Contents of the guide
For everyday mobile production
Get the plugin from the official OBS resource. You can read up on the OBS basics if you need them.
1. Why Audio Monitor helps with IRL streaming
Audio Monitor adds a filter and a dock to OBS that let you send individual sources to selected audio devices. That's useful when the streamer wants to hear alerts through headphones or send audio to an alert box on purpose.
You put the filter on the source whose audio you want to hear somewhere else, and pick the output device there. How alerts and speech output work is covered on the sound alerts and TTS pages.
2. The three typical audio paths
| Target | Job | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Livestream | Audio for viewers | don't send it twice by accident |
| Headphones | Monitoring for the streamer or control room only | test latency and volume |
| Bluetooth speaker | Make alerts audible on site | often also picked up by the microphone |
Each target has its own job and its own source of errors. Before you set anything up, decide which path a source should take. And don't create a second path on the side.
3. Installation and setup
- Download the current version from the official OBS resource and check compatibility.
- Close OBS, install the plugin and reopen OBS.
- Add the Audio Monitor filter to the audio source you want.
- Pick the output device deliberately and start with a low level.
- Check with a test recording, headphones and your real alert box.
4. Avoiding doubled audio
If an alert plays through a Bluetooth speaker and gets picked up by the mobile microphone, the same browser source normally shouldn't also go into the stream. With headphones there's no such acoustic pickup, so the viewer path has to stay separate in OBS.
5. Privacy and safety
The plugin works locally in OBS. Device names and routing settings can still reveal things about your computer, so check them in screenshots or support files. Limit the volume so surprise alerts don't endanger your hearing or your surroundings.
6. Audio Monitor FAQ
Why do I need Audio Monitor for IRL streaming?
The plugin gives OBS a filter and a dock. With them you send individual sources to selected audio devices. That way you can hear alerts through headphones, for example, without also playing them out loud on site.
Where do I download the plugin and what should I watch for?
Use the official OBS resource linked on this page. Before installing, check that the version matches your OBS version. Close OBS for the install and restart it afterward.
Why do I hear alerts twice?
Often the same alert plays through a Bluetooth speaker, your microphone picks it up, and it also goes straight into the stream. In that case you normally shouldn't send the browser source into the stream again. Check each path on its own, as described in section 4.
What if I use headphones instead of a speaker?
Your microphone doesn't pick up headphones. Viewers should still hear the alerts, so the viewer path in OBS has to stay separate. Do a short test recording to check.
What latency and volume should I set?
There's no fixed value. It depends on your device and connection. With Bluetooth especially, you test latency and volume yourself. Start with a low level. You'll find more on audio on the road under IRL audio.
Setup service & consulting
If you want to build the extension into your OBS and IRL workflow, you can get in touch on the IRL4YOU Discord.