If your YouTube Live loop shows video but has no sound, trace the audio from the MP4 through OBS to YouTube: play the file outside OBS, check the active Media Source and its Audio Mixer meter, then inspect YouTube’s Live Control Room error and run a short test stream. This locates where the sound disappears instead of assuming one setting is always to blame.
1. Confirm the MP4 itself has sound
Open the exact MP4 you intend to stream in a media player and play the section that should contain audio. Check that the sound is audible and that the file includes an audio track. If the file is silent, OBS cannot send audio that is not there; use a version with sound or add a separate audio source.
OBS supports MP4 in a Media Source, but a supported video format does not guarantee the file contains an audio track. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
2. Check the active OBS Media Source
In OBS, confirm that the Media Source in the scene being sent to YouTube points to the intended local file and is playing. If you have multiple scenes or similarly named sources, make sure you are checking the source in the scene that is live.
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The Media Source’s Loop property restarts playback when the file ends. Looping controls repeat playback; it does not add an audio track or guarantee audio is reaching the stream. The OBS guide covers supported formats and loop behavior: Media Sources.
3. Follow the signal in the OBS Audio Mixer
While a known audible section plays, look for the Media Source’s meter in the Audio Mixer. The meter is a useful checkpoint between the file and the stream output.
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- Meter moves: OBS is receiving audio from that source. Check its mute button and fader, then continue to YouTube’s Live Control Room.
- Meter does not move: Recheck that the right file and source are playing, and that the MP4 has audio. If those are correct, investigate how OBS is decoding that media.
OBS documents the mixer’s meters, mute and volume controls, and monitoring options in its Audio Mixer Guide.
4. Distinguish local monitoring from stream audio
Not hearing the clip through your headphones or speakers does not, by itself, prove the audience is receiving silence. OBS monitoring routes audio to a configured local monitoring device; that is separate from checking the viewer-facing stream. Inspect the mixer meter and verify audio in YouTube playback.
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If you need to listen locally, configure the monitoring device and source monitoring deliberately. Avoid routing the same audio back through desktop capture in a way that can make it play twice. The OBS Audio Mixer Guide explains monitoring controls.
5. Read YouTube’s Live Control Room message
If YouTube reports “Your encoder is sending no audio,” the warning concerns the audio reaching YouTube. Check the encoder’s audio output and enable audio if the encoder provides an audio checkbox. YouTube also warns that multiple audio streams may cause ingestion problems; its guidance calls for one audio stream. Follow the specific message shown for your stream. See YouTube’s live streaming error messages.
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6. Check the encoder’s audio format and settings
For live ingestion, YouTube’s encoder guidance lists AAC or MP3 audio codecs. Its error guidance also flags unsupported codecs and incorrect sample-rate or bitrate settings. Check the live encoder settings against the particular YouTube error rather than assuming the codec inside the MP4 is necessarily the codec being sent to YouTube. Consult YouTube’s encoder settings guidance and live streaming error messages.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. Test the complete route before relying on the loop
Start a short test stream and check both the Live Control Room preview and the actual YouTube playback. Confirm that sound is audible from the viewer side before leaving a long-running loop unattended. YouTube recommends testing with audio and monitoring sound and picture during a stream: see its encoder settings guidance and live streaming tips.
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Find the point where sound disappears
| What you observe | Where to investigate next |
|---|---|
| The MP4 is silent in a media player | Use a version with an audio track or add a separate audio source. |
| The MP4 plays with sound, but the OBS Media Source meter is inactive | Check the selected file, active scene, playback, and OBS media decoding. |
| The OBS meter moves, but YouTube reports no audio | Check the encoder’s audio output, audio-enable control, stream configuration, and Live Control Room error. |
| You cannot hear local monitoring, but the meter moves | Check OBS’s monitoring device and settings, then verify YouTube playback separately. |
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