routine, read the pre-stream checklist in this series.
Learn your room noise, remove it live and feed OBS, Discord or Zoom. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Steady and comfortable, sitting clearly above the game and music, with peaks well below the top of the meter.
Avoid it. Adjust the balance between sources, and keep the master level steady.
Phone speakers reproduce speech differently. Test on a phone and raise the clarity of the voice.
Lower the game and music, and consider ducking the game when you speak.
