What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
If your YouTube Live loop shows video but has no sound, trace the audio from the MP4 through OBS to YouTube: play the exact file, check the active Media Source and its Audio Mixer meter, then read the Live Control Room warning and verify a short test from the viewer side. The point where the signal disappears identifies what to fix.
Find where the sound disappears
Use the same MP4 section throughout these checks, choosing a moment that you know should contain audible sound. Check each stage in order; the title alone cannot establish whether the file, OBS, or YouTube ingestion is responsible.
- Play the exact MP4 outside OBS. Confirm that the expected section is audible and that the file contains an audio track. If it is silent or has no audio track, use a version with sound or add a separate audio source; OBS cannot send audio that is absent from the source.
- Check the active OBS Media Source. In the scene being streamed, confirm that the source points to the intended file and is playing. OBS supports MP4 as a Media Source. Its Loop property restarts playback when the file ends; looping does not add an audio track or guarantee that audio reaches YouTube. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Watch the source meter in the OBS Audio Mixer. While the audible part plays, find the Media Source’s meter. Check that the source is not muted and its fader is not turned down. OBS describes the mixer meter as a source-level indicator and documents its mute, volume, and monitoring controls in the Audio Mixer Guide.
- Check YouTube Live Control Room. Look for an audio or ingestion error. YouTube’s specific warning is “Your encoder is sending no audio.” If the encoder has an audio-enable control, make sure it is enabled. Follow the message shown for your ingestion setup rather than assuming the MP4’s internal audio codec is the same as the encoder’s outgoing stream codec. See YouTube’s live streaming error messages.
- Test the full route. Start a short test, inspect the Live Control Room preview, and listen to the actual YouTube playback as a viewer. YouTube recommends testing with audio and monitoring picture and sound; see its encoder settings and test guidance and live streaming tips.
Use the symptoms to choose the fix
| What you observe | Where to investigate |
|---|---|
| The MP4 is silent in a media player, or has no audio track. | The file itself. Select a version with sound or add a separate audio source. |
| The MP4 plays with sound, but the Media Source meter does not move during that section. | The OBS source and playback: confirm the live scene, file path, selected source, and playback state. If these are correct, investigate how OBS is decoding that media. |
| The OBS meter moves, but YouTube reports no audio or the viewer-side test is silent. | The encoder’s outgoing audio and YouTube ingestion. Check the Live Control Room message and relevant encoder audio settings. |
| You cannot hear the audio on your own headphones or speakers, but the source meter moves. | Local monitoring may be the issue rather than audience output. Check the configured monitoring device and source monitoring, then verify YouTube playback separately. |
OBS monitoring is a separate route to a configured local listening device. Not hearing audio locally does not, by itself, show that the stream is silent. If you enable monitoring, avoid routing the same sound back through desktop capture in a way that duplicates it. The OBS Audio Mixer Guide explains the mixer’s monitoring controls.
Check the encoder audio, not just the MP4
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists AAC or MP3 as audio codecs, and its error guidance flags unsupported codecs and incorrect sample-rate or bitrate settings as possible ingestion problems. These refer to the outgoing live stream: the MP4 can contain audio yet the encoded stream can still arrive at YouTube without usable audio. Use the exact error and settings guidance for your configured encoder and ingestion path; the consulted guidance does not establish one universal sample-rate or bitrate value for every setup. See YouTube’s encoder settings guidance and live streaming error messages.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#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
YouTube also says the ingestion should have one audio stream; multiple audio streams may cause ingestion problems. If your setup outputs more than one, adjust it to send a single audio stream and test again. For broader source and encoder checks, see YouTube’s live stream troubleshooting guide.
Common fixes by failure point
- No sound in the file: replace it with an audible version or add a separate audio source, then test.
- Wrong or stopped Media Source: select the intended file in the live scene and confirm playback. Use Loop to repeat it after it ends, not as an audio repair.
- Inactive or muted mixer channel: check that the Media Source meter responds during known audible content, unmute it, and raise its fader as needed.
- Local monitoring is silent: check the monitoring device and monitoring controls. Do not treat a monitoring-only change as proof that stream output is fixed.
- YouTube says “Your encoder is sending no audio”: check that audio output is enabled in the encoder, then inspect the outgoing audio configuration and any more specific Live Control Room error.
- Unsupported or misconfigured audio, or multiple audio streams: use an audio codec supported by YouTube’s encoder guidance, check the settings identified by the current error, and ensure the ingestion has one audio stream.
After a change, rerun a short test and confirm sound in YouTube playback, not only in OBS. YouTube recommends a test that includes audio and checking the preview and stream continuously.
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
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a prerecorded documentary or playlist looping on YouTube, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded video, not a live camera feed. Nothing has to stay on at home; each slot streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or its plans, then start your free first day.
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
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
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.
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.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
