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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf YouTube shows your picture but no sound, check the audio path one stage at a time: first the OBS mixer meter, then OBS mute and track routing, then the encoded output and YouTube Live Control Room error. Video reaching YouTube does not prove OBS is sending audio. The meter and YouTube’s stream-specific status help locate where the signal stops.
1. Check whether OBS receives the sound
Start playback of the audio that should be on the stream—a microphone, desktop audio, application capture, or another source—and watch its corresponding meter in the OBS Audio Mixer. An active meter shows that audio is reaching that point in OBS. If the meter does not move while sound is playing, troubleshoot the source or input device before changing YouTube settings. An idle source may show no level until it produces sound.
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- Confirm the intended source is present in the scene and assigned to the device you are actually using.
- Check the device connection, physical mute switch, application mute, and input or playback volume.
- Check source filters that might suppress or reduce the signal.
OBS’s Audio Mixer Guide explains how to read the mixer, and its Audio Mixer Technical Details covers how audio sources appear there.
2. If the meter moves, check what OBS sends
A moving meter confirms input to OBS, not that the sound is included in the stream. Check that the source is not muted and is routed to the intended stream mix or audio track. If your setup uses multiple tracks, verify that the track carrying the sound is the one selected for streaming.
#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
Use OBS audio monitoring to listen to the source after it reaches OBS. Monitoring is useful for locating a problem, but hearing audio there does not by itself prove that the stream output contains it. Where practical, make a short local recording or inspect the encoder output and play it back. YouTube also recommends checking the encoder output and a local archive when troubleshooting.
3. Read YouTube’s Live Control Room error
Open the stream in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room and check its preview, stream health, and any audio-specific error. YouTube checks the stream sent by the encoder; its errors distinguish absent audio from problems with the audio format or stream configuration.
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
- “Your encoder is sending no audio” indicates that audio is absent from the stream YouTube is receiving. Recheck OBS’s output mix, mute state, and selected stream track.
- No audio stream, multiple audio streams, unsupported audio codec, or incorrect audio settings point to ingestion or format/configuration issues. Check the encoder’s audio output rather than replacing a microphone based on this message alone.
See YouTube’s Live streaming error messages for its descriptions of stream-specific errors.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →4. Check OBS encoder audio settings
In OBS, inspect the audio output settings used by the active stream and make sure they match YouTube’s published encoder guidance. YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio and recommends 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz for stereo. These are YouTube’s recommendations, not measurements of your stream; follow the specific error shown in Live Control Room if it identifies a different 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.
Confirm the encoder is sending the intended audio stream and avoid sending multiple audio streams if YouTube reports that as an ingestion problem. YouTube’s encoder settings page lists its audio guidance.
5. Test the complete path before relying on the stream
Run a test that includes the same kind of audio and video movement you expect in the live event. Inspect the Live Control Room preview before starting, then monitor audio/video quality and stream health once live. If the encoder output sounds correct but YouTube playback does not, check outbound connectivity and review encoder errors and CPU load as well.
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
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- 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
- Play representative audio and confirm the relevant OBS mixer meter moves.
- Confirm the source is unmuted, routed to the stream mix, and assigned to the streaming track.
- Record or inspect encoder output where practical, then listen to it.
- Check the Live Control Room preview and stream-health indicators before and during the event.
YouTube’s live streaming tips and troubleshooting guidance describe these checks, including encoder errors and CPU load.
6. Troubleshoot by the evidence you can see
| Evidence | Likely stage | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| OBS meter does not move while the source should be producing sound | Before or at OBS input | Source presence, selected device, connection, mute/volume controls, and suppressing filters. |
| OBS meter moves, but the stream or recording has no sound | Inside OBS or in its output routing | Mute state, stream mix, selected audio track, and the encoder or local recording output. |
| Local or encoder output has sound, but YouTube reports no audio or plays none | At stream ingestion or playback path | Live Control Room’s exact error, audio codec/settings, stream configuration, outbound connection, and encoder errors. |
| YouTube reports an unsupported codec, incorrect settings, or multiple audio streams | Encoder format or stream configuration | Audio codec and settings, and whether OBS is sending the intended stream without extra audio streams. |
Do not replace a microphone or interface until the checks show that the fault is at the source. Headphones can help you listen at the source or through OBS monitoring, but they do not fix routing, track selection, or encoder settings.
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
Or let it run in the cloud
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