Bug Report OBS Audio Issues

[pmcgwee]

Alright, so I've been banging my head against a wall, messing with settings at every stage of my production pipeline trying to fix this issue. Periodically when I'm recording something the voice audio will stutter or pop repeatedly, giving the voice a tremolo-type effect. I've tried changing OBS video bitrate, audio bitrate, custom buffer size, CPU speed settings, VBR/CBR, changing my audio interface's buffer size, changing mics, changing XLR cords into the mics, changing the USB port the interface is connected to, recording with and without phantom power, and more.

I use OBS to record gameplay for Dark Souls. I haven't tried playing another game, but I HAVE tried recording nothing but a still image with no game running in the background and was able to record the noise every single time. I don't use a webcam while recording. I have no file transfers or anything going on in the background.

How I know it's an issue with OBS is because I've recorded audio simultaneously with Audacity and Audacity had no artifacts in the recorded audio. After throwing OBS's audio into Audacity and analyzing it with spectrogram, I noticed some places where the audio seems to disappear quickly, and calculated that this happens about 15 times in 10 milliseconds where it gets really bad. I don't know if this has any significance.

I've included some resources below of a particular session that had the issue.

The output from OBS:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/5t8xzl1dhwftz5b/ERS_DS41.ts

The spectrogram in Audacity:
https://www.mediafire.com/?sqlq4v4z4n8tdok

The video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0GAtxLkQN8

Not the exact log, but identical settings:

