At my wits end... Video Capture Device audio is "Inactive"

T

TechnoVol

New Member
No matter what capture card I use, I've tried two, the Audio Mixer reports that the Video Capture Device audio is inactive. When I connect the source directly to a TV via HDMI, the audio and video are playing as expected.

This is driving me crazy and I don't know what my next steps are. I've tried 3 different computers. 2 PCs and a Mac. All three do exactly the same thing by showing the audio source as inactive.

Obviously, there's something wrong with the way I'm configuring OBS to cause this, I just don't see what it is. Do I have to power up the devices in a certain order and start with them all off? Any other thoughts on what I should check? I see a lot of comments online about inactive audio, none of the workarounds seemed to work for me.

In OBS Studio on all three different computers, I’m getting video just fine, only no audio as it shows inactive. Any help in how I can troubleshoot this would be greatly appreciated!
 
TechnoVol said:
No, still pulling my hair out on this one. No idea what to try next.
Click to expand...

The description definitely makes it sound like the issue is the capture card. I would suggest trying to record the capture card audio in other software to confirm, I expect it also doesn't work there.
 
I purchased a new video capture at the weekend and it made no difference
I now finally believe this is a Windows setting issue as I have tried to connect to OBS, Prism Live and Streamlab and had the same issue with all
 
prgmitchell said:
The description definitely makes it sound like the issue is the capture card. I would suggest trying to record the capture card audio in other software to confirm, I expect it also doesn't work there.
Click to expand...
I tried other software as well, no luck. I've tried two different external capture cards that connect to my PC via USB, no luck. I've been looking around this morning for an internal PCIe x1 capture card to try. If you find a Windows setting that resolves it, please post the details! Thanks
 

Please post a log with your issue! Here's how...

OBS Studio creates a log file each time you run it which contains very useful diagnostic information. Without a log file, it's much harder for any support volunteers to figure out problems and your post may be ignored. To upload a log file, go to the Help menu > Log Files > Upload Last Log...
obsproject.com
 
Suslik V said:

Please post a log with your issue! Here's how...

OBS Studio creates a log file each time you run it which contains very useful diagnostic information. Without a log file, it's much harder for any support volunteers to figure out problems and your post may be ignored. To upload a log file, go to the Help menu > Log Files > Upload Last Log...
obsproject.com
Click to expand...
Here's a log file I created back when IU started troubleshooting the issue.

 
Hi, just managed to fix the issue on my laptop after watching the following on YouTube video
Good luck

​

How to Fix No Sound with Capture Card in OBS (Add Capture Card)​

 
Code: 
15:20:56.102: [DShow Device: 'Video Capture Device'] settings updated: 
15:20:56.102:     video device: USB Video
15:20:56.102:     video path: \\?\usb#vid_534d&pid_0021&mi_00#7&20689590&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global
15:20:56.102:     resolution: 720x576
15:20:56.102:     flip: 0
15:20:56.102:     fps: 25.00 (interval: 400000)
15:20:56.102:     format: YUY2
15:20:56.102:     buffering: disabled
15:20:56.102:     hardware decode: disabled
This device is from the MacroSilicon family. Likely, it consist of two devices a "web camera" and a "microphone". If the program lacks permissions to access the input device (the "mic") - then nothing is recorded. OS has special setting for each program to allow access to the selected input device. Some devices may require admin rights from the client program (OBS in your case), so you may want to try to run OBS as admin.

There is a long thread about cheap capture devices with similar "vid_534d&pid_0021" which ultimately says that it is better to chose a different capture device:

Hi8 Tape to Laptop out of sync

Let's back to track. @koala already said that there were no errors in the log, so no sense to look at performance. Do you remember the audio in device named "Microphone (USB2.0 MIC)" that OBS tried to use as default device? This is sound form the "AV TO USB2.0" camera. Yeah, this cheap capture...
obsproject.com
 
Fawkesey said:
Hi, just managed to fix the issue on my laptop after watching the following on YouTube video
Good luck

​

How to Fix No Sound with Capture Card in OBS (Add Capture Card)​

Click to expand...
Admittedly, I'm very inexperienced in OBS Studio. I can't find how to get this window in his video to come up.
1760657830886.png
 
The image you provided is from Streamlabs app, not OBS Studio.
Support for this app is provided by Streamlabs support.
 
