Bug Report Audio-Only recording appears not to work at all

J

Journeyman

New Member
Looking to use OBS to record podcast audio. Tried setting recording to the custom output shown below:
2019-06-28_0004.png


I start recording, then stop recording and the button becomes "stopping recording." This status does not change, unless I re-click the button while it says "stopping recording." This restores OBS to a functional state but does not produce a successful recording.

I'll attach the log of a session below, but I should explain what's happening.
  1. I click record. A file appears in the recording dir and the log reads "Recording Start".
  2. I click stop recording and the button changes to "stopping recording." The record counter continues to increase. The file remains 0b. The log file does not log ANYTHING. OBS remains in this state indefinitely unless I close the app or do the stop below:
  3. I click the "stopping recording" button, and OBS returns to regular "record" button. The file in recording dir becomes a 78b PMC container with no audio. The log writes "Recording Stop"
I believe something deeper is at fault here; I've tested mpc, ac3, and several flavors of wav with the same result, but ALSO, I've tested various video outputs, setting the video decoder to "Disable Decoder" and I've encountered the same result. It seems that whenever the video encoder is set to disabled, OBS gets hung up on "stopping recording" and never produces a file.

LOG, in which I start up, change settings to Custom > Wav container, record 10 seconds, press Stop, press Stop Recording, and then close.
Code: 
00:01:19.670: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700K CPU @ 3.70GHz
00:01:19.670: CPU Speed: 3696MHz
00:01:19.670: Physical Cores: 6, Logical Cores: 12
00:01:19.670: Physical Memory: 32722MB Total, 17703MB Free
00:01:19.671: Windows Version: 10.0 Build 17134 (revision: 829; 64-bit)
00:01:19.671: Running as administrator: true
00:01:19.671: Aero is Enabled (Aero is always on for windows 8 and above)
00:01:19.671: Windows 10 Gaming Features:
00:01:19.671:     Game DVR: On
00:01:19.673: Sec. Software Status:
00:01:19.674:     Windows Defender Antivirus: enabled (AV)
00:01:19.675:     Windows Firewall: enabled (FW)
00:01:19.675:     Windows Defender Antivirus: enabled (ASW)
00:01:19.675: Current Date/Time: 2019-06-28, 00:01:19
00:01:19.675: Browser Hardware Acceleration: true
00:01:19.675: Portable mode: false
00:01:19.983: OBS 23.2.1 (64-bit, windows)
00:01:19.983: ---------------------------------
00:01:19.984: ---------------------------------
00:01:19.984: audio settings reset:
00:01:19.984:     samples per sec: 44100
00:01:19.984:     speakers:        2
00:01:19.987: ---------------------------------
00:01:19.987: Initializing D3D11...
00:01:19.987: Available Video Adapters:
00:01:19.989:     Adapter 0: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
00:01:19.989:       Dedicated VRAM: 2051014656
00:01:19.989:       Shared VRAM:    4271325184
00:01:19.989:       output 0: pos={0, 0}, size={3840, 1080}, attached=true
00:01:19.991: Loading up D3D11 on adapter NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (0)
00:01:20.030: D3D11 loaded successfully, feature level used: 45056
00:01:20.790: ---------------------------------
00:01:20.790: video settings reset:
00:01:20.790:     base resolution:   1920x1080
00:01:20.790:     output resolution: 1280x720
00:01:20.790:     downscale filter:  Bicubic
00:01:20.790:     fps:               30/1
00:01:20.790:     format:            NV12
00:01:20.790:     YUV mode:          601/Partial
00:01:20.790: NV12 texture support enabled
00:01:20.792: Audio monitoring device:
00:01:20.792:     name: Default
00:01:20.792:     id: default
00:01:20.792: ---------------------------------
00:01:20.807: [CoreAudio encoder]: Adding CoreAudio AAC encoder
00:01:20.808: Failed to load 'en-US' text for module: 'decklink-ouput-ui.dll'
00:01:20.846: [AMF] AMF Test failed due to one or more errors.
00:01:20.846: Failed to initialize module 'enc-amf.dll'
00:01:20.867: Module '../../obs-plugins/64bit/libEGL.dll' not loaded
00:01:20.871: [obs-browser]: Version 2.4.0
00:01:20.876: NVENC supported
00:01:20.929: Failed to load 'en-US' text for module: 'StreamDeckPlugin.dll'
00:01:20.941: Couldn't find VLC installation, VLC video source disabled
00:01:20.946: No blackmagic support
00:01:20.952: ---------------------------------
00:01:20.952:   Loaded Modules:
00:01:20.952:     win-wasapi.dll
00:01:20.952:     win-mf.dll
00:01:20.952:     win-ivcam.dll
00:01:20.952:     win-dshow.dll
00:01:20.952:     win-decklink.dll
00:01:20.952:     win-capture.dll
00:01:20.952:     vlc-video.dll
00:01:20.952:     text-freetype2.dll
00:01:20.952:     StreamDeckPlugin.dll
