Help With Audio

L

loswedgies

New Member
I'm brand new to OBS Studio. I'm trying to get things working. The video stuff is fine - I can record input from my camera and I can record actions on the computer screen. But I am having problems with audio - both inputs and outputs. I can't record mic input or speaker output.

I have a Tascam US-1800 interface. It works fine everywhere else on my computer except OBS Studio. I use the Reaper DAW, for example, and the Tascam has always worked fine there. But in OBS Studio, when I go to select the Tascam in "Audio Input Capture" there is no sound coming in. There is no signal on the level meter. As a test I selected the mic on my Brio camera and I *do* get audio levels. But the Brio's sound is pretty bad so I want to use the Tascam. And anyway that wouldn't solve my problem of not being able to record speaker output.

One thing I don't understand is why there is only one input available for the Tascam. It has 14 audio inputs. Reaper, for example, gives me the choice of all 14 inputs. But OBS Studio has one Tascam input option: "Line In (TASCAM US-1800)". How does OBS know which input I have my mic plugged into?

I've tried reading a bunch of advice. I've reinstalled the Tascam drivers. But nothing has worked yet. Anyway, I'd be appreciative if someone could help me with the problem.

Thanks!
 
The issue is that many DAW's must bypass the Windows Audio subsystem due to its limitations.
OBS Studio on Windows natively uses the Windows Audio subsystem. So part of your frustration is the discrepancy between physical interfaces and Windows Audio sub-system and what it can see...

So... getting DAW output into OBS Studio has been a 'challenge' for a long time (forever?)
Your basic options
- get a DAW that has Windows Audio output (not direct to physical interface, as you can't capture that)... or get into what is often non-default settings to enable such
- sometimes a ASIO driver/adapter will suffice... depends
- a physical loopback adapter (take physical audio output and via cable/adapter, route back as an input)... downside if multiple digital / analog conversions in the process, with associated potential for noise depending on setup (electronic noise in motherboard area is not something to overlook)
- a virtual loopback adapter
- using a VST or similar plugin approach to route audio from DAW to a 3rd party plugin on OBS Studio

The general rule of thumb for more sophisticated on Windows has been - keep all audio processing (including compression) outside OBS Studio... and only bring in the final output into OBS Studio (ie, keep audio processing in OBS Studio to an absolute minimum). BUT... ymmv .. it depends... etc
 
maybe, not simple... but do a search on Reaper DAW to OBS Studio.. especially references to Reaper's Reastream audio VST plugin

then again - I didn't check accuracy of Ai result but searching for 'Reaper DAW output to windows audio' had native options listed (1 direct, 1 using ASIO)

so not easy button, but not that difficult... LOTS of discussion of options and approaches in recent years, especially after pandemic lockdown started (geez, can you believe) almost 6 years ago

Your challenge - using Windows Audio is probably easier.... HOWEVER... it is also potentially problematic.. this is a pick your poison scenario. Windows Audio not built for real-time quality and consistency (basically general office and good enough audio only)... but other options require some technical expertise to maintain

I'd love if OBS Studio had native support for ASIO, NDI, etc... but I get why it doesn't... and I'm not complaining (much ;^). Personally, I'd be more than ok with a moderately priced version of OBS Studio that included some of those interfaces natively...
 
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