Follow the audio signal from the video file to OBS’s mixer and then to YouTube. Play the clip locally first, watch the Media Source or VLC Video meter in OBS, and use a short recording and YouTube test to find where sound disappears. A moving mixer meter means OBS is receiving audio; a still meter points you back to the file, playback, or source.
Find where the audio disappears
There are three useful checkpoints: the original file in a media player, the source meter in OBS, and the YouTube preview or test output. Check them in that order. The result narrows the likely cause without changing unrelated audio settings.
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| What you hear or see | What it suggests | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| The file is silent in a local player | The issue is with the file or the audio track available in it. | Verify the intended track or test a known-good file. |
| The file has sound, but the OBS source meter does not move | OBS may not be playing or reading the intended source audio. | Check the source properties, playback, and—if using VLC Video—the selected audio track. |
| The OBS meter moves, but the YouTube output is silent | Audio reaches the mixer, so investigate mute and stream output track routing. | Check the source mute state and the audio track included in the stream. |
| The YouTube test has sound, but a saved OBS recording is silent | The recording may use a different track from the one a standard player selects. | Check the recording track assignment; ordinary players typically play one audio track at a time. |
OBS’s mixer meters indicate source level, while its mute and monitoring controls serve different purposes. Hearing audio through monitoring does not by itself prove that the stream output includes it. OBS recommends making and listening to a test recording before going live; YouTube also recommends a pre-stream test with audio and movement similar to the planned stream. OBS audio mixer guide · YouTube live streaming encoder settings
Check the video file and OBS source
1. Confirm that the file itself has audio
Open the prerecorded video in a local media player and play a section that should contain sound. If it is silent there too, confirm that the file has the intended audio track or try a known-good file. Silence in one player does not establish that the file is corrupt; the file, player, or selected track may be the issue.
#1 Best Overall
- Pro performance with great pre-amps - Achieve a brighter recording thanks to the high performing mic pre-amps of the Scarlett 3rd Gen. A switchable Air mode will add extra clarity to your acoustic instruments when recording with your Solo 3rd Gen
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2. Verify the source selected in OBS
Select the scene that plays the clip and inspect its Media Source or VLC Video source. Confirm that it points to the intended local file and that playback is active and the source is visible or active in the scene. Media Source supports common video containers such as MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM, and audio formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. Its properties include file selection and playback options such as looping and restarting when visible.
If the scene uses VLC Video, confirm that VLC is installed and check the source’s selected audio track. VLC Video supports playlists and exposes an audio-track selection. Refer to OBS media sources documentation for the source options.
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- The new generation of the songwriter's interface: Plug in your mic and guitar and let Scarlett Solo 4th Gen bring big studio sound to wherever you make music
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Find your signature sound: Scarlett 4th Gen's improved Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- All you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
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3. Watch the matching mixer meter
With the clip playing, watch the Audio Mixer meter for that source. If it stays still while the file has sound locally, focus on source selection, playback, or how the source handles the file’s audio. Test a known-supported file rather than adding unrelated capture sources as a first fix.
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If the OBS meter moves but the stream is silent
Check mute and stream audio routing
Make sure the source is not muted in the mixer, then check that the audio track receiving the source is included in OBS’s stream output configuration. A meter that moves shows signal at the mixer; it does not confirm that the signal is assigned to the track YouTube receives.
Rank #3
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- WORKS ON WINDOWS, MAC AND LINUX - Driverless on Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8, Linux and Mac OSX, and compliant with the USB Audio Device Class 1.0 specification, so any system that supports class-compliant USB audio will see it. Select it as the sound output and input device after plugging it in.
- TWO JACKS, TWO JOBS - The green jack is stereo OUT for headphones or powered speakers; the pink jack is mono microphone IN for a 3.5mm mic. It does NOT support 4-pole headsets on a single combo plug, it does NOT power passive speakers, and it does NOT add surround sound - it is a stereo 2-channel adapter.
- FOR LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS THAT NEED AN AUDIO PORT BACK - Adds a headphone and mic port to a laptop, desktop, or mini PC whose onboard jack has failed or was never there. Managed and work-issued computers can block new USB audio devices by policy - check with your IT department before ordering for a company machine.
- SABRENT SUPPORT AND WARRANTY - What is in the box: one USB audio sound adapter. Backed by a 1-year limited warranty, extended to 2 years when you register within 90 days on the manufacturer's website.
Distinguish monitoring from stream audio
OBS’s Monitor control routes sound to the configured monitoring device so you can hear it. It is not proof that the stream output carries that sound. Verify the actual stream track and, if necessary, make a short local recording and listen back before testing on YouTube. OBS’s multiple audio track guide explains track assignment; standard video players generally play only one audio track at a time. If a recording is intended for ordinary playback without editing, OBS advises assigning all sources to track 1.
Test the audio that reaches YouTube
- Record a short local test. Play representative sections of the clip, then listen to the recording in a standard media player. If it is silent, revisit the recording’s track assignment and output routing.
- Run a YouTube preview or test stream. Use audio and movement representative of the planned broadcast, then listen to the YouTube-side output rather than relying only on OBS monitoring.
- Check stream health before the event. If the local recording has sound but the YouTube output does not, return to OBS’s stream audio track configuration and test again. YouTube’s encoder guidance lists AAC and MP3 as supported audio codecs for RTMP/RTMPS encoder settings.
When to check audio-device capture
An embedded audio track in a Media Source normally does not require Desktop Audio or a separate input capture source. Investigate device capture only if the clip’s sound actually comes from another application or external device.
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On Windows and macOS, OBS provides Audio Input Capture and Audio Output Capture sources for a chosen device. On Linux, the relevant sources use ALSA or PulseAudio. If you add a scene capture source for a device that is also selected globally under Settings → Audio, capturing it twice can cause echo; disable the duplicate global selection if needed. See OBS audio capture documentation.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- The new generation of the artist's interface: Connect your mic to Scarlett's 4th Gen mic pres. Plug in your guitar. Fire up the included software. Start making your first big hit
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Never lose a great take: Scarlett 4th Gen's Auto Gain sets the perfect level for your mic or guitar, and Clip Safe prevents clipping, so you can focus on the music
- Find your signature sound: Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- With Scarlett 4th Gen, you have all you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
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