Elgato Audio Double Up Issue Please Help

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BoostKingTV

New Member
Hi,
I have an audio duplication issue with OBS.
I have an internal 4k60 Pro MK2. The audio in OBS is set to "output and monitor"
I have the desktop audio sound channel, also set to "output and monitor"

In my PC control panel I have disabled everything on the Playback side and the Recording Side, except for hte following:
Recording side - Microphone
Playback Side - Headphones.

As I play I listen to everything on my headphones.

WHat I noticed is when I stream, the audio doubles (ever so slightly) and sounds echoey. When I mute the Desktop Audio channel, its fine, the double up goes away. However I need that channel activated for my stream sounds and discord.

In OBS I have also set the following:
Audio Setttings / Advanced / Monitoring device is set to "Speakers/headphones"

Under Global Audio Devices, desktop audio is set to Speakers/headphones as well, ie nothing is set to just default.

Any help is appreciated as its driving me made as to what can be causing it.

The only thing I will also add is under audio advanced properties each device also has the checkboxes 1 2 3 4 5 6 all selected? Not sure it that means anything.

If you need more info please ask, not sure what else to add, I have gone over these forums and you tube to the point I have lost my mind, hence now posting here hoping for a solution. Thanks everyone.
 
carlmmii

carlmmii

Active Member
Don't monitor desktop output. It's already going to your headphones, and monitoring it would duplicate that same output again to your headphones... but OBS actually prevents this due to that positive feedback loop happening.

For your capture audio, what's happening is OBS is actually capturing the audio directly via the "output" option. If you have Monitor as well, then that audio will also be sent to your desktop audio. If you don't capture desktop audio, then the capture audio will sound fine -- it's only being included once. But because you're also recording desktop audio, that's where the duplicate audio comes in.

Considering you want to have the capture audio output to the desktop audio, you need to set your capture to "Monitor only". Also, set your desktop audio back to just "output only".

The checkboxes 1 2 3 4 5 6 only matter for multitrack audio -- if you're not messing with that, then just leave everything checked.
 
B

BoostKingTV

New Member
carlmmii said:
Don't monitor desktop output. It's already going to your headphones, and monitoring it would duplicate that same output again to your headphones... but OBS actually prevents this due to that positive feedback loop happening.

For your capture audio, what's happening is OBS is actually capturing the audio directly via the "output" option. If you have Monitor as well, then that audio will also be sent to your desktop audio. If you don't capture desktop audio, then the capture audio will sound fine -- it's only being included once. But because you're also recording desktop audio, that's where the duplicate audio comes in.

Considering you want to have the capture audio output to the desktop audio, you need to set your capture to "Monitor only". Also, set your desktop audio back to just "output only".

The checkboxes 1 2 3 4 5 6 only matter for multitrack audio -- if you're not messing with that, then just leave everything checked.
Click to expand...

Hi, I took your advice and set the game capture audio to "monitor only" and it worked! No audio duplication now! I did a test recording with it on and off and yep, that was the issue. Thanks very much, you have made my day! Merry Xmas as well.

Regarding this comment "Also, set your desktop audio back to just "output only"", I didnt change this, its set to monitor and output which seems to be fine as far as I can tell. Hope thats ok?
 
carlmmii

carlmmii

Active Member
As I mentioned, OBS is saving you on this one. It's not allowing your desktop output to be monitored, as that would create an infinite loop. Imagine sticking a microphone up to a loudspeaker that it's hooked up to... same deal.

So while technically it doesn't matter since OBS is preventing it from happening, if your audio setup changes then it may become a problem later once it's forgotten.
 
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BoostKingTV

New Member
carlmmii said:
As I mentioned, OBS is saving you on this one. It's not allowing your desktop output to be monitored, as that would create an infinite loop. Imagine sticking a microphone up to a loudspeaker that it's hooked up to... same deal.

So while technically it doesn't matter since OBS is preventing it from happening, if your audio setup changes then it may become a problem later once it's forgotten.
Click to expand...
Hi just to clarify the desktop audio should be set to Monitor Only (Mute Output)
 
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BoostKingTV

New Member
Ok, I set Desktop Audio to "Monitor Off"
I set my Eglator to Monitor Only (mute output).

I can now hear everthing perfecto. I think we got there!
 
S

SwirlyStreams

New Member
Hello!

This is much later than this post but you have perfectly described my issue but in stream labs OBS - I’m really hoping these steps will help me as well.

Question - from a PC sound settings standpoint, am I okay setting my default output to my headphones? That feels like the step that must be messing me
Up bc I have seen other posts mention that the monitoring and output is my problem, but every combination all leads to my desktop audio still including my el gato audio
 
A

AaronD

Active Member
SwirlyStreams said:
...but in stream labs OBS...
Click to expand...
This is not Streamlabs. SL took OBS and modified it themselves, and confusingly still call it OBS. We can't support what they did to it. Ask them instead.

For *our* version at least - and probably theirs too because I suspect it's an OS thing or maybe even hardware, not OBS - the Desktop Capture is practically the absolute last thing before the signal leaves the physical box. It's after the final mixer and volume control, and even after any speaker-specific processing that you might have "in-the-box". It really is EVERYTHING that comes out of that device, with a pedantic definition of "everything". If you don't want something to come back, either don't send it to that device *at all*, by *any* means, or don't Desktop Capture that device.

SwirlyStreams said:
Question - from a PC sound settings standpoint, am I okay setting my default output to my headphones?
Click to expand...
"Default" is simply the device that the OS is set to use when an app doesn't specify. The vast majority of the time, it's a liability for media production because the OS can and does change that selection automatically without warning or indication, except that a different device now fills that role. This can easily cause things to "suddenly not work anymore" when nobody changed anything...because a "Default" source is now looking at a different device. So don't use "Default". Always change that setting to a specific device *in OBS*. Then it will always be that device, and the OS's selection - manual or automatic - doesn't matter.
 
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