RaceLab Support – Mic Visualizer Overlay (Streaming – Any platform)

Mic Visualizer Overlay (Streaming – Any platform)

The Mic Visualizer overlay shows a live audio bar or waveform that reacts to your microphone. Viewers can instantly see when you are talking, how loud you are, and whether your mic is muted, even if they cannot hear clearly over game sounds or are watching with low volume.

Platform independent: the Mic Visualizer overlay behaves like a normal browser source. It works with Twitch, YouTube, Kick and any other platform, as long as your streaming software (OBS, Streamlabs, etc.) is sending the stream.

Why use a mic visualizer?

  • Shows viewers you are still talking even when game audio is loud.
  • Makes it obvious when your mic is muted or has stopped working.
  • Adds a professional look near your webcam or nameplate.
  • Helps you judge your own speaking volume at a glance.

You can place the visualiser under your webcam, near your name / logo, or anywhere that makes sense in your layout.

1. Requirements

  • RaceLab app installed and running.
  • Streaming software such as OBS Studio or Streamlabs.
  • A layout in RaceLab for your stream overlays.
  • Your microphone set up correctly in Windows and in OBS.

2. Create a layout with Mic Visualizer

  1. Open the RaceLab App.
  2. Go to the Layouts section.
  3. Create a new layout (for example: “Stream – Mic Visualizer”) or edit your main stream layout.
  4. Click Add widget.
  5. Select the Mic Visualizer overlay from the widget list.
  6. Position it where you want it to appear:
    • Under your webcam box.
    • Next to your name / banner.
    • At the bottom of the screen as a long bar.
  7. Resize the visualiser:
    • For a bar under your cam: width 250–400, height 25–60 px.
    • For a larger central waveform: width 600–1000, height 80–150 px.
  8. Adjust colours and style in RaceLab so it matches your branding and stays readable on top of the game.
  9. Save the layout.
Tip – subtle but visible A slim bar with a simple colour is often better than a huge flashy waveform. It should be easy to see, but not distracting from the racing.

3. Link the visualiser to your microphone

The exact options depend on your RaceLab version, but the general idea is:

  1. With the layout open in RaceLab, select the Mic Visualizer widget.
  2. Look for an option to choose the audio source or device (for example: your main microphone input).
  3. Select the same microphone you use in OBS, or the same input that receives your voice (if you use a virtual cable / audio mixer).
  4. Speak into the mic and check the preview in RaceLab:
    • The bar/waveform should move as you talk.
    • If nothing moves, try a different audio device from the list.
  5. Adjust any sensitivity / gain sliders in the widget settings so the visualiser moves nicely without sitting at 0% or 100% all the time.
  6. Save the layout once it looks right.

4. Add the Mic Visualizer to OBS / Streamlabs

  1. In RaceLab, open the layout that contains your Mic Visualizer overlay.
  2. Copy the overlay URL / browser link for that layout.
  3. Open OBS Studio (or your streaming software).
  4. Select the scene where you want the visualiser to appear (usually your main facecam / driving scene).
  5. Click Add > Browser Source.
  6. Name it something like “RaceLab – Mic Visualizer”.
  7. Paste the RaceLab overlay URL into the URL field.
  8. Set the Browser Source width and height to match what you used in RaceLab (for example 400×50 for a small bar).
  9. Press OK and drag the visualiser to its final position in your scene.
Tip – keep it tied to your webcam Many streamers place the mic bar directly under or next to their webcam frame. This makes it clear that the bar represents your voice, not the game audio or other people.

5. Level and sensitivity tips

  • Talk at your normal streaming volume.
  • Adjust the visualiser sensitivity so:
    • Quiet talking still moves the bar a bit.
    • Normal speech hits roughly 60–80% of the bar.
    • Shouting or laughing may briefly hit 100%.
  • Do not leave it pinned at full all the time – that usually means your mic gain is too high or the visualiser sensitivity is maxed out.
  • Check the visualiser on a second monitor or VOD to ensure it is readable at normal viewing distances.

6. Common problems and quick fixes

  • Visualiser does not move at all:
    Make sure you selected the correct audio device in RaceLab. Confirm that your microphone is working in Windows and in OBS. Try another input if you use virtual audio cables or a mixer.
  • Bar is always at maximum or always at zero:
    Lower the sensitivity / gain setting inside the Mic Visualizer widget, and check your mic gain in your audio interface or Windows settings.
  • Visualiser lags behind your voice:
    A tiny delay is normal, but if it is very slow, check your CPU usage, network load and browser source FPS. Closing heavy background programs can help.
  • Overlay covers important HUD elements:
    Move the visualiser to a different area, shrink it slightly, or stack it under your webcam instead of on top of the game view.
  • Too distracting:
    Choose a calmer colour, reduce brightness, or make the bar smaller so it is useful but not the main focus on screen.

This page was created by a RaceLab community member Scottozy, based on personal experience using RaceLab overlays together with publicly available documentation and community feedback. It is an unofficial help page and is not an official RaceLab publication.

Sources & references

  • RaceLab – information about microphone / audio visualiser overlays for streams.
  • RaceLab community examples of mic bars and waveforms in sim racing streams.
  • Practical testing by sim-racers combining RaceLab Mic Visualizer overlays with OBS / Streamlabs on multiple platforms.