09:12:04.813: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2400S CPU @ 2.50GHz
09:12:04.813: CPU Speed: 2494MHz
09:12:04.813: Physical Cores: 4, Logical Cores: 4
09:12:04.813: Physical Memory: 4095MB Total, 3614MB Free (NOTE: 4 gigs max is normal for 32bit programs)
09:12:04.813: Windows Version: 6.1 Build 7601 (revision: 23418)
09:12:04.813: Aero is Enabled
09:12:04.825: OBS 0.14.2 (windows)
09:12:04.825: ---------------------------------
09:12:04.826: ---------------------------------
09:12:04.826: audio settings reset:
09:12:04.826:    samples per sec: 44100
09:12:04.826:    speakers:  2
09:12:04.827: ---------------------------------
09:12:04.827: Initializing D3D11..
09:12:04.827: Available Video Adapters:
09:12:04.830:    Adapter 1: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 
09:12:04.830:     Dedicated VRAM: 1025966080
09:12:04.830:     Shared VRAM:  2943631360
09:12:04.830:     output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}, attached=true
09:12:04.876: Loading up D3D11 on adapter NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti  (0)
09:12:04.894: D3D11 loaded sucessfully, feature level used: 45056
09:12:06.008: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.008: video settings reset:
09:12:06.008:    base resolution:  1280x720
09:12:06.008:    output resolution: 1280x720
09:12:06.008:    fps:  30/1
09:12:06.008:    format:  NV12
09:12:06.010: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.010: Loading module: coreaudio-encoder.dll
09:12:06.011: [CoreAudio encoder]: Failed loading library 'CoreAudioToolbox.dll'
09:12:06.011: [CoreAudio encoder]: Couldn't load CoreAudio AAC encoder
09:12:06.011: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.011: Loading module: image-source.dll
09:12:06.011: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.012: Loading module: obs-ffmpeg.dll
09:12:06.012: LoadLibrary failed for 'nvEncodeAPI.dll', error: 126
09:12:06.012: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.013: Loading module: obs-filters.dll
09:12:06.013: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.014: Loading module: obs-outputs.dll
09:12:06.014: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.014: Loading module: obs-qsv11.dll
09:12:06.127: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.127: Loading module: obs-transitions.dll
09:12:06.127: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.128: Loading module: obs-x264.dll
09:12:06.128: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.128: Loading module: rtmp-services.dll
09:12:06.129: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.129: Loading module: text-freetype2.dll
09:12:06.132: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.132: Loading module: win-capture.dll
09:12:06.313: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.313: Loading module: win-decklink.dll
09:12:06.321: No blackmagic support
09:12:06.322: Failed to start search for DeckLink devices
09:12:06.322: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.322: Loading module: win-dshow.dll
09:12:06.324: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.324: Loading module: win-mf.dll
09:12:06.325: [Media Foundation encoder]: plugin is disabled for performance reasons on Windows versions less than 8
09:12:06.326: ---------------------------------
09:12:06.326: Loading module: win-wasapi.dll
09:12:06.327: =====================================================================
09:12:06.327: output 'adv_stream' (rtmp_output) created
09:12:06.327: output 'adv_file_output' (ffmpeg_muxer) created
09:12:06.327: encoder 'streaming_h264' (obs_x264) created
09:12:06.327: AAC encoder bitrate mapping:
09:12:06.327:     32 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:     64 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:     96 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:    128 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:    160 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:    192 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:    224 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:    256 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:    288 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327:    320 kbit/s: 'FFmpeg Default AAC Encoder' (ffmpeg_aac)
09:12:06.327: encoder 'adv_aac0' (ffmpeg_aac) created
09:12:06.327: encoder 'adv_aac1' (ffmpeg_aac) created
09:12:06.328: encoder 'adv_aac2' (ffmpeg_aac) created
09:12:06.328: encoder 'adv_aac3' (ffmpeg_aac) created
09:12:06.328: service 'default_service' (rtmp_common) created
09:12:06.329: All scene data cleared
09:12:06.329: ------------------------------------------------
09:12:06.352: WASAPI: Device 'Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)' initialized
09:12:06.352: source 'Desktop Audio' (wasapi_output_capture) created
09:12:06.361: WASAPI: Device 'Line 1/2 (Avid Mbox)' initialized
09:12:06.361: source 'Mic/Aux' (wasapi_input_capture) created
09:12:06.361: source 'Marque' (scene) created
09:12:06.361: source 'Dark Souls' (scene) created
09:12:06.362: source 'VBA' (scene) created
09:12:06.390: adding 23 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 23 milliseconds
09:12:06.689: source 'Image' (image_source) created
09:12:06.689: source 'Dark Souls Window' (window_capture) created
09:12:06.958: == Profiler Results =============================
09:12:06.959: run_program_init: 2187.54 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣OBSApp::AppInit: 1.922 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┗OBSApp::InitLocale: 1.122 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┗OBSApp::OBSInit: 2161.98 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣obs_startup: 1.195 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┗OBSBasic::OBSInit: 2131.8 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣OBSBasic::InitBasicConfig: 0.436 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣OBSBasic::ResetAudio: 0.254 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣OBSBasic::ResetVideo: 1182.17 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣OBSBasic::InitOBSCallbacks: 0.014 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣OBSBasic::InitHotkeys: 0.044 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┣obs_load_all_modules: 317.409 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(coreaudio-encoder.dll): 0.502 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(image-source.dll): 0.002 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-ffmpeg.dll): 0.367 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-filters.dll): 0.007 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-outputs.dll): 0.003 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-qsv11.dll): 112.364 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-transitions.dll): 0.007 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(obs-x264.dll): 0.002 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(rtmp-services.dll): 0.372 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(text-freetype2.dll): 2.585 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-capture.dll): 180.017 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-decklink.dll): 8.324 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-dshow.dll): 1.336 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-mf.dll): 1.396 ms
09:12:06.959:  ┃ ┣obs_init_module(win-wasapi.dll): 0.006 ms
09:12:06.960:  ┃ ┗reset_win32_symbol_paths: 0.327 ms
09:12:06.960:  ┣OBSBasic::ResetOutputs: 0.788 ms
09:12:06.960:  ┣OBSBasic::CreateHotkeys: 0.027 ms
09:12:06.960:  ┣OBSBasic::InitService: 0.122 ms
09:12:06.960:  ┣OBSBasic::InitPrimitives: 0.26 ms
09:12:06.960:  ┗OBSBasic::Load: 363.449 ms
09:12:06.960: =================================================
09:12:07.107: Update check: last known remote version is 0.14.2

Is there a solution? I'm still trying to find a way to salvage the audio that's giving me trouble, but I'm not quite clever enough, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Some further things I have yet to try is using .mov containers instead of .ts, but Premiere didn't like the .mov container files I tried previously so I'm trying to figure that out as well. Any support is appreciated.

 

[Mroczny_Gustaw]

Before anything else you need CoreAudio codec installed. Take a look in my signature for details

 

[pmcgwee]

Before anything else you need CoreAudio codec installed. Take a look in my signature for details

It has nothing to do with my bitrate, since the only thing in your sig is a bitrate calculator. I'm not streaming as I record and my encoding settings sit at about 10k for my recordings. Also, after a google search, I really shouldn't need CoreAudio, not even if I wanted to record into a .mov container.

 

[Mroczny_Gustaw]

Believe me if there is any audio issue and you dont have CoreAudio this is a 1st thing to do.
There is second tab in this google doc

 

[pmcgwee]

Believe me if there is any audio issue and you dont have CoreAudio this is a 1st thing to do.
There is second tab in this google doc

Alright, I'll give it a shot. I read the thread you linked and my logfile is saying it's missing CoreAudio so it's worth a try. I'll report back when I have a good opportunity to stress test it.