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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind the point where the audio disappears before changing FFmpeg settings: play the exact output file outside OBS, check the OBS source and mixer, then test the recording and YouTube stream. If the file itself is silent, the fix depends on its actual FFmpeg command and audio streams; there is no safe universal mapping change.
Trace the audio from the file to YouTube
Use each boundary as a checkpoint. If sound is missing at one stage, troubleshoot that stage rather than changing settings farther downstream.
- Output file: Does the exact file you intend to loop play with sound in a media player?
- OBS source: Is the right file or playlist playing, and is its audio track selected and unmuted?
- OBS mixer and output: Does the source meter move, can you hear it through monitoring, and does an OBS recording contain sound?
- YouTube: Does a controlled test stream contain sound, and does YouTube report healthy audio?
1. Test the generated file outside OBS
Open the exact FFmpeg output file in a media player and listen through the portion that should contain audio. If it is silent there, OBS cannot restore the missing sound. Check the FFmpeg input, output stream mapping, chosen audio codec, and muxing against the command and file’s actual stream layout.
The right correction depends on details not established here: the FFmpeg command and build, input and output formats, available audio streams, and output container. Do not apply a generic -map or codec change without inspecting those specifics. If the file plays audibly outside OBS, continue to the source checks.
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2. Check the OBS playback source
Built-in Media Source
Confirm that the source points to the intended file and playback is active. OBS Media Source supports common video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. Its Loop property controls whether playback starts again when it finishes. Check that the source is not muted.
VLC Video source and playlists
If you use a VLC Video source, verify the selected file or playlist and check Audio Track. Its documented default is track 1; a multi-track file may carry sound on a different track. Loop Playlist defaults to On. VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
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These controls are documented in the OBS Media Sources guide. If the source plays but its meter stays still, recheck the selected file, track, playback, and mute state before looking at YouTube.
3. Use the OBS mixer to locate the break
Play the loop and watch the meter for the relevant source in the audio mixer. OBS’s Audio Mixer Guide advises: “Most of the time, you want to keep a close eye on the meters.”
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- The meter does not move: The problem is upstream of the mixer—revisit the file, source playback, selected audio track, and mute state.
- The meter moves: Audio has reached that mixer input. Check the mute button, listen through OBS audio monitoring, and continue to track and output routing.
Use the mixer’s Monitor control to listen through the configured monitoring device. Monitoring lets you check whether audio reaches that listening path; it does not by itself prove that the stream output carries audio.
4. Check tracks, recording, and capture-device routing
If the meter moves but an output is silent, verify the OBS track assignment and the relevant recording or streaming output settings. Make a short OBS recording and listen to the resulting file before going live; this separates an OBS output-routing problem from YouTube delivery. OBS recommends checking a recording before streaming in its streaming guide.
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If your scene uses Audio Input Capture or Audio Output Capture devices, check whether the same device is also selected globally under Settings > Audio. OBS warns that capturing a device both in a scene and globally can cause echo. That caveat applies to captured devices; it does not explain a silent media file.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Test YouTube ingest and audio settings
After confirming audio in an OBS recording, make a brief controlled YouTube test using your usual private, unlisted, or other suitable workflow. Include audio and video similar to the planned loop, then review YouTube’s stream-health information. YouTube says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
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For RTMP/RTMPS live ingest, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio. Its recommended stereo encoder settings are 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps. These are published recommendations, not a diagnosis of silence: first establish whether the OBS recording has sound. See YouTube’s live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
Troubleshooting by symptom
| What you observe | Where to focus | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| The output file is silent outside OBS | FFmpeg output | Inspect the command, input, audio streams, mapping, codec, and muxing. The exact correction depends on those details. |
| The file has sound, but the OBS source meter is still | Source playback or track | Confirm the correct file or playlist is active and unmuted. For VLC Video, check the audio track; for Media Source, check playback and Loop as needed. |
| The source meter moves, but monitoring is silent | Monitoring path | Check the mixer’s Monitor setting and the configured monitoring device. |
| The meter moves and monitoring works, but the OBS recording is silent | OBS output routing | Check track assignment and recording output settings, then record another short test. |
| The recording has sound, but YouTube does not | YouTube delivery | Run a controlled test, review stream health, and verify RTMP/RTMPS audio format and recommended stereo settings. |
| Captured-device audio echoes | Duplicate device capture | Check whether the device is captured in the scene and also enabled under Settings > Audio. |
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