Soundboard for OBS Setup

OBS does not have a built-in soundboard. This guide covers how to connect LitPads to OBS on Mac using BlackHole, add it as an audio source, and trigger sounds with global hotkeys.

How Do You Add a Soundboard to OBS?

Adding a soundboard to OBS on Mac requires three components: a soundboard app (LitPads), a virtual audio driver (BlackHole, free), and a multi-output audio device created in macOS Audio MIDI Setup. The soundboard outputs through BlackHole, and OBS captures BlackHole as an audio input source.

OBS itself does not include soundboard functionality. The custom soundboard app runs as a separate application alongside OBS. Audio routing connects the two through a virtual audio device. This is the standard approach for all professional audio tools on macOS, not a LitPads limitation.

What Are the Setup Steps for OBS and LitPads?

The setup has four steps: install BlackHole (free virtual audio driver), create a multi-output device in Audio MIDI Setup, set it as the system audio output, and add BlackHole as an audio input capture source in OBS. The entire process takes about five minutes.
  • Install BlackHole 2ch Homebrew or manual installer from GitHub
  • Create multi-output device Audio MIDI Setup: headphones + BlackHole
  • Set as system audio output System Settings > Sound
  • Add Audio Input Capture in OBS select BlackHole 2ch as source

Step one: install BlackHole 2ch through Homebrew or the manual installer from GitHub. Step two: open Audio MIDI Setup, create a multi-output device combining headphones and BlackHole 2ch. Step three: set the multi-output device as the system audio output in System Settings. Step four: open OBS, add a new Audio Input Capture source, and select BlackHole 2ch.

The BlackHole audio setup on Mac walks through each step with troubleshooting tips for common issues.

How Do You Trigger Soundboard Sounds During a Stream?

LitPads triggers sounds through global hotkeys on Mac that work while OBS and the game are in the foreground. Assign function keys, letter keys, or Ctrl combos to pads. Press the key during gameplay and the sound fires through BlackHole into OBS without switching windows.

Global hotkeys use macOS Input Monitoring to capture keyboard events system-wide. The hotkey fires regardless of which application has focus. Streamers assign their most-used sounds to F1 through F12 for quick access during gameplay.

Audio ducking automatically lowers background music pads when a sound effect fires. The duck amount (5% to 80%) and fade time (0.05 to 2.0 seconds) are configurable in LitPads settings. This prevents sound effects from competing with background music in the stream audio mix.

How Do You Balance Soundboard Volume in OBS?

OBS provides per-source volume sliders in the Audio Mixer panel. The BlackHole audio input capture source has its own volume slider independent of the microphone source. Adjust the BlackHole slider to balance soundboard volume against voice in the stream output.
Per-Pad Volume
LitPads controls
Master Soundboard
OBS mixer slider
Duck Amount
5% to 80%
Duck Fade Time
0.05s to 2.0s

LitPads also provides per-pad volume controls. Adjust individual pad volumes within LitPads for fine control over relative sound levels. The OBS mixer slider then controls the overall soundboard volume in the stream. This two-layer approach gives precise control: per-pad levels in LitPads and master soundboard level in OBS.

OBS audio filters (compressor, noise gate, limiter) can be applied to the BlackHole source to prevent sudden volume spikes from loud sound effects. A compressor with a moderate threshold tames peaks without affecting quieter sounds.

Can You Use OBS Hotkeys and Soundboard Hotkeys Together?

OBS has its own hotkey system for scene switching, recording, and other actions. LitPads global hotkeys operate independently at the macOS system level. Both hotkey systems work simultaneously without conflict as long as the same key is not assigned in both applications.

Reserve F1 through F8 for LitPads sound triggers and use Ctrl+Shift combos for OBS stream control. This prevents a single key from firing both a sound effect and a scene change.

The recommended approach reserves function keys for LitPads soundboard triggers (F1 through F8 for sounds) and OBS keyboard shortcuts for stream control (Ctrl+Shift combos for scene switching, recording start/stop). This prevents any key from triggering both a sound effect and a scene change simultaneously.

The Twitch sound alerts setup covers advanced OBS and soundboard integration strategies including scene-specific sound configurations and automated alert sequences.

Marcel Iseli DJing
Marcel Iseli

Indie Developer · DJ · Producer

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Marcel Iseli is an indie developer, DJ, and music producer with over 20 years behind the decks and in the studio. Rooted in hip hop culture, he collects drum machines, samplers, and vintage audio gear. LitPads grew out of that obsession: decades of triggering samples on hardware led him to build the software equivalent he always wanted.