OBS Studio is a free and open-source tool for screen recording and live streaming on Linux Mint and Ubuntu. This guide walks you through installing OBS, basic setup, adding scenes, configuring your microphone, and fixing common audio input issues.

Step 1: Install OBS Studio on Linux Mint

Option 1: Install from Software Manager (Easiest)

  1. Open Software Manager
  2. Search for OBS Studio
  3. Click Install

This installs the official Mint/Ubuntu repository version.

To get newer features and bug fixes:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
sudo apt update
sudo apt install obs-studio

Verify installation:

obs

More info on: obsproject download

Option 3: Install Latest Version via flathub

You can also install the flathub version from the Software Manager or this link: https://flathub.org/en/apps/com.obsproject.Studio

Select the option based on:

  • version needed
  • user level in Linux
  • maintenance and updates

Step 2: Run OBS Auto-Configuration Wizard

On first launch, OBS offers an auto-configuration wizard.

  1. Open OBS Studio
  2. Click Tools → Auto-Configuration Wizard
  3. Select:
    • Optimize for recording (or streaming if needed)
  4. Choose resolution and FPS
  5. Let OBS test and apply settings

This gives you a good baseline configuration.

Step 3: Create and Add a Scene

Scenes are collections of sources:

  • screen
  • webcam
  • mic, etc.
  1. In the Scenes box, click +
  2. Name your scene (e.g., Monitor Dell, Res 1920 1080)
  3. Click OK

Step 4: Add Sources to Your Scene

Common sources:

Add Screen Capture

  1. Click + in Sources
  2. Select Screen Capture (XSHM)
  3. Click OK
  4. Choose your monitor
  5. Click OK

Add Window or Application

  • Window Capture — record a single app
  • Game Capture — for supported games

Step 5: Add Microphone (PulseAudio vs ALSA)

Linux Mint typically uses PulseAudio (PAVU control).

  1. Go to Settings → Audio

  2. Under Mic/Auxiliary Audio Device, select:

    • pulse (your microphone name)

This works best for most USB and built-in mics.

ALSA (Advanced / Troubleshooting)

Only use ALSA if PulseAudio fails:

  1. Select an ALSA device from Mic/Aux

  2. Example:

    • hw:0,0 or similar

ALSA bypasses PulseAudio but may cause conflicts with desktop audio.

Install PulseAudio Volume Control:

sudo apt install pavucontrol

Open it:

pavucontrol

Then:

  1. Go to Input Devices
  2. Select your microphone
  3. Adjust Input Volume ( test - I use 80% volume)

This gives better control than default Mint settings.

Step 7: Set OS Microphone Input Level (Linux Mint)

If you don't have and/or want to use pavucontrol then you can use the default Linux Mint settings

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Sound → Input
  3. Select your microphone
  4. Adjust Input Level slider
  5. Speak and verify input meter moves

Step 8: Test Audio in OBS

  1. Speak into mic
  2. Watch Mic/Aux meter in OBS
  3. Make sure it reaches yellow but not red
  4. Click Start Recording and test a short clip

Step 9: Add Audio filters to OBS

Using filters can improve sound quality and reduce noise. Recommended and highly used filters for OBS are mentioned below. You can add filters by:

  1. Sources
  2. Right click on the Audio Souce
  3. Select Filters
  4. Add the following filters
    • Noise Suppression
    • Noise Gate
    • Compressor

Test the sound - if you face interupptions and glitches then disable the filters.

Common Tips

  • Use PulseAudio unless you have issues
  • Use pavucontrol for precise audio control
  • Avoid clipping (red meter)
  • Use Filters on mic (Noise Suppression, Compressor)
  • Save different scenes for different use cases

Quick Troubleshooting

Mic not detected?

arecord -l

Sample output:

**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 1: X [Yeti X], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 2: ALC892 Alt Analog [ALC892 Alt Analog]

Restart PulseAudio:

pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio --start

You can check also: Linux Mint identify, fix sound problems, set default device

Summary

In this article we've learned how to:

  • Install OBS via Software Manager or PPA
  • Run auto-configuration wizard
  • Create scenes and add sources
  • Use PulseAudio for microphone
  • Fine-tune with pavucontrol
  • Adjust OS input levels for clean audio

Resources