Suslik V said:
Code: 
15:20:56.102: [DShow Device: 'Video Capture Device'] settings updated:
15:20:56.102:     video device: USB Video
15:20:56.102:     video path: \\?\usb#vid_534d&pid_0021&mi_00#7&20689590&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global
15:20:56.102:     resolution: 720x576
15:20:56.102:     flip: 0
15:20:56.102:     fps: 25.00 (interval: 400000)
15:20:56.102:     format: YUY2
15:20:56.102:     buffering: disabled
15:20:56.102:     hardware decode: disabled
This device is from the MacroSilicon family. Likely, it consist of two devices a "web camera" and a "microphone". If the program lacks permissions to access the input device (the "mic") - then nothing is recorded. OS has special setting for each program to allow access to the selected input device. Some devices may require admin rights from the client program (OBS in your case), so you may want to try to run OBS as admin.

There is a long thread about cheap capture devices with similar "vid_534d&pid_0021" which ultimately says that it is better to chose a different capture device:

Hi8 Tape to Laptop out of sync

Let's back to track. @koala already said that there were no errors in the log, so no sense to look at performance. Do you remember the audio in device named "Microphone (USB2.0 MIC)" that OBS tried to use as default device? This is sound form the "AV TO USB2.0" camera. Yeah, this cheap capture...
obsproject.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. I tried running as administrator and it didn't help. My project is to convert old family VHS tapes to digital. Would be great to capture and then be able to post them so the family could watch them anytime.
 
I've tried three different PCs, two running Windows 11 and one running Windows 10. All three do the same exact thing. Video comes through just fine, audio shows as "Inactive" for all three. This has to be an OBS configuration issue. Really frustrating.
 
You're in the wrong support. You should be contacting streamlabs support. All the images you showed are from streamlabs app, not OBS Studio.
 
PaiSand said:
You're in the wrong support. You should be contacting streamlabs support. All the images you showed are from streamlabs app, not OBS Studio.
Click to expand...
You're right. I made a mistake by posting these screen shots. I only tried Streamlabs after I was experiencing the issue in OBS Studio. I will work on posting screen shots from OBS instead. What do you think would be helpful to show? Thanks
 
A log file from one session where the issue happens. So you start the streaming or recording (the one you want to do) for no less of 30 seconds, doing all you normally do, and stop. Now upload the current log file and post it here.
Also, make sure the cable you're using supports video and audio, as well the USB port where you connect the video capture device is what the manufacturer specify to use, being an USB 2 or 3 or whatever is specify. So, read the manual provided by the manufacturer. And contact the manufacturer support.
 
PaiSand said:
A log file from one session where the issue happens. So you start the streaming or recording (the one you want to do) for no less of 30 seconds, doing all you normally do, and stop. Now upload the current log file and post it here.
Also, make sure the cable you're using supports video and audio, as well the USB port where you connect the video capture device is what the manufacturer specify to use, being an USB 2 or 3 or whatever is specify. So, read the manual provided by the manufacturer. And contact the manufacturer support.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Here are some screenshots and log file from a capture I just tried. The capture card I'm using specifications and features say that it requires a standard USB 2.0 connection and that it captures audio without the use of a sound card.

I have connected it to my VCR using the red and white audio cables and an S-Video cable. I did a fresh install of the current version of OBS and as you can see, video from the VCR via the capture card is working.
1761314164399.png


However, notice that the Video Capture Device is not showing up in the Audio Mixer. If I click the Advanced Properties for the Audio Mixer and deselect Active Sources Only, it shows the Video Capture Device as "Inactive".
1761314329532.png


I click "Play" on the VCR and the video comes through, but still no audio. I then clicked record for 1-minute and this is the log file produced from that recording.


1761314477375.png


Any help or things to try would be greatly appreciated. Now that I'm recently retired, I hoping to convert all of our family videos to digital so I can post them for the family to view.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top