00:01:20.952:     rtmp-services.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-x264.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-vst.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-transitions.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-text.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-qsv11.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-outputs.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-filters.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-ffmpeg.dll
00:01:20.952:     obs-browser.dll
00:01:20.952:     image-source.dll
00:01:20.952:     frontend-tools.dll
00:01:20.952:     enc-amf.dll
00:01:20.952:     decklink-ouput-ui.dll
00:01:20.952:     coreaudio-encoder.dll
00:01:20.952: ---------------------------------
00:01:20.952: ==== Startup complete ===============================================
00:01:21.013: Switched to Preview/Program mode
00:01:21.013: ------------------------------------------------
00:01:21.013: All scene data cleared
00:01:21.013: ------------------------------------------------
00:01:21.042: WASAPI: Device 'Speaker (Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro)' initialized
00:01:21.077: WASAPI: Device 'Line-In/Mic-In (Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro)' initialized
00:01:21.077: [window-capture: 'GameMaker'] update settings:
00:01:21.077:     executable: GameMakerStudio.exe
00:01:21.134: adding 46 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 46 milliseconds (source: Mic/Aux)
00:01:21.134:
00:01:21.535: [window-capture: 'Window Capture'] update settings:
00:01:21.535:     executable: Photoshop.exe
00:01:21.575: [window-capture: 'Window Capture 2'] update settings:
00:01:21.575:     executable: chrome.exe
00:01:21.580: Switched to scene 'Scene Browser'
00:01:21.581: signal_handler_connect: signal 'item_visible' not found
00:01:21.581: signal_handler_connect: signal 'item_visible' not found
00:01:21.581: signal_handler_connect: signal 'item_visible' not found
00:01:21.581: signal_handler_connect: signal 'item_visible' not found
00:01:21.581: signal_handler_connect: signal 'item_visible' not found
00:01:21.581: ------------------------------------------------
00:01:21.581: Loaded scenes:
00:01:21.581: - scene 'SceneGameMaker':
00:01:21.581:     - source: 'GameMaker' (window_capture)
00:01:21.581:     - source: 'Game Capture' (game_capture)
00:01:21.581:     - source: 'Browser' (browser_source)
00:01:21.581: - scene 'Scene Photoshop':
00:01:21.581:     - source: 'Window Capture' (window_capture)
00:01:21.581: - scene 'Scene Browser':
00:01:21.581:     - source: 'Window Capture 2' (window_capture)
00:01:21.581: - scene 'Scene 2':
00:01:21.581: ------------------------------------------------
00:01:41.305: Settings changed (outputs)
00:01:41.305: ------------------------------------------------
00:01:47.622: ==== Recording Start ===============================================
00:02:09.309: Output 'adv_ffmpeg_output': stopping
00:02:09.309: Output 'adv_ffmpeg_output': Total frames output: 647
00:02:09.309: Output 'adv_ffmpeg_output': Total drawn frames: 651
00:02:09.309: ==== Recording Stop ================================================
00:02:12.860: ==== Shutting down ==================================================
00:02:12.871: Switched to scene '(null)'
00:02:12.874: WASAPI: Device 'Speaker (Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro)' Terminated
00:02:12.878: WASAPI: Device 'Line-In/Mic-In (Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro)' Terminated
00:02:12.883: All scene data cleared
00:02:12.883: ------------------------------------------------
00:02:12.980: Freeing OBS context data
00:02:13.039: [Scripting] Total detached callbacks: 0
00:02:13.046: == Profiler Results =============================
00:02:13.046: run_program_init: 2166.74 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┣OBSApp::AppInit: 20.441 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┗OBSApp::InitLocale: 0.842 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┗OBSApp::OBSInit: 2052.53 ms
00:02:13.046:    ┣obs_startup: 4.705 ms
00:02:13.046:    ┗OBSBasic::OBSInit: 1739.34 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::InitBasicConfig: 0.445 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::ResetAudio: 0.316 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::ResetVideo: 807.814 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::InitOBSCallbacks: 0.003 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::InitHotkeys: 0.055 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣obs_load_all_modules: 159.443 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(coreaudio-encoder.dll): 10.806 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(decklink-ouput-ui.dll): 0.533 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(enc-amf.dll): 36.48 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(frontend-tools.dll): 4.433 