Our mantra: mix to -6. If you’re getting audio levels that are peaking right around -6dB on your board with an average speaking volume around -12, then you’re in good shape. You never want it in the red as this sound can come across to hot and garbled.” AJ Menconi, founder of 25/8 Production & Labor in Chicago notes, “If I’m looking at my LED levels, I like them in the high green splashing yellow. If you’re working with a venue’s audio engineer, make sure they send a clean feed, at a high volume level.
When this signal passes to a streaming encoder, it comes through very soft. Because in-room audio can largely depend on the quantity of the PA system, engineers will often mix at a very low level and then crank up the gain on the speakers, using their ears to determine when the volume is sufficient. Mixing for a webcast is very different than mixing for in-room audio or even for broadcast. Get In Touch Here! Setting your Mix Level Correctly
To learn more about best practices for mixing live audio, we spoke with some of the trusted audio engineers in our network who were willing to share their wisdom on how to optimize your live stream’s sound. An audience will stay with you through buffering, frame drops, and low-resolution video feeds, but if your audio drops out, then your audience leaves along with it.Įven if you have an audio solution in place, it’s important to ensure it’s coming through crystal clear. One of the most often-overlooked details on a live stream is the most important: audio.