Game Audio Captured Through Headphones Instead of OBS Source?

[kiersstenn]

Hello all,

I've recently started streaming a new game (played via Steam, if that helps). As usual, I set up an application audio capture source in OBS to manage the game's audio separately, as I do for all my applications. However, I’m running into an issue I’ve never encountered before.

The audio source I created isn’t controlling the game’s audio or volume. Even when I mute or adjust the volume in OBS, my stream doesn’t reflect any changes. I tried deleting the source entirely, but the game audio was still audible on the stream, which left me confused as to where OBS was capturing the sound from.

Later, my headphones disconnected, and suddenly, neither I nor my stream could hear the game audio anymore. This makes me think that somehow OBS is capturing the game audio through my headphones instead of the correct source.

Does anyone know why this might be happening or how I can fix it so OBS captures the game audio properly through the designated source? I’m fairly new to OBS and haven’t been able to find a solution. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[koala]

If you're also capturing your desktop audio, and the game is playing back its audio on your desktop audio device, OBS will record this. Check your Settings > Audio > Global audio sources.
By the way, game capture has the feature to also capture the audio of the game it is capturing. No need for a separate application audio capture.

 

[kiersstenn]

If you're also capturing your desktop audio, and the game is playing back its audio on your desktop audio device, OBS will record this. Check your Settings > Audio > Global audio sources.
By the way, game capture has the feature to also capture the audio of the game it is capturing. No need for a separate application audio capture.

Hi! Thank you for the response.

I do have a desktop audio source but i keep it muted. Here are screenshots of the settings you mentioned as well as my desktop audio source. In all of my streams where I have been having this issue my desktop audio has been muted but maybe its still capturing it somehow? And if so is there a way to turn this off so it is captured through the game audio source instead?

As for the game capture source, i do not use this. I use display capture as I like to have all of my audio sources separate and adjust individual volumes as needed. More so than that I have some sources separate so I can remove them from my vod tracks (like Spotify or music I'm playing) so my vods so not get flagged for copyright on twitch.

Would it be recommended to just use game capture instead? And just use separate sources for my music applications and such? And if so can the volume on that game capture source be adjusted if needed.

 

[AaronD]

I do have a desktop audio source but i keep it muted. Here are screenshots of the settings you mentioned as well as my desktop audio source. In all of my streams where I have been having this issue my desktop audio has been muted but maybe its still capturing it somehow? And if so is there a way to turn this off so it is captured through the game audio source instead?
View attachment 107614View attachment 107615

If you always keep it muted, it's better to set it to Disabled instead, so you don't even have it in the first place.

I don't think that'll solve your original problem, but it does keep a different one from happening, if you were to somehow end up with it unmuted...

 

[AaronD]

I tried deleting the source entirely, but the game audio was still audible on the stream, which left me confused as to where OBS was capturing the sound from.

Later, my headphones disconnected, and suddenly, neither I nor my stream could hear the game audio anymore. This makes me think that somehow OBS is capturing the game audio through my headphones instead of the correct source.

Normally, that would be classic behavior for the Desktop source. But you say it's always muted.

I wonder if you found a bug, so that your Desktop source is actually used, even when the meter and mute button say it's off. If so, then Disabling it like I said before should fix it.

 

[kiersstenn]

Normally, that would be classic behavior for the Desktop source. But you say it's always muted.

I wonder if you found a bug, so that your Desktop source is actually used, even when the meter and mute button say it's off. If so, then Disabling it like I said before should fix it.

hi thank you for your help! I will try disabling the desktop audio.

My only concern is when I was trying to use an application audio capture source in OBS originally for the game it was not controlling the game audio at all. Even when I muted or adjusted the volume in OBS for the source, my stream didn't reflect any changes. Could this be because it was picking up the desktop audio and me disabling the desktop audio will allow the audio capture source to work?