OBS 26.0.2 Virtual Cable / Focusrite / Zoom / VoiceMeeter / Sound routing issues

[Alex L.]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I’d like to thank you in advance for your input. I’m running into problems which I find myself unable to resolve even after days of trial by error and reading a lot of posts here and on reddit forums

I’ll forego flowerish expressions of my frustrations, and get to my situation. First I’ll illustrate my situation, then list my hardware and finally explain my problem.

I’m currently a music teacher and conductor and I’m using OBS as a means to keep my choirs together and engaged during the pandemic measures. A big part of my livelihood has been severely compromised by the covid19 constrictions and through OBS I’m still able to work and make it look reasonably professional (and that greatly helps to keep people committed). Interactivity and sense of ‘group’ is provided via Zoom as all choir members are connected (Zoom) while they watch the stream on a second screen or window.

Through OBS, I’m conducting my choir members as they sing along with prerecorded songs of our repertoire. I’ve streamed via YouTube before, but because of setup issues that require tedious handwork, I’ve switched to Twitch, which is basically push-the-button and go. The conducting factor means that minimal latency between video and audio is a prerequisite for success.

During better times, i’ve accumulated a lot of hardware (some is on loan) that can be used and while old, they still work great. (I’m not in a position to replace unless absolutely required to continue.):

-OBS on windows laptop (Hasswell i7 4700MQ @ 2,4ghz with 16GB RAM)
- about 30 scenes 15 different sources in OBS
- Airserver app to capture sheet music display on iPad pro via airplay (source in OBS)
-4x Camera via 3 HDMI capture cards and 1 iphone to OBS via lightning to USB
-Phonic Helixboard 12 plus (USB audio interface) used purely analogue (it’s so old its lacking win10 drivers) analogue stereo out via 1/4” Jack
- Stage piano connected via analogue stereo 1/4" jack to helixboard mixer
- Microphone connected via analogue XLR to helixboard mixer
- iPad used as soundboard connected via analogue stereo mini-jack to the helixboard mixer
-Focusrite Scarlet 18i20 (2nd Gen) audio interface via USB (using the stereo analogue-outs from the helixboard)
-Streamdeck for scene switching, stream control and hue lighting)
- Livestream via Twitch, no internal recording via OBS.

And now the problems:

OBS and Windows are able to use my Focusrite USB audio interface for i/o. This means I get to monitor my analogue inputs direct via the Focusrite monitor with near zero latency. In OBS, focusrite is used as Mic/Aux input and sends it to the stream. In this setup, I’ve streamed since March 2019 and it works. However, I am unable to monitor sound sources from OBS. Any source media gets sent to the stream, but cannot be monitored via focusrite. From what I’ve learned over here, OBS blocks sources that might create (what in analogue days would be called) a feedback loupe. So I assume I am able to monitor all analogue audio sources connected via the USB interface via the hardware, but not via the software i/o via OBS, Windows, etc.

Now, with the onset of the virtual Camera I’m looking into possibly moving from a streaming platform altogether and just use Zoom / Teams for my activities. And this is obviously where the problems start. Like most, the video part is easy and solved.

In terms of audio, this is where the music ends, sadly. I’ve followed instructions on how to use virtual audio cables to and from zoom (purchased the VB ones from that French dude), downloaded the Voicemeeter software (all three versions I believe), and Now I’m completely lost, because most tutorials, youtube videos and forum posts only cover in/out from zoom to OBS and viceversa, but not my added step of using the focusrite apparatus to monitor. I think I got zoom/OBS connected as per available instructions, however, I’ve lost the ability to get input from focusrite, which is my main input into OBS for live content.

Basically my desired setup, if at all possible:

• Send synced audio/video to stream with combination of analogue/software inputs.
• Simultaneously send synced audio/video to zoom / teams / etc. (and include in stream)
• Monitor OBS sound from software sources (media) via headphone connected to focusrite
• Monitor my analogue inputs via same headphone connected to focusrite

I realize OBS is freeware, perhaps open source. That means support is based on volunteers and there is no such thing as a help desk one can call or a technician that can be sent over. Furthermore, I realize that over here, there are many people with questions and few with answers. As such, I expect nothing, but I would greatly appreciate any input that can be given. Perhaps what I would wish is impossible, or maybe it’s very simple and I’m just an idiot, lol. Anyway, here it is… hope you can help.

 

[Alex L.]

Thank you for your reply.

