If an AAC playlist is silent in an OBS YouTube stream, first find where the sound disappears: check the source’s mixer meter, make a short local recording, then compare that recording with the YouTube output. AAC is listed as supported by OBS Media Source, so a silent playlist does not by itself mean AAC is unsupported. The cause may be source playback, VLC playlist support, audio-track routing, or the file’s actual format and container.
1. Locate where the audio disappears
- Test one known-good AAC file. Play a single file rather than diagnosing the whole playlist at once.
- Watch the OBS Audio Mixer. Check whether the relevant source’s meter moves while the file plays.
- Make a short local recording. Play it in a media player and confirm whether it contains sound.
- Compare with YouTube. If the local recording has audio but the YouTube stream does not, investigate stream-track selection and output routing. If the meter does not move and the recording is silent, investigate source playback and media compatibility first.
These checks isolate the stage of failure; routing controls can vary with OBS configuration and version.
2. Confirm the OBS source and VLC setup
For a playlist: check VLC Video Source
OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes VLC Video Source as a playlist-capable source that uses VLC libraries. VLC must be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, OBS documentation calls for 64-bit VLC. If VLC Video Source is missing, verify both installation and architecture before troubleshooting the AAC files themselves.
For one file: check Media Source
OBS lists .aac among the audio types supported by Media Source. That source is for media-file playback rather than a multi-item VLC playlist. Confirm the intended file is selected and the source is active. In the source properties, check the documented controls relevant to your setup: Local File, Loop, Restart playback when source becomes active, and Close file when inactive. Scene visibility and source activation can affect whether playback starts or continues.
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3. If the meter moves, check routing and the stream track
A moving source meter indicates that OBS is receiving audio from the source, so look beyond basic file decoding. Check that the source is assigned to the audio track selected for the YouTube stream, then compare a local recording with the stream output. If the recording has sound and YouTube does not, focus on track selection and output configuration. If both are silent, return to playback, file format, and version checks.
A 2025 OBS GitHub issue describes one user case in which VLC Video Source audio was audible locally and the mixer responded, but live output lacked it after an OBS update. This is an anecdotal report, not evidence of a universal or currently widespread bug. If the symptom began after an update, note your OBS and VLC versions while testing routing.
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4. Check the file’s actual codec and container
The OBS Audio/Video Formats Guide documents AAC in multiple container combinations and describes AAC as widely supported. A filename ending in .aac does not reveal every relevant detail: the file may be a raw AAC stream or AAC audio inside a container. If it plays elsewhere but not in OBS, inspect the actual media format and test a copy in another compatible container. Keep the original so you can revert.
In a separate OBS issue report, a user who had trouble looping a .aac file said remuxing it to M4A or audio-only MP4 worked. Treat that as a possible interoperability test, not a guaranteed fix; remuxing a copy does not establish that every silent AAC file has the same cause.
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5. Keep YouTube protocol requirements in context
YouTube’s HLS setup guidance lists AAC, AC3, and EAC3 audio codecs, with 44.1 kHz for stereo and 48 kHz for 5.1 surround sound. Those values apply to the cited HLS ingestion guidance; they do not explain every silent OBS playlist or apply as a universal rule to every YouTube streaming protocol.
6. Troubleshoot by symptom
| What you observe | Where to investigate | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video Source is unavailable | VLC installation or architecture mismatch | Install VLC and match its 64-bit architecture to 64-bit OBS. |
| Mixer meter does not move; local recording is silent | Source playback or media compatibility | Test one file in the correct source, verify it is active, and inspect its actual codec/container. |
| Mixer moves, but local recording is silent | OBS recording/output configuration or track assignment | Check source track assignment and the recording’s selected audio track. |
| Local recording has sound; YouTube output is silent | Stream audio-track selection or output routing | Check that the source is routed to the track selected for streaming. |
| Only one AAC file fails | That file’s encoding or container | Test another known-good file, inspect the original, and if warranted try a compatible-container copy. |
| The problem began after an OBS or VLC update | Version-specific behavior or configuration changes | Record the installed versions and repeat the meter, recording, and stream-track checks. |
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