Balancing In-Person and Livestream Audio with an Analog Board

In our previous posts, we discussed improving sound clarity for in-person services by managing gain, feedback, and muddiness. Now, let’s tackle the unique challenge of balancing audio for both in-person worship and a livestream, especially when using an analog board. If your analog board has an available aux mix, you can create a separate audio mix for the livestream, allowing for more customization. Here are some techniques to make the most of an aux mix setup for your livestream audience.

1. Creating a Dedicated Livestream Mix with an Aux Send

Using an aux mix to create a dedicated livestream mix gives you more control over how each element sounds online, without affecting the in-person experience.

• Send Essential Channels to the Aux Mix: Start by sending only the essential channels—typically vocals, instruments, and any spoken word microphones—to the aux mix. This lets you prioritize the elements your online audience needs to hear most clearly.

• Use a Post-Fader Send: Set the aux send to post-fader so any adjustments made to the in-person mix levels will also affect the livestream mix. This ensures that volume changes in the main mix are automatically reflected in the aux mix, helping to keep both mixes balanced.

• Adjust Levels Separately: Even with post-fader sends, you can still fine-tune individual channel levels in the aux mix to optimize for the livestream. For example, you might keep vocals slightly louder or reduce certain instruments to prevent them from overpowering speech online.

2. Enhancing Livestream Audio with a Dynamic EQ and Reverb in Streaming Software

When using an analog board, EQ and effects options are often limited. However, if you’re using streaming software like OBS, you can further optimize your livestream audio by adding plugins for dynamic EQ and reverb directly within the software.

• Install a Dynamic EQ Plugin: Many streaming platforms, including OBS, support audio plugins. Look for a dynamic EQ plugin compatible with your software. Dynamic EQ allows you to target specific frequency ranges, adjusting them only when they exceed a certain threshold. This feature helps control problem frequencies without affecting the entire audio signal.

  
  

  • Boost Clarity and Control Low-End: Set the dynamic EQ to slightly boost high-mid frequencies (around 3-5 kHz) to improve vocal clarity. You can also configure it to reduce excessive low-end frequencies, which can sound “boomy” on smaller speakers or mobile devices often used by online listeners.

  
  

  • Experiment with Real-Time Adjustments: Since dynamic EQ is responsive to changes in audio levels, it keeps the mix balanced and clear without constant manual adjustment. Spend time testing different settings to find the best balance for speech and music clarity on your livestream.

• Add Reverb for a Natural Sound: Adding a slight reverb effect can give the music in your livestream a fuller, more natural sound, helping recreate some of the room ambiance that the in-person audience experiences.

  • Use Reverb Only During Music: Apply a light reverb effect during musical sections to create a sense of space and warmth. Be cautious with the reverb level—too much can make the audio sound distant or “washed out” online. A subtle effect adds depth without overwhelming.

  
  

  • Turn Off Reverb for Speech: During spoken sections, disable the reverb effect to keep speech clear and direct. Reverb on speech can make it sound muddy or hard to understand, especially for listeners on smaller speakers.

  
  

  • Automate Effect Switching if Possible: If your streaming software or audio routing setup allows, consider setting up an automated switch or toggle for reverb, so it turns on during music and off during speech. This way, you won’t need to make manual changes during the livestream.

3. Apply Compression and Limiting on the Aux Mix for Consistent Volume

Compression helps manage volume differences between speaking and musical parts, which is useful for creating a smooth online listening experience. Adding a limiter can also prevent audio distortion during louder moments, ensuring a clear signal for your online audience.

• Use Multi-Band Compression: If possible, apply multi-band compression to the aux mix. Multi-band compression allows you to target specific frequency ranges, giving you more control over which parts of the audio are compressed. This can help balance low, mid, and high frequencies separately, keeping music and speech both clear and even in volume.

• Add a Limiter to Prevent Distortion: Set a limiter on the aux mix to prevent audio peaks from distorting. A limiter keeps the volume from exceeding a certain threshold, protecting your livestream from sudden spikes that could cause unpleasant clipping or distortion for online listeners.

• Adjust for Smooth Transitions: Compression and limiting together help ensure that volume levels are consistent, making transitions between speaking and music sections seamless. Aim for subtle compression settings so the audio sounds natural while staying controlled.

4. Monitor the Livestream Audio SeparatelyListening to the livestream audio while it’s being broadcast helps you catch and adjust any issues early. Setting optimal levels for online streaming also ensures a clear, balanced mix for viewers.

• Target Levels Between 0 and -6 dBFS: For digital streaming, aim to keep your audio levels between 0 and -6 dBFS. This range provides strong volume without risking digital clipping, which can distort the sound for your online audience.

• Analog Alternative - Set Levels Conservatively: If your analog board doesn’t provide dBFS measurements, use the board’s PFL (pre-fader listen) function to monitor the aux mix on the main meters. Select the aux mix PFL and watch the main output meters, ensuring that the signal is consistently visible on the meter but doesn’t reach the very top light. This approach keeps the audio from clipping while providing a strong signal for the livestream.

• Use Headphones to Monitor the Aux Mix: If possible, monitor the aux mix for the livestream using headphones. This allows you to hear exactly what your online audience hears, so you can make quick adjustments as needed.

• Check on Multiple Devices: Test the livestream on common listener devices like a phone, laptop, or tablet. This helps you gauge how your mix translates on different platforms, letting you fine-tune levels and EQ for clearer sound.

By monitoring the aux mix closely with PFL and targeting appropriate levels, you can deliver a consistent, clear audio experience for online listeners, even when working from an analog setup.

In our next post, we’ll explore the key traits that make a great volunteer audio team and tips for building a reliable, motivated group.