I've gotten VoiceMeeter (Banana) to work in such way that my analogues are routed via Focusrite to OBS Mic/Aux. Likewise, I've managed to route OBS monitoring to my Focusrite/Headphones. I haven't gotten to work on zoom/team connections just yet.

However, no I've come into new problems. The sound that is routed via the Focusrite is extremely choppy, as if there isn't enough bandwidth on the connection. During the livestream the computer sources (direct to livestream from OBS) sound fine, but the Focusrite analogue inputs sound choppy/skipping over the livestream. Likewise, monitoring OBS out is choppy on the Focusrite, whist the analogues are returning fine straight from Focusrite Headphones.

I have a lot of transfer going on via the USB ports I have on my computer. Could it be USB bandwith problems? My previous situation, where OBS would use Focusrite i/o directly was fine audio-wise, except no monitoring/zoom and all that of course)

My yesteryear streaming computer (8 years of age already) is currently maxing out all USB ports.
I currently have 3x USB 3.0 to which I have connected:

1x HDMI capture card (Chinese white label, but works)
1x Elgato HD60s+ capture card configured to 1080p, 30fps
1x lifegoods USB hub with 7x blue usb 3.0 ports, externally powered by ac power.
------1x Elgato stream desk (the big one with 32 buttons)
------1x HDMI capture card (the same chinese one)
------1x Focusrite Scarlet 18i20
------1x OBS Camera iPhone app.

Then I have one USB 2.0 port open on the laptop, sometimes occupied by wired mouse. If I put a wired keyboard it says no more hubs available, lol - so I'm pretty much maxed out in terms of peripherals.

Furthermore, you ask how I'm managing on such an old machine:
- Stream and sources 1080p @30 fps, 2500~3000 kbbs. So nothing that spectacular.
- The laptop is a clevo w230st barebone @ max. specs at time of purchase.
- Because of 13" design (yep) its thermal throttling all the time; insane fan speeds not so much of a problem because I use a wired dynamic sennheiser E845, which doesnt pick up the noise to an extent its of nuisance.
- The thermals are - before and now still - the biggest problem. Things will get so incredibly hot that the feed would start to suffer under the thermal throttling. During the load my CPU is at 95 degrees continuously. I've resorted to undervolting the cpu 100mv and literately putting icepacks and frozen vegetables on and under key parts of the laptop to keep temperatures down. In summer I've got two giant fans providing circulation in the room and now I'll open windows to make sure the room is pretty much cold when I'll start the stream.
I've recently discovered there are fan-cooling pads which can shave of another 5 degrees celcius so I might consider that. I believe my laptop is from an era in which those things would still be effective.
Just a few days ago I opened it up and removed all the ammassed dustflakes from heatsink and exhaust vent. That did quite a lot temperaturewise.

This laptop is not my daily driver and pretty much used only for the livestream. So it need only to be kept going for the duration of covid19 measures and thusfar, its doing eh.. lets say its not ideal but its working to the extent that a majority of employers will continue to do business with me and as such I haven't required any welfare from anyone yet, which in this day and age, is more than one can hope for.

 

[Reaby]

Choppy audio might be as well a cause for too small buffer size at voicemeetter settings, that's my guess if the system has worked out good before...

 

[Alex L.]

dont connect more than one Camera or Audio device per USB root hub (Root hub is the hub on the mainboard )
you have an USB bandwitch problem you use to many devices on the USB root hubs !

check how many usb root hubs do you have with this programm
USB Device Tree Viewer

but forget this setup with your notebook

Might as well be, but it wasn't an issue before rerouting the audio to voicemeeter, lol.
basically 4x capture devices, all working flawlessly, direct sound from focusrite, no problem.
I'll run your USB device tree program later on and post the result. Thank you for your reply.

Choppy audio might be as well a cause for too small buffer size at voicemeetter settings, that's my guess if the system has worked out good before...

I'll check that out as well. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Alex L.]

Choppy audio might be as well a cause for too small buffer size at voicemeetter settings, that's my guess if the system has worked out good before...

Alright. I have doubled all the buffer values (see screenshot). Audio seems fine now on both the stream and the monitor. I have, however, only done a short test. I'll do a 2 hour stresstest tomorrow.

dont connect more than one Camera or Audio device per USB root hub (Root hub is the hub on the mainboard )
you have an USB bandwitch problem you use to many devices on the USB root hubs !

I've added the data from the software program you advised. It seems my little hot machine has 3 root hubs.

Tomorrow I'll see if I can get the link to zoom/teams working. At the moment I'm one step further than before, so much thanks guys! Greatly apreciated so far.