Question / Help No audio in games.

[Xandros]

I have OBS Studio set up mostly to default except I initally set it to record with hardware encoding, capture everything at 1920x1080 at 60fps with a decent bitrate of 25000. I figure my rig can handle it and it seems OK. The only thing I've changed from the default with the audio is increasing the bitrate to 320.

However I get no sound in any games. I've tried using default settings all around, also various other settings for audio such asd changing from default to my speakers and so on, I've had a look at the sound mixer (in Windows, not OBS) and various audio settings to do with my x-fi sound drivers but I can't figure out why it won't record any audio. The Desktop captures audio fine, I get all the usual bleeps and boops from Windows coming out. It's just the games.

There's one exception to this though, the game Unreal, and oldie but a great (imo). When I start that OBS records the music that plays in the game absolutely perfectly but nothing else (so there are no sound effects, just music). Weird I know.

I've no idea what's going on here. Here's my log:

22:46:09.796: CPU Name: AMD FX-8370 Eight-Core Processor   
22:46:09.796: CPU Speed: 4013MHz
22:46:09.796: Physical Cores: 4, Logical Cores: 8
22:46:09.796: Physical Memory: 16280MB Total, 13651MB Free (NOTE: 32bit programs cannot use more than 3gb)
22:46:09.796: Windows Version: 10.0 Build 14393 (revision: 969; 64-bit)
22:46:09.796: Running as administrator: false
22:46:09.797: Aero is Enabled (Aero is always on for windows 8 and above)
22:46:09.797: Portable mode: false
22:46:09.809: OBS 18.0.1 (windows)
22:46:09.809: ---------------------------------
22:46:09.809: ---------------------------------
22:46:09.810: audio settings reset:
22:46:09.810:    samples per sec: 44100
22:46:09.810:    speakers:  2
22:46:09.812: ---------------------------------
22:46:09.812: Initializing D3D11..
22:46:09.812: Available Video Adapters:
22:46:09.815:    Adapter 1: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
22:46:09.815:     Dedicated VRAM: 3221225472
22:46:09.815:     Shared VRAM:  1073676288
22:46:09.815:     output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}, attached=true
22:46:09.819: Loading up D3D11 on adapter NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (0)
22:46:09.844: D3D11 loaded sucessfully, feature level used: 45056
22:46:10.828: ---------------------------------
22:46:10.828: video settings reset:
22:46:10.828:    base resolution:  1920x1080
22:46:10.828:    output resolution: 1920x1080
22:46:10.828:    downscale filter:  Bicubic
22:46:10.828:    fps:  60/1
22:46:10.828:    format:  NV12
22:46:10.830: Audio monitoring device:
22:46:10.830:    name: Default
22:46:10.830:    id: default
22:46:10.830: ---------------------------------
22:46:10.840: [CoreAudio encoder]: Adding CoreAudio AAC encoder
22:46:10.841: [AMF Encoder] Unable to load 'amfrt32.dll', error code 126.
22:46:10.847: NVENC supported
22:46:10.909: Couldn't find VLC installation, VLC video source disabled
22:46:10.916: No blackmagic support
22:46:10.969: ---------------------------------
22:46:10.969:  Loaded Modules:
22:46:10.969:  win-wasapi.dll
22:46:10.969:  win-mf.dll
22:46:10.969:  win-dshow.dll
22:46:10.969:  win-decklink.dll
22:46:10.969:  win-capture.dll
22:46:10.969:  vlc-video.dll
22:46:10.969:  text-freetype2.dll
22:46:10.969:  rtmp-services.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-x264.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-vst.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-transitions.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-text.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-qsv11.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-outputs.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-filters.dll
22:46:10.969:  obs-ffmpeg.dll
22:46:10.969:  image-source.dll
22:46:10.969:  frontend-tools.dll
22:46:10.969:  enc-amf.dll
22:46:10.969:  coreaudio-encoder.dll
22:46:10.969: ==== Startup complete ===============================================
22:46:10.982: Service '' not found
22:46:10.984: All scene data cleared
22:46:10.984: ------------------------------------------------
22:46:11.029: WASAPI: Device 'Speakers (Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1)' initialized
22:46:11.046: WASAPI: Device 'Microphone (Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1)' initialized
22:46:11.049: adding 23 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 23 milliseconds
22:46:11.052: Switched to scene 'Scene'
22:46:11.052: ------------------------------------------------
22:46:11.052: Loaded scenes:
22:46:11.052: - scene 'Scene':
22:46:11.052:  - source: 'Display Capture' (monitor_capture)
22:46:11.052: ------------------------------------------------
22:46:18.872: rtmp-common.c: [initialize_output] Could not find service ''
22:46:18.873: rtmp-common.c: [initialize_output] Could not find service ''
22:46:18.873: ---------------------------------
22:46:18.874: [NVENC encoder: 'simple_h264_stream'] settings:
22:46:18.874:    rate_control: CBR
22:46:18.874:    bitrate:  25000
22:46:18.874:    cqp:  0
22:46:18.874:    keyint:  250
22:46:18.874:    preset:  default
22:46:18.874:    profile:  main
22:46:18.874:    level:  auto
22:46:18.874:    width:  1920
22:46:18.874:    height:  1080
22:46:18.874:    2-pass:  true
22:46:18.874:    b-frames:  2
22:46:18.874:    GPU:  0
22:46:18.874:
22:46:19.356: [CoreAudio AAC: 'simple_aac']: settings:
22:46:19.356:    mode:  AAC
22:46:19.356:    bitrate:  320
22:46:19.356:    sample rate:  44100
22:46:19.356:    cbr:  on
22:46:19.356:    output buffer: 1536
22:46:19.361: ==== Recording Start ===============================================
22:46:19.361: [ffmpeg muxer: 'simple_file_output'] Writing file 'C:/Users/Xan/Videos/2017-04-07 22-46-18.mkv'...
22:46:53.145: [ffmpeg muxer: 'simple_file_output'] Output of file 'C:/Users/Xan/Videos/2017-04-07 22-46-18.mkv' stopped
22:46:53.145: Output 'simple_file_output': stopping
22:46:53.145: Output 'simple_file_output': Total encoded frames: 2026
22:46:53.145: Output 'simple_file_output': Total drawn frames: 2027
22:46:53.145: Output 'simple_file_output': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 6 (0.3%)
22:46:53.145: ==== Recording Stop ================================================