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(image-source.dll): 0.007 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-browser.dll): 0.196 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-ffmpeg.dll): 1.258 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┃ ┗nvenc_check: 1.22 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-filters.dll): 0.018 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-outputs.dll): 0.005 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-qsv11.dll): 37.853 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-text.dll): 0.266 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-transitions.dll): 0.005 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-vst.dll): 0.001 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-x264.dll): 0.001 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(rtmp-services.dll): 1.135 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(StreamDeckPlugin.dll): 5.507 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(text-freetype2.dll): 0.136 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(vlc-video.dll): 0.051 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-capture.dll): 0.19 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-decklink.dll): 2.532 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-dshow.dll): 1.962 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-ivcam.dll): 0.001 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-mf.dll): 0 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-wasapi.dll): 0.003 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┃ ┗reset_win32_symbol_paths: 0.06 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::ResetOutputs: 8.013 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::CreateHotkeys: 0.058 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::InitService: 0.211 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┣OBSBasic::InitPrimitives: 0.105 ms
00:02:13.046:      ┗OBSBasic::Load: 570.228 ms
00:02:13.046: obs_hotkey_thread(25 ms): min=0.002 ms, median=0.004 ms, max=0.313 ms, 99th percentile=0.208 ms, 100% below 25 ms
00:02:13.046: audio_thread(Audio): min=0 ms, median=0.041 ms, max=0.175 ms, 99th percentile=0.079 ms
00:02:13.046: obs_graphics_thread(33.3333 ms): min=0.089 ms, median=0.983 ms, max=483.105 ms, 99th percentile=1.865 ms, 99.9356% below 33.333 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┣tick_sources: min=0.002 ms, median=0.345 ms, max=482.976 ms, 99th percentile=0.731 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┣output_frame: min=0.068 ms, median=0.219 ms, max=1.049 ms, 99th percentile=0.562 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┣gs_context(video->graphics): min=0.067 ms, median=0.199 ms, max=0.575 ms, 99th percentile=0.378 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┃ ┣render_video: min=0.006 ms, median=0.035 ms, max=0.183 ms, 99th percentile=0.111 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┃ ┃ ┣render_main_texture: min=0.003 ms, median=0.019 ms, max=0.123 ms, 99th percentile=0.061 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┃ ┃ ┣render_output_texture: min=0.001 ms, median=0.006 ms, max=0.066 ms, 99th percentile=0.035 ms, 0.419459 calls per parent call
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┃ ┃ ┣render_convert_texture_nv12: min=0 ms, median=0.008 ms, max=0.051 ms, 99th percentile=0.034 ms, 0.419459 calls per parent call
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┃ ┃ ┗stage_output_texture: min=0 ms, median=0.002 ms, max=0.103 ms, 99th percentile=0.06 ms, 0.419459 calls per parent call
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┃ ┣gs_flush: min=0.026 ms, median=0.156 ms, max=0.519 ms, 99th percentile=0.303 ms
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┃ ┗download_frame: min=0 ms, median=0.002 ms, max=0.26 ms, 99th percentile=0.194 ms, 0.419459 calls per parent call
00:02:13.046:  ┃ ┗output_video_data: min=0.123 ms, median=0.155 ms, max=0.621 ms, 99th percentile=0.343 ms, 0.416881 calls per parent call
00:02:13.046:  ┗render_displays: min=0 ms, median=0.347 ms, max=4.98 ms, 99th percentile=0.99 ms
00:02:13.046: OBSBasic::ResetOutputs: 0.561 ms
00:02:13.046: video_thread(video): min=0.001 ms, median=0.002 ms, max=0.021 ms, 99th percentile=0.018 ms
00:02:13.046: =================================================
00:02:13.046: == Profiler Time Between Calls ==================
00:02:13.046: obs_hotkey_thread(25 ms): min=24.928 ms, median=25.929 ms, max=35.928 ms, 13.5306% within ±2% of 25 ms (0% lower, 86.4694% higher)
00:02:13.046: obs_graphics_thread(33.3333 ms): min=16.887 ms, median=33.333 ms, max=483.111 ms, 99.8711% within ±2% of 33.333 ms (0.0644745% lower, 0.0644745% higher)
00:02:13.046: =================================================
00:02:13.067: Number of memory leaks: 0
 
