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To use push-to-talk (PTT) in OBS Studio, enable it for the microphone source, assign a key to that source’s Push-to-talk action in Hotkeys, and make sure the source is not muted in the Audio Mixer. Test by recording yourself speaking with the key held and released before relying on it in a stream.
Set up push-to-talk in OBS
- Confirm which microphone OBS is using. In the Audio Mixer, speak and watch the microphone meter. If the expected meter does not move, open Settings → Audio and select the correct device. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends checking the audio meters and making a test recording or stream.
- Enable PTT for the microphone. Open Settings → Audio, find the microphone or audio input you want to control, and enable its Push-to-talk option. OBS’s overview guide describes enabling PTT for each microphone or auxiliary device.
- Assign a hotkey to the same source. Open Settings → Hotkeys, locate that microphone source, and set a key for Push-to-talk. Choose the Push-to-talk action, not the separate mute or unmute actions. OBS supports keyboard keys as hotkeys; choose one you can hold comfortably without disrupting your game or other controls.
- Check the mixer mute button. In the Audio Mixer, make sure the microphone source is not muted. The mixer’s mute control silences or restores that source in the output; it is separate from enabling PTT and assigning its hotkey. See the OBS Audio Mixer Guide.
- Record and listen back. Hold the assigned key while speaking, release it, and make a short recording. Listen to confirm your voice is present while the key is held and absent after release. Do this before a live session rather than assuming the configuration works.
Choose one capture path for the microphone
OBS can capture a microphone as a global device configured in Settings → Audio, or as an Audio Input Capture source attached to a scene. If the same physical microphone is active in both places, you may hear an echo. Disable one of the two capture paths and test again. OBS documents this warning in its Audio Sources guide.
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That guide lists Audio Input/Output Capture sources for Windows and macOS, and points Linux users to ALSA/PulseAudio sources instead. The guide was published on 2022-01-11, so labels and platform behavior may differ in a later OBS release.
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Troubleshoot push-to-talk
The microphone meter does not move
- In Settings → Audio, select the microphone you intend to use.
- Speak again and watch the corresponding Audio Mixer meter before investigating the hotkey. If the meter still does not move, check that the operating system or audio device is receiving microphone input.
The hotkey does nothing
- Confirm PTT is enabled for the same microphone source whose hotkey you assigned.
- In Settings → Hotkeys, check that the key is assigned to Push-to-talk, not just to mute or unmute.
- Hold the key while speaking during a test recording; pressing and releasing are different from holding the PTT action.
There is no audio even while the key is held
Check whether the microphone source is muted in the Audio Mixer. A muted source can prevent audio from reaching the output even if PTT is configured. The mixer mute control and the PTT action serve different purposes.
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You hear an echo
Look for the same microphone being captured both as a global device in Settings → Audio and as a scene-specific Audio Input Capture source. Turn off one capture path, then make another test recording.
You are unsure whether it is working
Make a short recording and listen to both parts: speech with the key held and the silence after you release it. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing before streaming or recording.
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Or let it run in the cloud
Push-to-talk controls when OBS sends microphone audio; it does not keep a pre-recorded video live when your computer is off. If your separate goal is to keep uploaded videos looping as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo runs that stream in the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; videos stream as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, and the service automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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Quick Recap
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