This is from me recording briefly as I start one game with no audio and then run Unreal and quit and stop recording using my settings. As I say though I tried it with the default ones before too and I get the same problem.

 

[Xandros]

I've now tried reinstalling OBS using default settings. I've tried messing around with different sources, I've tried a bunch of different combinations of audio settings. I've even messed around trying diabling/enabling different bits of the hardware in the configuration for my sound card. Nothing seems to work.

The *ONLY* thing that I've come to notice is that by default in OBS the audio mix has Desktop audio and Mic/Aux in it. When no sound is being played Desktop audio is dead, there's no reaction from the audio level indicator, but the Mic/Aux level indiactor has a constant bit of green in it as if it's constantly picking up audio (might just be intefearence I know but I don't have a Mic plugged in to the sound card).

Also when I had the games running windowed, I noticed that the Mic/Aux level indicator was reacting as if it was picking up audio when I played around in the game, not by a whole lot but it definitely didn't seem to to be just random (ie I make a gun shoot in game and the level would increase more than just the small level it was hovering around initially).

 

[Suslik V]

Can you configure your speakers as stereo?

...ie I make a gun shoot in game and the level would increase more than just the small level it was hovering around initially...

Caused by bad shielding (including mic screen).

 

[Xandros]

Yea they are set to stereo in both OBS (which it was by default) and my sound control panel.

Edit: I've tested a few more games, Minecraft works fine. Alien Isolation works fine. The sims 4 works fine. Bioshock (not the remastered edition but the original), does exactly the same as Unreal in as much as you can hear music but nothing else in the recording. The other two games that have no sound at all are DEFCON and Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl so both old games. I have DEFCON set up with Creative Alchemy incidentally but it's the only one that is. I do have another slightly more recent game that uses Alchemy (Amnesia The Dark Decent) but I'd need to install it to test it.

