How to hear yourself through a virtual camera in OBS – WP Reset

Many content creators and remote professionals use OBS Studio to enhance their video presentation, but a common challenge they face is figuring out how to hear themselves while using the virtual camera feature. Properly monitoring audio can dramatically improve sound quality, timing, and overall presentation. Understanding how OBS handles audio monitoring, desktop playback, and virtual output is key to creating a smooth experience.

TLDR: To hear yourself through OBS while using the virtual camera, you must enable audio monitoring in OBS and route it properly through your headphones or speakers. This is done by adjusting Advanced Audio Properties and selecting the appropriate monitoring device in the OBS settings. OBS Virtual Camera only transmits video, so audio must be managed separately. Proper installation prevents echo, delay and feedback problems.

OBS Studio is widely appreciated for its flexibility, but that flexibility can also cause confusion. When someone activates the virtual camera feature, OBS sends video output to applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet. However, the virtual camera does not automatically send monitored audio back to the user’s ears. That part requires manual configuration.

Understand how OBS audio monitoring works

Before adjusting the settings, it helps to understand the OBS audio signal flow. Simply put, OBS receives audio from sources such as:

• Microphones
• Audio interfaces
• Desktop audio
• Media files
• Browser Resources

Any of these sources can be:

• Output for streaming or recording
• Internally checked
• Both output and monitored

Monitoring means that OBS sends a copy of the audio signal to a selected playback device, usually headphones. This allows the user to hear themselves in real time.

Step by Step: How to Hear Yourself in OBS While Using a Virtual Camera

1. Connect and check the microphone

The first step is to confirm that OBS detects the microphone correctly:

1. Open OBS studio.
2. Look at the Audio mixer panel.
3. Speak into the microphone.
4. Make sure the volume meter moves.

If no signal appears, the microphone must be added as a source via Settings > Audio or manually as Capture audio input source.

2. Enable audio monitoring

By default, OBS does not monitor the audio back to the creator. To enable it:

1. In the Audio mixerclick on the three dots next to the microphone source.
2. Select Advanced audio features.
3. Under the Audio surveillance column, choose one of the following options:

• Monitor off – Standard, no monitoring.
• Monitor only (mute output) – You hear it, but not the stream.
• Monitor and execute – Both you and the output destination hear it.

This applies to most applications of virtual cameras Monitor and execute is appropriate.

3. Set up the monitoring device

OBS needs to know where to send the monitored signal:

1. Go to Institutions.
2. Select Audio.
3. Scroll to the Advanced section.
4. Find Monitoring device.
5. Select the desired headphones or output device.
6. Click ApplyThan OK.

This step is critical. Without selecting the correct monitoring device, no audio will play even though monitoring is enabled.

Important: Virtual camera does not transmit audio

One of the most misunderstood aspects of OBS is that the Virtual camera only sends video. It does not function as a virtual microphone. Therefore:

• The video feed goes to Zoom or other apps.
• Audio must be configured separately within these applications.

In Zoom for example:

• Select OBS virtual camera like the camera.
• Select your actual microphone or audio interface as the microphone device.

If someone expects OBS Virtual Camera to transfer the audio automatically, they will not hear themselves properly.

Prevent echo and audio delay

Audio monitoring can introduce echo or delay. This mainly happens when:

• Speakers are used instead of headphones.
• The conference app also plays the microphone.
• There is high interface latency.

Best practices to avoid problems

• Use headphones instead of speakers.
• Disable monitoring within Zoom or Teams if OBS already handles this.
• Check for duplicate guard paths.
• Reduce the buffer size in the audio interface settings if delay is noticeable.

If echo is heard, the person should check that the audio is not being monitored twice: once in OBS and once in the conference application.

Advanced installation: using virtual audio cables

Some users require more complex routing. For example:

• Send OBS program audio to a meeting app.
• Mix and monitor multiple sources.

In these situations a virtual audio cable software can be used. It creates virtual input and output devices that allow OBS to transmit audio as if it were a microphone.

Basic workflow:

1. Install the virtual audio cable software.
2. Set OBS Monitoring Device to the virtual cable output.
3. In the meeting app, select the virtual cable input as the microphone.

This method provides complete control over the mixed output, while still allowing you to hear everything through headphones.

Troubleshoot common problems

No sound in headphones

• Check if monitoring is enabled.
• Attach the appropriate monitoring device.
• Make sure the headphones are not muted in the system settings.
• Restart OBS after switching devices.

Audio is delayed

• Lower buffer size in the audio interface control panel.
• Use direct hardware monitoring, if available.
• Avoid Bluetooth headphones due to latency.

Echo during meetings

• Switch to headphones.
• Disable dual audio monitoring.
• Decrease the playback volume.

OBS crashes when starting the virtual camera

• Update OBS to the latest version.
• Update graphics drivers.
• Close other camera-using applications.

Why hearing yourself is important

Many creators underestimate the importance of hearing themselves in real time. Monitoring helps with:

• Voice control – Don’t speak too loudly or too softly.
• Microphone placement – Detect plosives or distortion.
• Timing coordination – Synchronize speech with images.
• Professional presence – Ensure clean, consistent delivery.

Without monitoring, users often only discover problems after a meeting or recording ends. Real-time feedback prevents these errors.

Recommended configuration for most users

Due to its simplicity and reliability, most users benefit from this configuration:

• USB microphone connected directly to the computer.
• Headphones connected to the computer or audio interface.
• Monitoring enabled via OBS Advanced Audio Properties.
• Monitoring device set to headphones.
• Virtual camera used for video feed only.

This setup neatly divides responsibilities and reduces technical complications.

Frequently asked questions

Can OBS Virtual Camera transmit audio?

No. OBS Virtual Camera only transmits video. Audio must be configured separately via system devices or virtual audio routing tools.

Why can others hear me, but I can’t hear myself?

Because monitoring is disabled by default in OBS. The user must enable monitoring in Advanced Audio Properties and select a monitoring device.

What is the difference between ‘Monitor only’ and ‘Monitor and output’?

Monitor only lets the user hear the source, but does not send it to streaming or recording. Monitor and execute sends audio both to the output and to the monitoring device.

Should audio monitoring have a small delay?

Yes, software monitoring can introduce a small amount of latency. Using wired headphones and reducing the buffer size will help reduce this.

Should speakers be used for monitoring?

It is not recommended. Loudspeakers often cause feedback and echo, especially during conference calls.

Do Bluetooth headphones work for monitoring?

They work, but they introduce significant latency. Wired headphones are highly preferred for real-time monitoring.

How can someone hear desktop audio and microphone together?

They must enable monitoring for both sources within Advanced Audio Properties and ensure that the correct monitoring device is selected.

Is additional software required?

For basic self-control, no. Advanced routing or sending mixed audio to meeting platforms may require virtual audio cabling software.

By properly configuring OBS audio monitoring and understanding the limitations of the virtual camera, users can achieve professional-quality audio monitoring. The solution requires only a few setups but significantly improves confidence, clarity, and overall production quality.