Feature Request – Clear Visual Feedback for Monitor-Only Audio Sources

Hi there, and thanks for the amazing work on OBS.
I’d like to suggest a UI improvement that could prevent common mistakes related to audio monitoring settings.

Currently, when a source is set to “Monitor Only (mute output)”, the audio meters still show activity, which is very useful — but also potentially misleading. Many users (like myself) assume that if the meter is active, the audio is included in the recording or stream.

Request:

Would it be possible to add a small icon or visual indicator next to each audio meter that shows:

• if the source is being monitored
• or if the source is included/excluded from the main output (Program Mix)

Even a subtle overlay or tooltip would make a big difference, helping users instantly understand which sources are being recorded/streamed and which are not — without needing to double-check the “Audio Monitoring” settings.

Thanks again for your time and for keeping OBS awesome.

Emilio