Muffled audio issue due to Windows 11 Audio Enhancements

DakotaFST

New Member
Been through a lot of forums, reddit posts, etc. I tried every fix I could find and none of them are working in a manner that I will accept, so hopefully there are enough people that found the correct fix to help me with this.
I am recording game footage in OBS and editing it in Resolve. I have a HyperX Cloud headset with their simulated 7.1 channel Surround sound. I found that when I disable that system and either use my desktop speakers, or the headset, I can record audio without any distortions or issues, and when I re-enable the Kingston 7.1 effects, the audio is identical (played recording of game from Steam next to recording from OBS). Problem is, I don't want to have bad audio quality while playing the game (hence the HyperX headset), and I don't want muffled audio to be recorded from OBS. I have already attempted using both of the Beta options for Application Audio capture, and the results are the same.
No, I am not using a bluetooth headset. No, I am not using the HyperX's microphone. All audio sources are disabled in the Global Audio Devices except for my standalone mic.
Issue is present with both Desktop Audio being recorded, and with Application capture recorded. Yes, I disabled the one I was not testing to make sure I wasn't doubling the audio.
I would try setting the audio recording to be 7.1 to match the simulated headset, but I can't figure out what codec it gets saved as to allow my Windows 11 PC to play the audio (which it apparently needs to do in order for Resolve to be able to load the audio tracks).
https://obsproject.com/forum/thread...o-driver-is-turned-off-possibly-a-bug.153628/ is the same bug that I am dealing with, or at least the audio he provided is the exact same distortion/compression.
https://obsproject.com/logs/VDUJaFPsDU6EChZz - Current logs from last attempt at fixing settings.
I'm glad I double recorded this session with Steam so I have a clean recording to work with, but loosing OBS's multi track system is a bummer.
 
All audio enhancements must be disabled.

As far as surround, OBS works best with discrete audio.

Capture of Dolby can be tricky if the channels are lumped into two PCM channels; in order to be decoded correctly and encoded all the channels should be held in different PCM channels.

 
All audio enhancements must be disabled.

As far as surround, OBS works best with discrete audio.

Capture of Dolby can be tricky if the channels are lumped into two PCM channels; in order to be decoded correctly and encoded all the channels should be held in different PCM channels.

How is the Application Audio capture affected by the audio enhancements for 1 specific output device, that OBS is told to ignore? Again, the recording from Steam's capture is completely fine, crisp, and clear.
OBS audio: https://youtube.com/shorts/iqkVBHsGrtk?feature=share
Steam Audio: https://youtube.com/shorts/Tg8QKEiBd24?feature=share
Nothing done in post between the 2. Same character, same line, same music and sfx.
 
I never bothered trying this plugin & I'm not sure if it's even viable anymore, as this version was released back in July 2022. You may want to test without it being in the way.

20:44:03.095: [win-capture-audio] Version 2.2.3 (74323e6)
 
Again, Audio Enhancements must be disabled.
That's not an answer to any of the questions. If it "must" be disabled, then I want to know why OBS is not capable of capturing the same audio that Steam is. I understand that it is some form of technical limitation, but if I'm going to have to deal with horrible audio in my $80 headset while recording, then I want to understand why the limitation is there when another program doesn't have it. Without the audio enhancements, the sound is hollow and flat.
 
I never bothered trying this plugin & I'm not sure if it's even viable anymore, as this version was released back in July 2022. You may want to test without it being in the way.

20:44:03.095: [win-capture-audio] Version 2.2.3 (74323e6)
I tried both with that plugin and without it. Neither form of application audio capture produced sound similar to Steam's recording.
 
You will need to wait for those answers. Over 10 years ago, I tested OBS both ways, with & without enhancements, enhancements didn't work, I moved on without them being used. Never used Steam's app so I can't comment there either.
 
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