If vMix loses YouTube audio right after a playlist change, first check the affected input’s audio button and Automatically Mix Audio (also called Follow). Follow can switch an input’s audio on or off depending on whether that input is live—but the symptom alone does not prove that setting is the cause. Compare the vMix input meter, a local recording, and YouTube playback to identify whether the problem is the input, the media file, or the stream mix.
Start with the audio button and Automatically Mix Audio
- Open the Audio Mixer and locate the input whose audio disappears.
- Check that the input’s audio button is enabled. Follow cannot provide audible input audio if that button is off.
- Inspect the input’s Automatically Mix Audio control, shown with green/orange arrows. It is also available in the input settings.
- If the sound should remain active even when that input is not live, disable Automatically Mix Audio for that input and leave its audio button on.
- Switch to the affected item or input again and watch the input meter. If it moves and you hear audio locally, continue to the recording-versus-stream check below.
vMix documents Follow as changing an input’s audio according to whether that input is in the live output. Its Knowledge Base article, last updated March 31, 2020, is titled “Why does my audio turn off when switching between inputs?” The installed version may use slightly different labels, so check its input settings if the control is not where expected.
Identify which vMix playlist workflow is changing
“Playlist” can describe two different workflows in vMix. A List input contains a sequence of video or audio files and can advance automatically. The separate Playlist feature automates switching among inputs. A media-item change inside one List is not the same event as a switch from one live input to another, so confirm which workflow is active before changing settings.
If a List input advances to another file
- Check whether the List’s Auto Next option is enabled. It controls automatic advancement and is enabled by default.
- Test the newly selected file on its own and confirm that it contains an audio track that vMix can decode.
- If only one item is silent, focus on that file’s track and format rather than treating the behavior as a general transition problem.
If the Playlist feature switches among inputs
Check the audio button and Automatically Mix Audio state on the input that becomes live. Follow may turn audio on or off as live status changes. vMix’s training catalog treats Playlist, List Input, and audio routing as distinct topics; see its Training Videos catalog.
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Compare the local recording with YouTube playback
Make a short test recording that includes the transition, then compare it with the YouTube stream. vMix documents the Master mix as the default audio mix for recording, streaming, and external output. If the recording and stream differ, inspect the selected streaming mix and confirm that the affected input is included in the Master mix (or in the audio mix actually selected for streaming).
| What you observe | What to check next |
|---|---|
| Audio disappears when the live input changes | Check that input’s Automatically Mix Audio/Follow state and audio button. |
| A List input advances to a new file | Confirm the List workflow, then test the new file’s audio track and format. |
| Both the recording and YouTube stream are silent | Inspect the source item and the vMix input’s audio state. |
| The recording has sound, but YouTube does not | Inspect the audio mix selected for streaming and the affected input’s routing. |
| Only one specific file has no audio | Check that file’s audio track and whether its format is supported or needs a decoder. |
The vMix 26 User Guide’s archived Audio Mixer page describes Master and auxiliary audio buses. If the input meter moves but the stream remains silent, trace the selected streaming mix and its routing rather than toggling Follow repeatedly.
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Check a silent file’s audio format
If the problem follows one video file or DVD rather than every transition, verify that the item has an audio track and test a different file. vMix notes that certain video files and DVDs may require an AC3 (Dolby Digital) decoder for audio. Treat this as a format-specific possibility, not the default explanation for audio disappearing after each playlist change. See vMix’s “No audio when playing certain video files and DVDs” article, last updated September 2, 2020.
Use the cabling fix only for low or distorted stream audio
A balanced-microphone/unbalanced-computer-input mismatch is a separate issue from Follow. Consider it only if the local recording sounds good but YouTube audio is low, distorted, or muted—especially when a balanced XLR microphone is connected to an unsuitable computer input.
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- For a durable fix, vMix recommends a computer audio interface that supports XLR.
- As a short-term adjustment, vMix describes using the Separate Mono mixer option and lowering the right audio level to zero.
These are targeted remedies for the cabling scenario, not general fixes for a List item or input transition. See vMix’s “Facebook / YouTube Stream Audio very low, muted or missing” article, last updated March 16, 2023.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot by symptom
The audio button is on, but sound stops when the input goes live
Check Automatically Mix Audio/Follow on that input. If audio needs to remain active when the input is not live, disable Follow for that input and test the transition again.
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The input meter moves, but YouTube has no sound
Compare a local recording with YouTube playback. If the recording is audible, inspect which mix is selected for streaming and whether the affected input reaches it.
The new List item is silent, but other items work
Play the item independently, confirm it contains an audio track, and check whether its format is decodable. The AC3 decoder issue applies to certain files and DVDs, not every playlist change.
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The recording sounds right, but streamed audio is quiet or distorted
If an XLR microphone is connected to a computer input that does not suit balanced audio, investigate that cabling path. An XLR-capable audio interface is vMix’s durable option; Separate Mono with the right level lowered to zero is its short-term adjustment.
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StreamNeo is a separate option for keeping uploaded videos live on a YouTube channel; it does not fix vMix audio routing or stream from a camera. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the upload in the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream, and gives the first day free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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