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Issue of Microphone Volume Being Fixed at 20 When Streaming Simultaneously on OBS and Discord — The Method I Resolved It With
The Issue of Microphone Volume Being Fixed at 20 When Streaming with OBS and Discord — My Solution
Check These First Regarding the Microphone Volume Issue: 5 Key Q&A
Q1. What exactly is the symptom?
A. When you run OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) and Discord at the same time, the microphone volume automatically drops to about 20% and gets stuck there. Even if you manually raise the volume in the Windows sound settings, it immediately reverts back to 20% as if someone is pulling it down again.
Q2. What was the real cause?
A. It was a problem caused by several features conflicting. The “Automatically Adjust Input Sensitivity” feature in Discord and the call-related volume control feature in Windows were both operating simultaneously, causing a conflict. The system was forcefully adjusting the microphone volume to its own liking.
Q3. Is it a specific equipment issue with my audio interface or USB microphone?
A. No. I initially thought it was a hardware issue, but it turned out that it wasn't a problem with the hardware. This is a kind of priority conflict issue where Windows and Discord are fighting over microphone control permissions. This phenomenon can occur with most users of USB microphones from well-known brands like Rode, Blue, and Samson, as well as audio interface users.
Q4. Will updating OBS or Discord solve the problem?
A. While updates may slightly improve the symptoms, they are not a fundamental solution. If the default settings of Windows or Discord do not change, the same problem may reoccur after the update.
Q5. So what is the final solution I found and implemented?
A. I made three major adjustments. First, I completely turned off the automatic microphone adjustment feature in Discord. Second, I changed the "Automatically adjust volume when on a call" feature in Windows sound settings to 'Do nothing'. Finally, I clearly specified the microphone device I was using in the OBS settings. By doing this, OBS took definitive control over the microphone, resolving the issue.
"Huh? It was fine just a moment ago, why did my voice suddenly become quieter?" While preparing to stream using OBS and chatting with friends on Discord, have you ever experienced your microphone sound suddenly dropping to a whisper? Opening the Windows volume mixer reveals the microphone volume inexplicably stuck at '20', unable to budge. No matter how many times you slide it back up to 100, it seems like an invisible hand pulls it back down to 20 in an instant. "Is my microphone broken?", "Is my expensive audio interface faulty?" All sorts of worries race through your mind. But hold on, perhaps the issue isn't with your equipment. Today, I want to delve into the strange phenomenon of microphone volume fixation that occurs when OBS and Discord, two essential programs for streamers, collide, and share the clear solution I discovered through experience.
The Beginning of the Incident: My Microphone Trapped at 20%
It was shortly after I started streaming. Wanting to communicate more comfortably with my viewers, I began streaming using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) while also using Discord. However, something strange happened. As soon as I turned on the stream, the volume of my microphone dropped from 100% to around 20%. At first, I thought I must have accidentally touched something, so I raised the volume back to 100% in the Windows sound settings and OBS audio mixer. But it was only for a moment; in the blink of an eye, it dropped back to 20%.
When I reviewed the recorded stream, my voice was barely audible, and the game sounds were recorded loudly, while my friends in Discord complained that my voice was too quiet. Feedback such as "The microphone sound is too low" and "Please turn up the volume" kept coming in on the viewer board. I thought it was just a Discord setting issue, so I toggled the automatic sensitivity adjustment on and off, and tried changing OBS settings, but the problem remained unresolved. It turned out this issue wasn’t just a problem with Discord. It was a complex conflict involving the communication-related settings of the Windows operating system, the automatic microphone sensitivity adjustment feature of Discord, and the audio device processing methods of OBS.
Episode: Streamer Choi Min-jun's Embarrassing First Broadcast
"Choi Min-jun, a college student dreaming of becoming a game streamer, excitedly started his first broadcast with a newly purchased USB microphone. To communicate with viewers, he opened a Discord channel. However, as soon as the stream started, the chat was flooded with messages saying, 'I can't hear your voice!' Upon checking, he found that the microphone volume was fixed at 20, and no adjustments worked. Ultimately, he was unable to conduct his first broadcast properly and had to end it in embarrassment. Later, he discovered that it was due to a conflict between the settings of OBS and Discord, not a hardware issue."