J

Journeyman

New Member
Exceedingly unhelpful.
There are multiple audio recording presets in this software. They do not function properly. That's a bug in this software.
 
Sukiyucky

Sukiyucky

Member
"Exeedingly unhelpful"

I gave you an alternative!!!

If you want to RECORD (you didn't say STREAM) a podcast, that is no different than speaking into a mic and saving to a streamable Internet audio file format. I suggested Audacity as an alternative to OBS to help solve your problem of being able to record. Hook up your podcast mic and go record your voice on a track. Then EXPORT the track to MP3, WAV, AIFF, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC to a FILE. All these are Internet audio streaming formats that Audacity can convert the track to.
 
koala

koala

Active Member
OBS is designed as a live streaming app. Everything was made with this in mind. Recording is some kind of by-product of this. Recording audio only with ffmpeg output is some kind of by-product of a by-product. There are better tools for audio recording that OBS Studio, just as @Sukiyucky said: tools that are specialized for audio recording like Audacity. OBS isn't specialized on audio recording.

If you insist on using OBS for audio recording, I propose you don't use ffmpeg output but use advanced output mode and create a video without video sources, that means black screen. Use CRF or CQP as rate control, so the video part will not consume any space (with CBR/VBR it will always consume space). In a postprocessing step, extract the audio track(s) from the created file.

I remember there was someone on the forum who fiddled out the parameters of ffmpeg output to create an audio file only. Unfortunately, I didn't record a link to that, but you might try the forum search. It was in this subforum, this year, within the last 2-3 months as far as I remember.
 
J

Journeyman

New Member
Thanks @koala; I will resume a forum search for the proper ffmpeg blend; I've tried a few myself without success.

The larger point (filing this as a "bug") ought to be worth some note; of course, OBS is not primarily designed as a recording program--but it's software with a "Recording" tab and with various audio-only settings included and they do not work. In the general sense, shipping software with non-functioning parts is something that a software development team often want to hear about and to look into remedying. (And being stuck on "stopping recording" is problematic regardless)

Incidentally, I'm using Reaper, not Audacity as a workaround live recording at present, in case anyone comes across this and is looking for a solution. While Audacity has plenty to offer in the editing space, it is rudimentary as a recorder. Imagine transmiting a podcast live--with a noise gate, and other such effects--and then having to try to match what was transmitted live by working over the recording in post-production via an editor. Reaper (donationware) processes audio live while also recording to a file, so at present I'm using VB-Cable to patch across programs to stream. But the streaming, live processing, and recording are actually all present in OBS; it's just that one of them doesn't work.
 
Last edited:
koala

koala

Active Member
I found the thread I mentioned, but unfortunately it's about recording video only and throwing away the audio. The other way round. So it's no help.
 
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