 

[Suslik V]

This driver: http://danielkawakami.blogspot.com/2017/01/sb-x-fi-series-support-pack-40.html or official one? I'm just wondering.

I think, the issue related to the device driver.

 

[Xandros]

I do use his pack yes, though not 4.0 but one of his previous ones (I didn't even realise he'd made a new one - he's been on hiatus for over a year). I don't think his packs install unofficial drivers though, at least not for my sound card (prelude), all his packs seem to install the same driver version: 2.14.0001.28 RefCD5 - which I believe was originally released officially by Auzentech back in 2011, so technically, they are official. His packs are good for easily installing those old drivers on newer versions of Windows since the old official driver packages only supported Windows 7 and below and of course have older versions of Creative's software.

You mentioning the drivers though got me to look in the device manager just to make sure there weren't any problems with the prelude, and I've noticed that alongside my prelude device, a "High Definition Audio Device" has appeared. I've got my mobo's internal audio disabled from the BIOS so I've no idea how or why the hell that showed up no doubt Windows Update being a tricky bastard again by installing drivers I don't need or want. I've disabled it and uninstalled it and I'll restart and see what happens. Could well have been the culprit (I'm not holding my breath for it to be that easy quite frankly but you never know).

 

[Xandros]

Needless to say that didn't work. Turned out it was my nvidia graphics card and the nvidia hd audio drivers.

However I have discovered something possibly promising. I couldn't get over the Mic/Aux track in the OBS mixer indicating sound - I loaded up Unreal in windowed mode and played the first level briefly which doesn't have much music but it has lots of sound effects. I know you said it's just improper shielding but that Mic/Aux audio level indicator in the mixer goes mad when there are explosions and what not happening.

When I play the video back. I hear nothing. Except the reason I hear nothing is because the sound is really really quiet! I jacked my speakers up to their max volume and low and behold, I can hear the sound effects! Then I nearly blew my head off when the music kicked in.

So, there's something at least. It is recording all the audio just, most of it really quietly for some reason. Also it sounded a rather poor quality but that might just be because it was so quiet and I had to have the speakers jacked right up.

Any ideas?

 

[Suslik V]

Remove your sound card from the PC and enable motherboard's one. Install latest drivers and try again with build-in solution. If this helps - then X-Fi device too old for your task.

 

[Xandros]

I didn't want to do that, but I did, and the problem is fixed. Shame. Might be ten years old with five year old drivers but that Prelude was the best damn sound card I've ever had.

 

[Xandros]

OK only me again, sorry if I'm getting on your nerves but I have discovered the reason for my issues and it's not my audio drivers, it's creative Alchemy. I think. Well anyway basically I decided to do a clean wipe of my system and reinstall a few basics to test.

So, fresh install of Windows 10 Pro, latest nvidia drivers, and also support pack 4 for my sound card that was link to before (thanks for that btw). Installed OBS Studio and also DEFCON just to test it.

Ran Obs, didn't bother changing any settings I just went with the defaults. Added display capture source. Started recording, started up DEFCON set it up and played around for a feew seconds then quit. Amazingly, playing the video back I got sound recorded in OBS! I was somewhat gobsmacked, then I remembered I hadn't enabled Creative Alchemy which DEFCON needs to gain hardware sound acceleration (otherwise it defaults to software emulated acceleration which is no where near as good).

So, when I enabled DEFCON in Alchemy and then recorded with OBS, guess what? No sound. Well.. Actually that's not true, there is sound as I discovered last time - it's just really really quiet (beyond ridiculously quiet, I have to pretty much triple the volume on my speakers to be able to hear anything).

I don't know why exactly, but I think Alchemy must have glitched right out at some point before, that's why I wasn't getting sound in a lot of games (because I was testing games that I don't even use - or need to use - with alchemy and not getting any sound). But with a clean system wipe and fresh installs of the drivers and software like alchemy it's working as properly again and has shown to be the true culprit here.

So... Well I don't know where to go from here. Obviously if I want to record audio in OBS with one of these games I just need to disable it's alchemy setting and I'll have to put up with the software emulated sound but I'm just putting it out there that clearly OBS isn't compatible with Alchemy (in case anyone else comes across this, or indeed if maybe a developer wants to chime in).