Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFirst find out whether the sound is missing only from OBS monitoring or also from the recording or live stream. If the recording or stream has sound, focus on OBS’s monitoring device and your system’s audio output. If it is silent too, check the VLC source’s audio track and the output track settings. A moving meter does not prove that sound is reaching your headphones or speakers.
1. Check whether the problem is monitoring or output
Listen to a recording or stream separately from OBS’s local audio monitoring. A few OBS reports describe VLC playlist audio that was silent or clipped in monitoring while the recording or stream remained unaffected. That is a useful diagnostic distinction, not a guarantee about every setup.
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- Recording or stream has sound, but you cannot hear it locally: prioritize monitoring and output-device routing.
- Recording or stream is also silent: check the VLC source’s audio-track selection and whether the relevant OBS output track is enabled.
- The symptom changes at a playlist transition: note whether it happens when an item ends naturally or when you select “Next.” This can help distinguish a transition-related monitoring problem from general audio routing.
In OBS Studio issue #3410, opened September 4, 2020, for OBS 25.0.8 and 26.0.0-rc1 on Windows 10, the reporter said monitoring failed on an audio-only playlist item while the previous video frame persisted. The issue is closed as not planned; it does not establish a cause for every case. Read the OBS issue.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →2. Check the VLC source and OBS mixer
- Play the playlist item that produces the problem.
- In OBS, inspect the VLC Video Source’s audio-track selection. Confirm the intended track is selected.
- Watch the OBS audio mixer while the item plays. If the source meter is inactive, check the selected track and source configuration.
- Open Advanced Audio Properties and confirm the relevant audio track is active for the source.
If the meter moves but you still cannot hear anything, continue to the monitoring-device check. Meter activity alone does not confirm that OBS is sending audio to the device you are listening on.
#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
- Get the perfect guitar and vocal take with - With two high-headroom instrument inputs to plug in your guitar or bass so that they shine through. Capture your voice and instruments without any unwanted clipping or distortion thanks to our Gain Halos
- Studio quality recording for your music & podcasts - Achieve pro sounding recordings with Scarlett 3rd Gen’s high-performance converters enabling you to record and mix at up to 24-bit/192kHz. Your recordings will retain all of their sonic qualities
- Low-noise for crystal clear listening - 2 low-noise balanced outputs provide clean audio playback with 3rd Gen. Hear all the nuances of your tracks or music from Spotify, Apple & Amazon Music. Plug-in headphones for private listening in high-fidelity
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
3. Verify OBS and system output devices
- In OBS, check that the monitoring device is the headphones or speakers you intend to use.
- In your operating system’s sound settings, check the selected output device and confirm it is not muted.
- Play audio in another app through that same device. If that is silent too, troubleshoot the device or system output separately.
These checks are drawn from a community troubleshooting discussion, not an official confirmed fix. They may not resolve an issue limited to playlist transitions. The OBS forum thread includes reports of both a monitoring reset helping one user and suggested steps failing to resolve another user’s problem.
4. Try a monitoring reset as a quick test
One forum user reported restoring monitoring by changing the VLC source from Monitor and Output to Monitor Off, then changing it back. Treat this only as an anecdotal workaround: it is not guaranteed to fix the issue, and the forum thread’s original poster did not identify which setting resolved their problem.
Rank #2
- 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
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
5. Capture the details if the fault continues
Before changing several settings at once, record what triggers the failure. These details make it easier to tell transition monitoring symptoms from broader output problems:
- OBS version and operating system
- Whether the playlist mixes audio-only and video files, and the order of those items
- Whether the failure occurs at the natural end of an item or after choosing “Next”
- Whether the mixer meter moves while the sound is missing
- Whether a separate recording or live stream also lacks audio
OBS Studio issue #3712, opened November 9, 2020, concerned audio cutting one or two seconds before an item ended during monitoring in OBS 26.0.2 on Windows 10. A project member marked it confirmed, but it is closed as not planned; that status does not mean a fix shipped or establish that current OBS releases behave the same way. Read the OBS issue.
Rank #3
- PLUG IN AND HEAR SOUND IN SECONDS - USB Type-A connector with a 3.5mm stereo headphone output and a separate 3.5mm mono microphone input. No drivers, no software, no external power - the adapter is USB bus-powered and is recognized as a standard USB audio device.
- 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.
Other symptoms that can look similar
A different, open OBS report describes local sound being audible but missing from the live stream despite meter activity. It concerns OBS 32.0.2 on Windows 11 and is not the same symptom as silent local monitoring. The reporter said rolling back to OBS 31.0.4 resolved their case; that is one user’s report, not evidence that rollback is appropriate for other systems. Read the OBS report.
VLC installation and version checks
The OBS reference manual says VLC must be installed for the VLC Video Source to appear, and VLC’s 32-bit or 64-bit architecture should match OBS. It also says playlist items play in the order they were added. These are setup requirements, not demonstrated cures for audio disappearing between items. Read the OBS Studio reference manual.
Rank #4
- Podcast, Record, Live Stream, This Portable Audio Interface Covers it All - USB sound card for Mac or PC delivers 48kHz audio resolution for pristine recording every time
- Be ready for anything with this versatile M-AUDIO interface - Record guitar, vocals or line input signals with two combo XLR / Line / Instrument Inputs with phantom power
- Everything you Demand from an Audio Interface for Fuss-Free Monitoring - 1/4" headphone output and stereo 1/4" outputs for total monitoring flexibility; USB/Direct switch for zero latency monitoring
- Get the best out of your Microphones - M-Track Duo’s transparent Crystal Preamps guarantee optimal sound from all your microphones including condenser mics
- The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the essential production tools from Akai Professional
Or let it run in the cloud
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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
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
