Question / Help Audio skipping when OBS buffers

[XUDML]

I've searched using any description or phrase I can think of, but I'm having no luck so far fixing audio skipping intermittently. Sometimes it skips for a couple seconds shortly into a stream, other times it can take an hour or longer before I have a problem. Always audible in monitoring, recording, and the live stream. No issue when monitoring on the camera that the audio is fed from/through.

Things I've tried:

• Audio frequency mismatch - all devices in the Audio Midi Controller show 48kHz, so does OBS. The only source that does not is "Desktop streaming audio device, shows 44.1 and is not changeable here, but also is not used in OBS to the best of my knowledge. Only audio source I am using shows in the attached log as HDMI - Audio
• Updated to current version of OBS - tried this a couple times over the past few months
• Monitor and record only, no stream - no change
• Monitor only, no record or stream - no change
• Swapping capture device
  • Was using an Elgato CamLink, also tried using Magewell USB Capture HDMI and a Magewell USB capture AIO which normally is used for video feed only.

Many of the threads I found relate to Windows, so some suggestions I'm unsure how/if I can change such as installing or using a different audio codec. Older posts mention increasing the buffer but apparently that's automatically managed now. The log shows that the buffer was increased at every time I hear the audio stutter. Sounds like a skipping CD, not choppy(drop outs) or out of sync.

Maybe I'm just taxing my system by the number of sources I use across the stream? Any help or recommendations are appreciated!