Audio issues in Windows 10

[feenix102]

Hi. I am new to the forum, so please excuse me if this is in the wrong folder - you have my permission to move it!

The problem I have is a simple one. I can only record audio on channel 1. I can record output audio from a video or input audio from a mic, or both if I assign them both to channel 1, but only on channel 1. If I try to put the mic on channel 2 or any of the other channels, for example it does not record. The mic I am using is a built in laptop mic. I wondered if the problem was that I have the mic assigned to both camera capture (ie my face) AND the mic/aux, even though I only have the mic assigned to a channel?

I'm sure that what I'm doing wrong is fairly simple, but I can't quite get there. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. :)

Feenix

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

How to you KNOW (not think) the other channels aren't being recorded? and in OBS Studio you can Record to Tracks (a channel typically being an audio input, which has nothing to do with Recording)
no, not a stupid comment on my part. Many, including default operating system audio players do NOT play other 'tracks' in an audio file. You need special software to listen to the other tracks in a Recording

So, first is semantics - what do you mean by Channels in OBS Studio?
- is your question about setting up separate Audio Input Sources in OBS Studio and Recording those to separate Tracks?
OR
- are you having issues from a mixer or other physical audio device and only getting Channel 1 into the Operating System/OBS Studio? [ex. this is a known complication with physical mixers, and USB connectivity, that requires mixer specific setups and sometimes more.. it depends on your specific setup]

Not knowing, and just to speed things along, just in case...
- Always best to make sure audio working at Operating System level with OBS Studio not even started (I specifically do not mean minimized/running in background, there can be a issues with Source locking)
- Does the Operating System see (Control Panel > Sound > Manage Audio Devices .. or something like that) your Mic on 'Channel 2'

 

[feenix102]

Thanks for the response!

OK. You have the mixer with all the audio inputs, right? The green,yellow and red gauges that move when you play an audio? Well, I click on the burger menu in one of those and go to the advanced audio screen, where you have a line of tick boxes for each input. The tick boxes are the channels, right? If I select box one/channel one for each input, it works fine - I can hear everything in the playback - but if I move say...the mic or the audio output from a video to any of the other boxes I can't hear them. I am only hearing the input that has box one ticked in the playback.

It hadn't occurred to me that it may be a playback issue - I use VLC to play things back. Looking at the track in Audacity, any input that did not have box one ticked when I recorded it is blank, which I'm guessing means that it hasn't been recorded. So basically, what I'm asking is, how do I assign a different track to each input in such a way that I can hear them all in playback, or is that not possible?

Hope this helps. Cheers. :)

 

[feenix102]

Aha! I actually have it working now - it was indeed a playback issue, it does in fact work in Audacity the one track was just very quiet. Thankyou for your help. :)

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

Well, I click on the burger menu in one of those and go to the advanced audio screen, where you have a line of tick boxes for each input. The tick boxes are the channels, right?

Glad you figured it out.

For future reference, and anyone else that comes across this forum thread
My (non-sound engineer) understanding is that in Audio, Channels refers to inputs (typically a Mic); Tracks is an old tape reference (not the same, but remember 8-track cassette tapes;^), but is now virtual in an Audio Recording file.
And as noted above, most Windows (and most other) apps default to play Track 1, and other tracks are often not audible without special setup/software (ex audio/video editing specific apps)

The gear /setup icon? presuming yes: were you are referring to what I think you are commenting about - this??

As it notes - check boxes on right side represent Tracks in the Recording

There is also this section