To hear a sleep-sounds source locally while it also reaches your stream, select a monitoring device in Settings > Audio, then set that source to Monitor and Output in Edit > Advanced Audio Properties. Add a local audio file as a Media Source and enable Loop separately; monitoring and repetition are different controls.
What audio monitoring does—and what it does not do
OBS monitoring is the operator’s local listening path: the source plays through the monitoring device configured in OBS. It is separate from the source’s audience output. The OBS Audio Mixer Guide describes the monitor control as playing a source back through the monitoring device configured in Settings: OBS Audio Mixer Guide.
For a local check while keeping the source in the stream or recording, choose Monitor and Output. OBS forum guidance describes that label and related modes, but it is user-contributed and may not match every version. Confirm the installed build’s labels and behavior with a short recording or test stream: OBS forum discussion.
Set up a file or playlist as the sound source
One repeating audio file
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In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene and select the local file. OBS lists
.mp3,.aac,.ogg, and.wavas supported audio formats. See OBS Media Sources.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
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Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. OBS defines this setting as replaying the file after playback completes. This repeats the source; it does not configure local monitoring.
A playlist
For a playlist, use OBS’s VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. OBS says VLC must be installed for this source to appear. Refer to OBS Media Sources.
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Audio captured from a device
If the sound comes from a connected device rather than a file, OBS offers scene-level Audio Input Capture and Audio Output Capture sources. OBS lists these capture sources for Windows and macOS; on Linux, it directs users to ALSA or PulseAudio sources. Availability and setup depend on the operating system: OBS Audio Sources.
Choose the monitoring device and source mode
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Open Settings > Audio and select the device you want OBS to use for monitoring. A headphone output or monitor jack is one option; another suitable device available to your system may also work. The choices depend on your computer and connected hardware. OBS explains the monitoring-device setting in its Audio Mixer Guide.
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Open Edit > Advanced Audio Properties, or use the mixer’s settings menu to open the advanced properties.
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Find the sleep-sounds source and choose a monitoring mode. In the forum guidance, Monitor Off means no local monitor feed, Monitor Only (mute output) means local listening without audience output, and Monitor and Output means local listening plus output. The labels and semantics are not established by a current, versioned official reference here, so verify the result in your installed OBS build.
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For the intended local check and audience feed, confirm that the source is audible through your monitoring device and remains present in a test recording or test stream.
Prevent echo and verify the audience feed
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Check for duplicate capture. OBS warns that Audio Input/Output Capture can cause echo when the same device is also selected in Settings > Audio. If you add devices directly to a scene, disable duplicate global audio devices. Avoid capturing the monitoring playback as another input. See OBS Audio Sources.
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Watch the mixer meters. Meter movement shows that OBS is receiving audio, but it does not prove that the audience output is routed correctly. OBS says the peak-hold marker shows the loudest meter level over 20 seconds (OBS Audio Mixer Guide, 2026).
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Record and listen back. Make a short recording using the setup intended for the stream, then play it back to check the audience-facing audio path. OBS recommends testing before a real session in its Quick Start Guide.
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Watch for clipping. Red meter readings indicate audio is close to clipping, which causes distortion. OBS’s technical guide explains that 0 dBFS is the digital-audio maximum convention and streamed or recorded audio must stay below it to avoid clipping. This is a peak ceiling, not a sleep-sounds loudness target. The same 2022 guide defines a -20 dBFS alignment level and a -9 dBFS permitted maximum level as meter references, not recommended ambient-audio settings: OBS Audio Mixer Technical Details.
Or let it run in the cloud
OBS is the do-it-yourself route, but a local setup depends on your computer and audio routing. For a YouTube stream of uploaded sleep-sounds recordings, StreamNeo keeps the channel live from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. It supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
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