Cause Analysis: Why are Windows and Discord Fighting?
So, why does this phenomenon occur? The cause lies in a conflict between two systems.
1. Windows' Considerate Communication Settings: The Windows operating system has a built-in feature that automatically lowers the volume of other programs when using the PC for calls. For example, when you start a voice call on Skype, you may notice that the music playing in the background becomes quieter. Windows recognizes Discord as such a 'communication software'. So, when Discord is running and another program like OBS tries to use the microphone, Windows assumes, "Oh, there's a call happening!" and automatically lowers the volume settings, including the microphone input volume (also known as Gain).
2. Discord's Smart Automatic Sensitivity Feature: Additionally, Discord has its own feature that automatically adjusts microphone input levels if they are too loud or too quiet. This feature analyzes the surrounding noise levels and variations in the user's voice in real-time, attempting to adjust the microphone's activation point (Input Sensitivity).
In the end, Windows says, "We need to lower the volume because we're on a call!" while Discord retorts, "No, it's too quiet, I need to raise it! (or lower it if it's too loud!)" This leads to a comical situation where both systems are fighting over microphone control. As a result of this battle, the microphone volume gets fixed at a specific value (usually around 20%).
Solution Process: Ending the Volume War in 5 Steps
Now that we know the cause, the solution is surprisingly simple. We just need to turn off the automatic adjustment features that are causing the conflict and give OBS stable control over the microphone. Here are the 5 steps of the solution that I personally found effective.
5 Steps to Solve the Microphone Volume Being Fixed at 20%
Step
Action
Description and Path
Step 1
Turn off Discord's automatic sensitivity
Launch Discord → Click the Settings (gear icon ⚙️) next to your username on the bottom left → Select the 'Voice & Video' menu → In the 'Input Sensitivity' section, uncheck the "Automatically adjust input sensitivity" option. Manually adjust the 'Input Sensitivity bar' below to ensure it only moves when you speak (usually between -50dB and -40dB is appropriate).
Step 2
Change Windows communication options
Right-click the speaker icon in the bottom right of the Windows taskbar → Select 'Open Sound Settings' (or 'Sound') → Click the 'Sound Control Panel' link in the new window → In another new window ('Sound'), select the 'Communications' tab → Under "When Windows detects communication activity:", select 'Do nothing' and click 'OK'.
Step 3
Fix the OBS audio input device
Launch OBS → Click 'Settings' in the bottom right → Select 'Audio' from the left menu → In the 'Global Audio Devices' section, from the dropdown menu of 'Mic/Auxiliary Audio' (or a similarly named item), instead of "Default", select the actual microphone device you are using (e.g., 'Microphone (USB PnP Audio Device)') and click 'OK'.
Step 4
(Optional) Adjust Discord program priority
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously to open 'Task Manager' → Click the 'Details' tab in the top menu → Find the 'Discord.exe' (or similarly named) process in the list, right-click on it → Hover over 'Set Priority' and select 'Below normal'. (This step is not mandatory, but it may help reduce the possibility of conflicts with OBS.)
Step 5
Test and Confirm
After completing all settings, join the Discord voice channel while recording or streaming in OBS. Then check the Windows sound settings (recording device properties - levels tab) or the microphone's level meter to confirm that the microphone volume (gain) no longer drops to 20% and remains stable at the set value (e.g., 100%).
Conclusion: Regained Microphone Control for a Stable Streaming Environment
After applying the above 5 steps (especially steps 1, 2, and 3 are essential!), the frustrating issue of the microphone volume being fixed at 20% magically disappeared. Now, even with OBS and Discord running simultaneously, the microphone volume is stably maintained at the level I set, allowing for smooth communication with viewers without my voice suddenly dropping during broadcasts.
If you have been struggling with the same issue, please try the setting changes I shared today before considering expensive equipment replacements or installing complicated programs. A simple adjustment can significantly enhance the quality of your streaming environment!
Episode: Streamer Lee Ha-na's Retry
"Lee Ha-na, who was casually streaming games with friends, considered quitting due to microphone volume issues. Viewers kept saying the sound was low, and adjusting settings was futile. Then she discovered the Windows communication settings and the method to disable Discord's automatic sensitivity adjustment discussed in this article. Hesitantly following the steps, she found that the problem was resolved like magic! She was able to communicate with her viewers clearly and continue her stream joyfully."
