Audio stuttering

[NinthWave]

With the Covid-19, I had to convert myself for online teaching.

Everything works fine except the audio is stuttering.

I looked on the forum and read old topics about a codec integrated with itunes. I uninstalled itunes and reinstall it, same for OBS. The audio is still bad so I just don't know where else to look.

Last session log

 

[Sukiyucky]

07:45:11.893: Device 'Écouteurs MPOW (Mpow HC)' invalidated. Retrying
07:45:12.953: Device 'Microphone Casque (Mpow HC)' invalidated. Retrying
07:45:15.036: WASAPI: Device 'Écouteurs MPOW (Mpow HC)' [48000 Hz] initialized
07:45:15.987: WASAPI: Device 'Microphone Casque (Mpow HC)' [44100 Hz] initialized

You got something going on with your Mpow HC audio device. Go update the audio device drivers for it or if you are using the motherboard's built in audio interface, go to the manufacturer and update the drivers.

Notice above the microphone is operating at 44100 Hz and the Écouteurs MPOW is at 48000 Hz.
Your OBS Studio audio sampling rate is 441000 Hz so there can be sync issues.
Ideally, you want them all to be operating at the same sampling rate.

Your OBS audio sampling rate is set at 44.1Hz

11:52:34.146: audio settings reset: 441000 Hz
11:52:34.146: samples per sec: 44100
11:52:34.146: speakers: 2

Let's get everything to sync at 44.1khz to see if the problem goes away. Do these steps:

• Type 'sound settings' in the Cortana search box
• Along the right side is a link to 'Sound Control Panel'
• Click it and then for each playback and recording device you are using, right click the audio device to bring up Properties
• In the Advanced tab is the Default Format drop down box
• Choose 44100 Hz for all of the audio devices you are using so they operate at one baseline setting

 

[NinthWave]

07:45:11.893: Device 'Écouteurs MPOW (Mpow HC)' invalidated. Retrying
07:45:12.953: Device 'Microphone Casque (Mpow HC)' invalidated. Retrying
07:45:15.036: WASAPI: Device 'Écouteurs MPOW (Mpow HC)' [48000 Hz] initialized
07:45:15.987: WASAPI: Device 'Microphone Casque (Mpow HC)' [44100 Hz] initialized

You got something going on with your Mpow HC audio device. Go update the audio device drivers for it or if you are using the motherboard's built in audio interface, go to the manufacturer and update the drivers.

Notice above the microphone is operating at 44100 Hz and the Écouteurs MPOW is at 48000 Hz.
Your OBS Studio audio sampling rate is 441000 Hz so there can be sync issues.
Ideally, you want them all to be operating at the same sampling rate.

Your OBS audio sampling rate is set at 44.1Hz

11:52:34.146: audio settings reset: 441000 Hz
11:52:34.146: samples per sec: 44100
11:52:34.146: speakers: 2

Let's get everything to sync at 44.1khz to see if the problem goes away. Do these steps:

• Type 'sound settings' in the Cortana search box
• Along the right side is a link to 'Sound Control Panel'
• Click it and then for each playback and recording device you are using, right click the audio device to bring up Properties
• In the Advanced tab is the Default Format drop down box
• Choose 44100 Hz for all of the audio devices you are using so they operate at one baseline setting

Thanks for your quick reply.

I did that and it is still doing the same.

Here is the updated log

Here is a short video

https://imgur.com/xS9egim

 

[Sukiyucky]

MPow is a USB/RCA headphone/mic combination, right?

Did you go to your motherboard manufacturer and download the current audio drivers before you ran the test? If not, please do so.

After you have installed the current motherboard audio drivers, do these two tests:

1. Test using the RCA 3.5mm jack only into the RCA jack into the computer
2. Test using the RCA plug into the control box and use USB into the computer. This to test if the control box is defected. Do not use any USB hub. Go directly into the back of the USB port of the computer.

OBS Audio Settings

General

• Sample Rate: 44.1
  Channels: Stereo

Devices

• Desktop Audio: Disabled (disabled because you will hear everything in the audio monitoring device which is the MPow headphones)
• Desktop Audio 2: Disabled
• Mic/Auxiliary Audio: Should be to your MPow mic which correlates with your Windows Sound Panel Recording default)
• Mic/Auxiliary Audio 2: Disabled
• Mic/Auxiliary Audio 3: Disabled
• Mic/Auxiliary Audio 4: Disabled

The default playback device set in Windows Sound Panel should be your MPow headphones.

Advanced

• Monitoring Device: Should be to your MPow headphone
• Disable Windows audio ducking: Checked

 

[NinthWave]

I updated the driver. No change.
I recorded using the microphone on my logitech USB camera: no stutter

I tried to connect the headset in the PC front 3.5mm jack for microphone
Please note that I do not have a Y splitter for connecting the mic and earphones separately.
A device is detected
I set it as a microphone.
There is no "input" coming from the microphone BUT from the earphones. If I tap on the earphones, the VU meters show signal. If I tap the microphone, nothing.
Should I understand that this is a really cheap combination headset that I should replace or should I find a Y splitter to try the MIC part bypassing the USB control box?

Thanks

 

[Sukiyucky]

It could be anything. Audio chipset, poorly written audio drivers, low quality audio interface panel, even the headset/mic itself.

If you want to produce better audio, its best to spend a little for audio equipment. At the top of my head this will be a better audio solution that will give you better quality. I'd call it semi Pro audio equipment for hobbyist use. Its good enough:

• USB Audio Interface: Presonus Audio Box or FocusRite Scarlett 2i2 Gen 3
• Mic: Audio-Technica XLR 2020 or MXL 770
• Headphones: Beyerdynamic 240 Pro or Audio Technica M30X

 

[NinthWave]

So I confirmed that the MPOW USB control box is either defective or just crap.

I realized that the son-in-law has a combination headset with split 3.5mm connector and it works flawlessly if I use the splitter along with my own headset. And it is not OBS specific. Just monitoring the microphone is enough to hear the regular beat every 2-3 seconds. Even my logitech webcam gives better result than this crap headset.

Damn, I am not a Youtuber, just a teacher who needs to record quality audio. Now I should buy a quality microphone and an audio interface....

Thanks again @Sukiyucky , your input helped me resolve the case.

 

[Sukiyucky]

Your welcome. Glad to help.