Check a 24/7 Gurbani stream in three places: the source before it reaches OBS, OBS’s meters and Audio Monitoring, and the stream viewers hear on YouTube. OBS’s standard meter is useful for spotting peaks, but it is not a complete loudness analyzer—and a healthy meter alone cannot confirm that the public stream sounds right. No Gurbani-specific loudness target is established by the available guidance, so prioritize clean audio, sensible headroom, balanced transitions, and listening checks.
Use a three-stage monitoring workflow
Each stage catches a different problem. A source check finds issues before encoding; OBS monitoring checks what reaches the encoder; YouTube playback confirms what viewers receive.
1. Listen to the source before OBS
Play the audio through the player, mixer, or interface feeding OBS. Listen for distortion, hum, unexpectedly low volume, and left-right imbalance. If the source is already distorted or too quiet, moving OBS’s output fader will not repair the upstream problem. OBS recommends listening as early in the device chain as possible, then checking the signal again in OBS. OBS audio mixer guide.
2. Watch the OBS mixer during representative audio
Observe the main colored meter through several kinds of material, including quieter passages and louder vocal or instrumental sections. The bar is a peak programme meter, and its peak-hold marker helps reveal recent high points. Do not mistake the separate black VU-style indicator for a standards-based integrated loudness reading: OBS describes that indication as an RMS value integrated over 300 ms. An active meter that stays out of the red does not, by itself, prove that the stream sounds balanced. OBS audio mixer technical notes; OBS audio mixer guide.
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3. Hear what OBS is sending
In OBS, use Audio Monitoring to send the signal to headphones or another monitor output. Listen for clipping, hum, abrupt level jumps, a mix that is too quiet, or one stereo channel missing. If only one side is active, inspect the source’s channel routing; the assigned stereo channels affect what viewers hear. Keep the monitoring volume comfortable, since the goal is to identify problems rather than judge loudness by turning headphones up. OBS audio mixer guide.
4. Check the YouTube preview, then the public stream
Before starting, review the preview in YouTube Live Control Room. Once live, listen to the watch page from a separate device if possible. That check includes the viewer-facing delivery path, not just the signal inside OBS. YouTube advises creators to “Continuously monitor streams for audio and video quality.” Its stream-health display helps assess delivery, but the documentation does not describe it as an audio loudness meter. YouTube streaming tips; YouTube live stream metrics.
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5. Recheck changes throughout a 24/7 broadcast
Check transitions, loop seams, and any point where a source file ends or a playlist changes. A stored file can sound fine in isolation while a gap or abrupt change becomes apparent in continuous playback. Periodically confirm sound at the viewer end, rather than relying only on a file inspection or an active OBS meter. StreamNeo’s guide to audio in 24/7 streams.
Know what each measurement tells you
| Check | What it tells you | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| OBS peak meter | Sample-peak activity and potential clipping risk in the signal reaching OBS. | It is not a complete integrated loudness or true-peak analysis. |
| OBS’s black VU-style indicator | An RMS indication integrated over 300 ms, as described in OBS’s technical notes. | It is not a standards-based integrated loudness measurement. |
| Integrated loudness and true-peak meter | Additional loudness-over-time and true-peak measurements; ITU-R BS.1770-5 specifies a programme-loudness algorithm and a method for indicating true peak. | A measurement does not replace listening for intelligibility, distortion, gaps, or uneven transitions. |
| YouTube playback on a viewer device | Whether the received stream sounds right through the public playback path. | It does not by itself diagnose whether a fault began at the source, in OBS, or during delivery. |
ITU-R BS.1770-5 describes programme loudness and true-peak measurement. OBS’s built-in mixer meter is documented as a sample-peak meter, not a full BS.1770 loudness and true-peak analyzer. OBS audio mixer technical notes.
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Choose a target by listening and measurement, not a Gurbani-specific number
The cited guidance does not establish an official YouTube live-stream loudness target or a Gurbani-specific LUFS requirement. Do not treat a single LUFS figure as a rule for Gurbani programming. Instead, look for adequate headroom, clean sound, consistent perceived level across representative passages, and transitions that do not jump sharply in volume. Peaks can remain below clipping while a devotional vocal passage still sounds quieter than the next section; listening and, when useful, loudness-over-time measurement address different questions.
In digital audio, 0 dBFS is the maximum representable signal level. A final output that reaches or exceeds it can distort. Use peak readings to identify clipping risk, but do not confuse a meter’s safe-looking peak with proof of even perceived loudness. OBS audio mixer technical notes.
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Optional loudness tools and monitoring equipment
OBS’s built-in tools
OBS’s peak meter and Audio Monitoring provide a sensible starting point without an added loudness tool. Use the meter for peak activity and your ears to check the signal. Closed-back headphones are an optional way to monitor without relying on speakers in the room; OBS recommends listening through a headphone or monitor output while setting levels. Headphones do not replace meter observation or a YouTube playback check. OBS audio mixer guide.
Loudness Dock for additional readings
The OBS forum resource listing describes Loudness Dock as an option for OBS Studio 28.0 or later, with momentary, short-term, and integrated loudness, loudness range (LRA), and true-peak displays. Check the publisher’s page for current compatibility and download details before installing. It adds measurements; it does not let you skip listening to the actual stream. Loudness Dock resource page.
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Troubleshoot what you hear
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| Distortion or crackling | Listen at the source first, then through OBS monitoring. If distortion is already present upstream, correct the player, mixer, or interface before changing OBS output. Check whether peaks reach the digital limit. |
| OBS meter moves, but the sound is too quiet | Listen at a moderate, consistent volume and compare representative passages. Meter movement indicates signal activity, not balanced perceived loudness. |
| One stereo side is missing | Check OBS source channel routing and listen to both channels through monitoring and YouTube playback. |
| Sound is fine in OBS but poor for viewers | Listen to the public watch page on a separate device. If viewers report poor sound, YouTube’s troubleshooting guidance recommends inspecting the stream in the encoder and the local archive to help locate the problem. |
| Silence or a sudden level change appears later | Check the file ending, playlist transition, and loop seam, then verify audio at the viewer end. Do not assume a clean opening means the entire continuous stream remains audible. |
YouTube’s stream-health information is useful for delivery status, but it is not documented as a loudness meter. For sound complaints, combine the encoder and local-archive checks with a direct listen to the stream. YouTube live stream metrics; YouTube streaming tips; YouTube live stream troubleshooting.
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