Problem
Super Chat alert audio is mixed too loudly and clips the program mix.
Solution
Root Cause / Diagnostic:
Browser source alert sounds are frequently mastered at 0 dBFS and fed directly into the broadcast mix without gain staging or compression. This sudden spike exceeds the digital headroom of the master output, causing unpleasant acoustic clipping, listener fatigue, and clipped limiter distortion.
Actionable Fix:
1. Calibrate Alert Gain Staging: In OBS Studio Audio Mixer, reduce the browser source fader to -18 dBFS to -24 dBFS so alert audio peaks well below primary dialogue.
2. Apply Dedicated Compressor & Limiter Filters: Add an OBS Audio Compressor filter to the alert source (Ratio: 4:1, Threshold: -18 dB, Attack: 2ms, Release: 100ms) followed by a brickwall Limiter set to -12 dB.
3. Conduct Master Mix Pink Noise/Tone Verification: Trigger test alerts while speaking at standard broadcast volume to verify that alert peaks stay at least 6 dB lower than vocal loudness.
Pro Tip:
Route alert audio through a dedicated virtual submix or aux track in an external routing tool (e.g., Voicemeeter, Loopback, or Elgato Wave Link) to guarantee physical knob control over alert volumes during intense live moments.
Browser source alert sounds are frequently mastered at 0 dBFS and fed directly into the broadcast mix without gain staging or compression. This sudden spike exceeds the digital headroom of the master output, causing unpleasant acoustic clipping, listener fatigue, and clipped limiter distortion.
Actionable Fix:
1. Calibrate Alert Gain Staging: In OBS Studio Audio Mixer, reduce the browser source fader to -18 dBFS to -24 dBFS so alert audio peaks well below primary dialogue.
2. Apply Dedicated Compressor & Limiter Filters: Add an OBS Audio Compressor filter to the alert source (Ratio: 4:1, Threshold: -18 dB, Attack: 2ms, Release: 100ms) followed by a brickwall Limiter set to -12 dB.
3. Conduct Master Mix Pink Noise/Tone Verification: Trigger test alerts while speaking at standard broadcast volume to verify that alert peaks stay at least 6 dB lower than vocal loudness.
Pro Tip:
Route alert audio through a dedicated virtual submix or aux track in an external routing tool (e.g., Voicemeeter, Loopback, or Elgato Wave Link) to guarantee physical knob control over alert volumes during intense live moments.