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If an AAC playlist is silent in an OBS YouTube stream, first find where the sound disappears: check whether the OBS audio mixer meter moves, then make a short local recording. Those two checks distinguish a source or file playback problem from audio-track routing or stream output. AAC is listed as supported by OBS Media Source, so a silent playlist is not by itself proof that AAC is unsupported.
Find where the audio disappears
- Play one known-good AAC file by itself in OBS rather than testing the full playlist.
- Watch the source or mixer meter while it plays. A moving meter means OBS is receiving audio from the source; no movement points toward playback, source configuration, or file compatibility.
- Make a brief local recording and play it in a media player. If it contains sound but YouTube does not, investigate stream track selection and output routing. If the recording is silent too, focus on source playback and the media file.
Mixer activity, monitoring, a local recording, and the YouTube output are separate checks. A meter that moves does not by itself prove the audio is assigned to the track being sent to YouTube.
Confirm which OBS source is playing the playlist
VLC Video Source
OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes VLC Video Source as a playlist-capable source backed by VLC libraries. VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If VLC Video Source is missing or fails to load, check that VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS.
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Media Source
OBS Media Source is intended for media-file playback rather than a multi-item VLC playlist. OBS lists .aac among its supported audio types. In the source properties, confirm the correct file is selected and playback is active. The documented controls include Local File, Loop, Restart playback when source becomes active, and Close file when inactive. Scene visibility and source activation can affect whether playback starts, so verify the source is active in the scene being used.
#1 Best Overall
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If the meter moves, check track routing
When the source meter responds, audio is being decoded inside OBS. Check that the source is assigned to the audio track selected for the stream, then compare a short local recording with the YouTube output. If the recording has sound but the stream does not, concentrate on the stream’s selected audio track and output configuration. OBS control labels and routing controls can vary by version, so use the settings available in your installed build.
An OBS GitHub issue opened October 30, 2025 describes a user case in which VLC source audio was audible locally and the mixer responded, but live output lacked audio after an OBS update. That report is a diagnostic example, not proof of a general defect or its cause. If the problem began after an OBS or VLC update, note the installed versions while checking routing and testing a local recording.
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If the meter does not move, check the file and container
A filename ending in .aac does not establish every detail of the media inside it. OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide documents AAC in multiple container combinations. If the file plays elsewhere but not in OBS, identify whether it is a raw AAC stream or AAC in a container and test a copy in another compatible container. Keep the original so the test is reversible.
One OBS user report describes successful looping after remuxing a problematic .aac file to M4A or audio-only MP4. Treat that as a possible compatibility test, not a guaranteed fix: Media source can’t loop .aac files.
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Keep YouTube’s HLS 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. These are requirements for HLS ingestion; they do not explain every locally silent OBS playlist or apply universally to every YouTube streaming protocol.
Quick symptom-to-cause guide
| What you observe | Where to focus |
|---|---|
| No meter movement and the local recording is silent | Source type and activation, VLC installation and matching architecture for VLC Video Source, or file/container compatibility. |
| The meter moves, but the local recording is silent | OBS audio output and track configuration; verify the source is included in the recorded track. |
| The local recording has audio, but YouTube does not | The audio track selected for the stream and stream output routing. |
| The issue started after an update | Compare source behavior and routing in the installed OBS/VLC versions; do not assume the update is the cause without testing. |
| Only one AAC file fails | Test another known-good file, then check the failing file’s actual codec/container and try a compatible-container copy. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps prerecorded videos playing 24/7, StreamNeo is an alternative to maintaining an OBS playlist on a computer. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo, or start your free day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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