If YouTube shows your OBS video but reports no audio, follow the sound from its source through OBS to the encoded stream: play the sound and check the OBS mixer meter, confirm its routing and stream track, then read the stream-specific error in YouTube Live Control Room. Video reaching YouTube does not prove that audio is being sent.
Find the stage where audio disappears
Use the same sound throughout the checks—for example, speak into the microphone or play the desktop audio you expect viewers to hear. A quiet or idle source may show no activity until sound is actually playing.
| What you observe | Likely stage | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| The relevant OBS mixer meter does not move while sound is playing. | Before or at the OBS input. | Source selection, device connection, mute and volume, and source filters. |
| The OBS meter moves, but the recording or encoder output has no sound. | Inside OBS, in the stream mix or track assignment. | Mute state, routing, audio track inclusion, and the output itself. |
| The output sounds right, but YouTube reports no audio or playback is silent. | Encoding, ingestion, or the connection to YouTube. | Live Control Room error, audio format and stream configuration, and encoder health. |
This sequence follows OBS’s guidance to check audio both at the source and after it reaches OBS, and YouTube’s advice to inspect encoder output and a local archive. OBS Audio Mixer Guide · OBS Audio Mixer Technical Details · YouTube live streaming troubleshooting
Check whether OBS receives the sound
- Start the expected sound. Speak, play the application audio, or otherwise activate the source. Watch the corresponding meter in OBS’s Audio Mixer; the mixer indicates incoming audio level.
- Confirm the source is present and uses the right device. Check that the intended microphone, desktop-audio device, application capture, or other source exists and points to the device or application producing sound.
- Check for an interruption at the source. Verify the device is connected and selected, physical and application mute are off, and its volume is audible. Review source filters that could suppress or silence the signal.
If the meter remains still while the source should be active, audio is not reaching that point in OBS. Resolve the input or source problem before changing YouTube settings or replacing hardware.
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If the OBS meter moves, verify the stream mix
- Check mute and level. Make sure the source is not muted in OBS and its level is not effectively silent.
- Confirm it is included in the intended output. Verify the source is routed to the stream mix and assigned to the audio track that the encoder sends. A moving meter alone does not establish that viewers receive the source.
- Listen after the signal reaches OBS. Use OBS audio monitoring to hear the source at that point in the path. Monitoring is useful for diagnosis, but hearing it in your own monitoring setup does not prove that the stream output contains it.
- Inspect an output. Make a local recording or check the encoder output where practical. Confirm that the intended sound is present there, rather than relying only on the mixer meter or monitoring.
OBS’s mixer documentation explains the input meter and monitoring, while YouTube recommends checking the encoder output and local archive. OBS Audio Mixer Guide · YouTube live streaming troubleshooting
Read the YouTube Live Control Room error
The Live Dashboard and Live Control Room check the stream arriving at YouTube. Read the exact message for the current stream; it can distinguish missing audio from a format or configuration problem. YouTube documents errors including:
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- “Your encoder is sending no audio.” The audio is absent from the stream being sent to YouTube. Recheck whether the intended source is included in the outgoing mix and track, then validate the encoded output.
- No audio stream, multiple audio streams, unsupported audio codec, or incorrect audio settings. These point to the stream’s audio-stream structure or format, rather than proving that the physical microphone is faulty. Review the encoder’s audio configuration and the track it sends.
Use YouTube’s error guidance for the specific message shown: Live streaming error messages.
Check encoder audio settings
YouTube’s published encoder guidance lists AAC or MP3 audio. For stereo, it recommends 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. These are YouTube recommendations, not proof that any particular OBS configuration is wrong; use the Live Control Room alert and the output you inspected to guide changes.
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- Confirm the encoder is sending an audio stream and the intended OBS track.
- Check that the selected audio codec is AAC or MP3 and that stereo settings match YouTube’s published guidance when applicable.
- If YouTube reports multiple audio streams or an unsupported codec, correct the encoder configuration indicated by that error rather than changing an unrelated source device.
See YouTube’s encoder settings and documented live-stream errors.
Test the complete path before going live
- Run a representative test with audio and video movement similar to the planned stream.
- Before starting the event, inspect the Live Control Room preview and confirm that audio is present.
- During the stream, watch audio and video quality and stream health. If OBS’s output sounds healthy but YouTube playback does not, check encoder errors, CPU load, and the outbound connection.
YouTube recommends testing under conditions resembling the planned stream and monitoring stream health. Details: YouTube live streaming troubleshooting · Tips for live streaming.
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Common symptoms and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No movement on the relevant OBS meter while sound plays. | Wrong or unavailable source, disconnected device, mute, low source volume, or a suppressing filter. | Check the source and device first; test again with active sound. |
| Meter moves, but the stream or recording is silent. | Source is muted, omitted from the stream mix, or not included on the transmitted audio track. | Verify OBS mute, routing, track assignment, and an actual output. |
| YouTube says the encoder is sending no audio. | No audio is present in the ingested output, even if a local OBS meter moves. | Check the sent track and encoded output; confirm audio is included in the stream. |
| YouTube reports an unsupported codec, incorrect audio settings, or multiple audio streams. | Encoder audio format or stream configuration does not match what YouTube accepts. | Review the specific alert and YouTube’s encoder guidance; adjust the encoder’s audio stream. |
| Encoder output has sound, but YouTube playback does not. | Problem may be after the local output, including connection or encoder issues. | Review YouTube stream health and encoder errors, and check CPU load and outbound connection. |
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Quick Recap
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