How to Set Levels for a Livestream
Updated October 2026
A livestream has the voice, the game or the music, and the alerts. Set the voice first, keep it steady, balance the rest under it, and test the mix before you go live.
The short version
- Set the microphone input so the loudest words peak around -6 dB.
- Balance the game or music under the voice, not at the same level.
- Test a short clip, recorded back, before going live.
- Keep the level steady during the stream, and check it now and then.
The voice first
Set the microphone input so your loudest words peak well below the top of the meter. Speak as you will on stream, and check the peaks.
The game or music
Balance the game or music under the voice, so the words are always the clearest sound. Lower the game audio if you have to strain to hear the voice.
Test
Record a short test, play it back, and listen on headphones and a speaker. Go live only when the voice is clear and steady. The streamer routine covers the mic and the cleanup.
Set the voice, balance the rest
Tunedzy Live Studio cleans the microphone live on Windows, so the voice stays clear under the game.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
How loud should the game be?
Under the voice. Listen during the test and adjust.
Why does my voice drop out?
The gain changed or the mic moved. Check the setup before you go live.
Do I need to check during the stream?
Yes, now and then, especially when the game changes.
Keep going
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