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To prevent true clipping, lower the audio level and add OBS’s Limiter as the last filter on the relevant audio source. But if you hear a click exactly when a video repeats while OBS meters stay below 0 dBFS, that is probably a loop-seam problem in the media file—not clipping. The fixes are different, so first identify which sound you are hearing.
First identify whether it is clipping or a loop-point click
Clipping is distortion caused when the final digital audio level exceeds 0 dBFS. A loop-point click or abrupt change can happen at the boundary between the end and beginning of a file even when the level stays below that ceiling. OBS’s Loop control repeats playback; it does not control peak levels or guarantee that the audio will join seamlessly. OBS’s media-source guide documents playback controls, while its audio mixer guide explains the clipping threshold.
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- Likely level clipping: the sound distorts during loud passages, and the relevant meter reaches or exceeds 0 dBFS.
- Likely seam artifact: a click or abrupt change happens at the same point on each repeat, but the meters remain below 0 dBFS.
Set up the right OBS source for your playback
One repeating video: Media Source
- In OBS, add or select a Media Source for the video.
- Open its properties and enable Loop.
- Play the source and confirm it restarts as expected. The source also offers options such as restarting playback when it becomes active and showing nothing when playback ends; these affect playback behavior, not peak control.
A playlist: VLC Video
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. The VLC Video source depends on VLC; OBS’s guide notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add a VLC Video source and select the playlist files.
- Enable Loop Playlist in the source properties, then check playback and audio-track selection.
VLC Video also provides playlist options such as shuffle. For details on the available playback settings, see the OBS media-sources guide.
Reduce peaks that are genuinely clipping
- Play the loudest passage. Watch the relevant source meter and the final OBS output mix while it plays. A clip’s source level alone may not reveal how loud the combined mix becomes.
- Lower the source level first. Reduce the source’s volume in OBS until the loudest passages stay below 0 dBFS in the output mix. Check the other sources too if they play at the same time.
- Add a Limiter as a safety ceiling. Open the audio source’s Filters, add Limiter, and place it last in that source’s filter chain. OBS says the Limiter prevents peaks above 0 dB that can cause clipping or distortion. Its documented default threshold is -6.00 dB and release is 60 ms; those are defaults, not universal mix targets. See the OBS Limiter guide.
- Check the final mix again. OBS’s mixer documentation says the input-level meter is after source filters but before the volume fader. Do not treat an individual source meter as a substitute for checking the output mix.
OBS also includes Compressor and Gain filters. A Compressor can manage levels above a threshold or duck audio; Gain boosts a quiet source. They serve different purposes from the Limiter’s peak ceiling. See the OBS filters guide.
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Fix a click that occurs exactly at the loop boundary
If the sound repeats at the same boundary while levels remain below 0 dBFS, inspect the media rather than relying on the Limiter. Check the audio waveform near the end and beginning of the file in an audio or video editor, then revise the transition if the edit has an abrupt discontinuity. The right edit depends on the material; OBS’s loop documentation does not prescribe a universal seam-editing method or guarantee gapless playback for every file, codec, or OBS version.
After editing, reload the media in OBS and listen through several complete loops. A Limiter may control an excessive peak, but it does not repair a discontinuity in the source.
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Verify the result in the intended output
- Play the loudest section and observe the source and final output meters.
- Let the file or playlist pass through at least one repeat boundary.
- Record a short test using the OBS output you plan to use, then listen for both loud-passage distortion and a repeat-point click.
This check matters because the audience hears the recorded or streamed mix, not just the source in isolation.
Troubleshoot common loop-audio problems
| What you hear or see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Distortion during loud parts, with a meter reaching the ceiling | The source or combined output is too high. | Lower source levels, check the final mix, and use a Limiter last in the relevant filter chain. |
| A click at the same point on every repeat, with meters below 0 dBFS | An abrupt transition at the file boundary. | Inspect and edit the media’s audio seam; a Limiter is not a seam repair. |
| A playlist will not load in VLC Video | VLC may be missing, or its architecture may not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. |
| Playback stops instead of repeating | The wrong source or loop setting may be in use. | For a single file, check Loop in Media Source properties. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist in VLC Video properties. |
| A problem appears only when visibility is toggled near playback completion | A specific source-visibility and restart interaction may be involved. | Test the source’s visibility and restart settings separately. A report of this behavior is specific to that scenario and does not establish that ordinary looping fails. |
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