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If you only need to play a video in an OBS scene, add it as a Media Source and handle its audio in OBS; you do not need to change the file. If the video file itself must contain an audio track, use FFmpeg to mux generated silence into a new copy. YouTube’s encoder guidance lists supported audio codecs, but does not say every live stream must contain audio.
Choose whether to change the OBS scene or the video file
| What you need | Use | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Play the clip in an OBS scene, with looping or restart controls | OBS Media Source | The scene configuration changes; the original file does not. |
| Create a video file that contains a silent audio stream | FFmpeg | FFmpeg creates a new output file with the selected video and generated audio streams. |
Adding a video as an OBS source does not make its existing audio silent. If it has audio, inspect and mute or route that source as needed. Conversely, do not add a silent stream to a file just because you assume YouTube universally requires one: its published encoder guidance does not establish that requirement.
Play the video in OBS without modifying it
- In OBS, go to the Sources dock, select +, and choose Media Source.
- Choose the local video file. OBS lists MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM as supported video types in its Media Sources guide.
- Set whether the source should Loop and whether playback should restart when the source becomes active. These options are useful for different scene behaviors; choose based on whether the clip should repeat continuously or start over when shown.
- Play the source and check its Audio Mixer meter. Mute the source or adjust its routing if you want no sound in the stream; verify that no other source is supplying unintended audio.
- Run a test stream or recording before going live. OBS recommends checking audio meters and testing settings in its Quick Start Guide.
Add a silent audio stream to the file with FFmpeg
Use this when another application or workflow specifically needs the file to contain an audio stream. The command below takes the first video stream from input.mp4, generates stereo silence at 48 kHz, encodes that silence as AAC, and writes output.mp4:
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input.mp4with the source file name and path. The output must be a different file if you want to preserve the original. - Run the command in a terminal where FFmpeg is installed and available.
anullsrcis FFmpeg’s null audio source; its options include channel layout, sample rate, and duration. The command leaves the generated source duration open and uses-shortestso output ends when the finite video input ends. - The explicit
-mapoptions select only the first input’s video and the generated second input’s audio. This replaces any existing source audio rather than retaining it.-c:v copycopies video without re-encoding;-c:a aacencodes the generated silence as AAC. - Inspect the resulting file’s streams and duration with a media inspection tool, then play it before importing it into OBS. Confirm the output container and codecs are accepted by the next application in your workflow.
This example synthesizes documented FFmpeg options; it is not a verbatim command from the manual. FFmpeg documents anullsrc and its options, and documents stream selection and muxing. Container or codec compatibility can still cause a muxing failure.
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If the original file already has audio
The command’s mappings deliberately omit the original audio stream, so the new file contains the selected video and generated silence. If you instead want to preserve original audio, this is not the right mapping: select the streams you actually intend to keep, then validate the output. Avoid relying on automatic stream selection when the input has multiple audio or video tracks.
Check YouTube and OBS compatibility before going live
YouTube’s live encoder settings list H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video codecs, and AAC or MP3 audio codecs for RTMP/RTMPS. The listed audio options are compatibility guidance, not evidence that silence is mandatory. YouTube recommends testing with audio and video movement similar to the planned stream, then checking stream health and messages.
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- For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube recommends 44.1 kHz for stereo audio and 48 kHz for 5.1 audio. Its listed audio bitrates are 128 Kbps for stereo and 384 Kbps for 5.1. These are platform recommendations; test the actual OBS setup and ingest path rather than assuming one setting fits every encoder configuration.
- The FFmpeg example creates stereo audio at 48 kHz. That is a configurable example, not a universal YouTube requirement; choose settings appropriate to the intended workflow.
- OBS describes MKV as a flexible recording container that can be remuxed into a more compatible format, and its Audio/Video Formats Guide lists AAC as compatible with MP4. Compatibility depends on the actual codecs as well as the container.
- Use YouTube’s live streaming tips for computers and OBS’s guides to validate the scene and stream before the event.
Troubleshoot common problems
The OBS video plays, but the stream has no audio
Check whether the file has an audio stream and whether the Media Source is muted or routed as intended. If the goal is silence, confirm the source meter is not receiving unwanted sound and check other OBS sources too. A silent file stream does not control audio from microphones, desktop capture, or other scene sources.
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Check the input path, output path, and write permissions, and make sure the output is not the same file as the input. If the container rejects a selected codec combination, choose a compatible container/codec pair for the destination and inspect the output again.
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The output duration is unexpected
The example uses -shortest, which ends output when the shortest selected input ends. Since the video is finite and the generated silence source is open-ended, output should end with the video. Check the source duration and the output file’s reported duration if they differ.
The stream is unstable or YouTube reports a health warning
Test the actual scene and ingest path, then review YouTube’s stream-health messages. The presence of a silent AAC track alone does not establish that the stream is configured correctly; resolution, video encoding, network delivery, and other settings also matter.
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