In-Depth Exploration 1: Why Does Windows Have the 'Volume Adjustment During Communication' Feature?
One of the culprits of the issue is Windows' 'Automatically Adjust Volume During Communication' feature. Why is this feature included by default? This feature has been part of Windows for quite some time. Its main purpose is to help users focus on the call audio when using the PC for voice or video calls.
For instance, imagine you are wearing a headset, listening to music or playing a game, and you start an important call using Skype or another messenger program. The background music or game sound may make it hard to hear the other person's voice, right? To prevent such situations, Windows provides options that automatically lower or mute other sounds (music, game, system notifications, etc.) when it detects 'communication activity' (i.e., phone calls or video conferences). The options usually include 'Reduce other sounds by 80%', '50%', 'Mute', and our chosen 'Do nothing'.
The problem is that Windows recognizes Discord not just as a simple gaming voice chat program but as a full-fledged 'communication software' like Skype. Therefore, even having Discord open makes Windows think, "Oh, there's a call happening!" and triggers a malfunction where it forcefully lowers the volume when another program like OBS tries to use the microphone or audio devices. Thus, it's essential to turn off this 'considerate' feature in a streaming environment using both OBS and Discord.
In-Depth Exploration 2: Why Should You Turn Off Discord's 'Automatic Input Sensitivity'?
The 'Automatically Adjust Input Sensitivity' feature in Discord might seem very convenient at first glance. It increases microphone sensitivity when your voice is quiet and decreases it when it's too loud. This can be useful for beginners who are not accustomed to using microphones or in noisy environments.
However, for streamers or content creators using OBS, the situation is different. In a streaming environment, maintaining a consistent microphone volume (Gain) and the reference point for voice input (Input Sensitivity) is crucial. This is because OBS uses this microphone input value to set up noise removal filters (Noise Gate, Noise Suppression, etc.) or to prevent audio clipping (Peak) with audio effects like compressors and limiters.
If Discord's automatic sensitivity feature is enabled, it will continuously attempt to adjust the microphone input sensitivity in real-time. This can lead to problems where the noise filters set in OBS do not work correctly, and the audio quality becomes unstable, with voices fluctuating in volume. Especially when combined with conflicts from Windows communication settings, the 'volume fixed at 20%' phenomenon can occur.
Therefore, when streaming with OBS, it is essential to turn off Discord's automatic sensitivity feature and instead manually adjust the input sensitivity bar to find and fix the optimal point for stable voice input. This way, you can effectively use OBS's various audio filters and consistently deliver clear and high-quality audio to your viewers.
Additional Questions (FAQ)
Misunderstanding: “My microphone must be broken or defective.”
A. This is highly unlikely. The issue is caused by a settings conflict between the software (Windows and Discord) rather than a hardware (microphone) defect.
Misunderstanding: “If I just turn off Discord, won't the problem be solved?”
A. Turning off Discord may temporarily seem to resolve the issue, but it is not a fundamental solution. If the Windows communication volume control settings ('Do nothing' in the 'Communications' tab) are not modified, similar problems may arise when using other communication programs (e.g., Skype, Zoom, etc.).
FAQ: “Should I uninstall and reinstall the microphone driver?”
A. Generally, there is no need for that. This issue is due to a settings conflict rather than a driver error. However, if the microphone manufacturer provides dedicated drivers or software, keeping them updated to the latest version is a good practice.
FAQ: “It seems like the voices of my friends on Discord or the game sounds are also getting quieter during the stream.”
A. Yes, this can happen. If you do not select the 'Do nothing' option in the Windows 'Sound' settings under the 'Communications' tab and choose other options (e.g., 'Reduce other sounds by 80%'), Windows may lower the volume of both the microphone input and the audio output (other people's voices, game sounds, etc.) when it detects communication activity (Discord running).
Editor's Note
This article was written based on the author's personal experience with the frequent issue of microphone volume being fixed at 20% when streaming with OBS and Discord. The technical causes of the conflict between Windows communication policy settings and software audio device control priorities were verified, and a step-by-step solution process was detailed for anyone to follow.
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