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If your OBS YouTube stream has no sound after changing videos, first check whether the new video’s meter moves in the OBS Audio Mixer. If it does, OBS is receiving audio and the likely issue is monitoring: the selected listening device or that source’s monitoring mode. If the meter does not move, check that the video is playing, contains an audio track, and is active in the current scene.
First, tell whether OBS is receiving the video’s audio
- Start playing the affected video in OBS.
- Watch the meter for its source in the Audio Mixer. A moving meter means audio is reaching that OBS source, even if you cannot hear it locally. No movement means audio is not reaching the source at that moment; playback may be stopped, or the source or input may be misconfigured.
This separates a monitoring problem from an input problem. Local monitoring and audio reaching the stream or recording are related but distinct paths. The OBS Audio Mixer Guide describes monitoring through the configured device; its audio mixer tutorial explains the per-source monitoring choices.
If the meter moves but you cannot hear the video
Check the monitoring device
In OBS, open Settings → Audio and confirm that the monitoring device is the output you are currently using to listen. The monitoring device is separate from the source’s monitoring mode. If OBS sends monitored audio to a different output, the meter can move while your headphones or speakers remain silent.
Set the source’s monitoring mode
Open the Audio Mixer gear menu, or choose Edit → Advanced Audio Properties. Find the affected source and select the mode that matches what you want:
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| Monitoring mode | Hear it locally | Send it to stream or recording |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor Off | No | Depends on the source’s normal output routing |
| Monitor Only | Yes | No |
| Monitor and Output | Yes | Yes |
Use Monitor Only only when you want to hear the source locally but do not want it in the stream or recording. If viewers should hear the source too, choose Monitor and Output. Do not mistake a silent local monitor for proof that the stream output is silent; check the mode and output path separately.
If the meter does not move after changing videos
Confirm the new video is playing and has audio
Make sure playback has started, then verify that the file actually contains an audio track. A stopped video will not produce a moving meter. If the meter remains still, OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends checking the audio meters and manually selecting devices in Settings → Audio when a device may be missing or incorrect.
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Check source activity and reload behavior
Confirm the new media source is active and visible in the current scene. A media source can be configured to close its file while inactive; when it becomes visible again, it may take a short time to reload. Wait for playback to resume, then check the meter. In Edit → Advanced Audio Properties, an Active Sources Only filter may hide inactive sources, so make the source active before looking for its row.
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Check scene-specific audio capture
If you use Audio Input Capture or Audio Output Capture inside scenes, verify that the expected capture source is present and active in the current scene. Switching scenes can change which capture sources are available. Avoid capturing the same device both globally under Settings → Audio and again as a scene source unless your setup requires it; duplicating capture can cause echo. OBS describes these options in its Audio Sources and Media Sources documentation.
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Isolate what changes when the sound disappears
- If the failure follows one video, check that file’s audio track, media-source settings, and playback state.
- If it follows a scene change, inspect the sources in the new scene and any scene-specific capture devices.
- If it follows a monitoring-device change, recheck Settings → Audio and the active output device.
- If the meter moves but local sound does not, focus on the monitoring device and per-source mode. If the meter does not move, focus on playback, source activity, and input configuration.
There is no single universal fix established for this symptom. The relevant details include your operating system, OBS version, source configuration, and whether the failure is in local monitoring or in the stream output.
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