OBS not recording multiple audio tracks

[Harras]

My OBS will not record multiple audio tracks. I have 2 audio tracks set to record in my settings, audio track 1 and 2. I have my desktop audio in track 1 and mic audio in track 2 in my mixer. I record in mkv format and have set it to automatically remux to mp4 after recording. But when I listen to my recording through VLC I only hear my desktop audio. NOW, I have read that I must change the audio track I want to listen to in VLC in the Audio tab, but I can't becasue it is grayed out. So I assume it only has 1 audio track. When I put the recording into an editing software, it also only shows 1 audio track. I use Davinci resolve. I have read multiple threads posted by other people and tried what others said they must, but still it doesn't work. It is the same problem when I use Streamlabs OBS so i'm really confused. I have attached my last log.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[koala]

According to your log, you're writing 2 audio tracks to the *.mkv. What happens if you don't remux to *.mp4 but directly check the *.mkv with VLC?
By the way, you have a slight configuration issue. You added you desktop audio and mic audio explicitly as sources in your scene, while they are already known as global audio devices from Settings->Audio. This way OBS is reading both audio devices twice, which can lead to irritation and errors. Either remove both audio sources from the scene and use the global sources, or in settings->Audio set the audio sources to disabled. To attach filters to global sources, right-click their meters in the audio meter dock of OBS.

If you still have issues, check Edit->Advanced Audio Properties and make sure every source is enabled for the desired audio track, and check Settings->Output->Recording ->Audio track and make sure every track you want to create is actually enabled.

 

[Harras]

Wow, I hid all the other audio devices so i never thought it was recording both. By deleting the added audio devices and only using the default ones it actually worked. At first I thought it didn't because I was listening to the mp4 in VLC. So I tried the mkv and it had 2 audio tracks. Thank you so much @koala. I had this problem for almost a year and never thought to just delete 2 simple things.

According to your log, you're writing 2 audio tracks to the *.mkv. What happens if you don't remux to *.mp4 but directly check the *.mkv with VLC?
By the way, you have a slight configuration issue. You added you desktop audio and mic audio explicitly as sources in your scene, while they are already known as global audio devices from Settings->Audio. This way OBS is reading both audio devices twice, which can lead to irritation and errors. Either remove both audio sources from the scene and use the global sources, or in settings->Audio set the audio sources to disabled. To attach filters to global sources, right-click their meters in the audio meter dock of OBS.

If you still have issues, check Edit->Advanced Audio Properties and make sure every source is enabled for the desired audio track, and check Settings->Output->Recording ->Audio track and make sure every track you want to create is actually enabled.

 

[Retro-Dave]

I'm having a similar issue and don't understand how to fix it. I'm no wizard by any means but it's so frustrating not knowing what to change. i originally was making the same mistake but switched my audio to global but when I record and watch the video all I'm hearing is my microphone. Same thing when happens when I put it in Filmora, and there's only one audio track still. (Only because I don't have premiere pro yet). I'm essentially trying to create 3 different tracks. One for my mic, game, and then one of both together. Please any help is appreciated, I'm really looking forward to what I can create with multiple audio tracks. https://obsproject.com/logs/UF5eJDkB8liCcFkB

 

[Retro-Dave]

UPDATE! Sorry for the inconvenience I'm just an absolute idiot. I didn't realize I had to hover over the file in the editor to select tracks. Again, I'm no wizard but I definitely do feel more relieved. Hopefully I don't encounter more problems when I start using Priemer Pro. :)

 

[SULLEN642423]

UPDATE! Sorry for the inconvenience I'm just an absolute idiot. I didn't realize I had to hover over the file in the editor to select tracks. Again, I'm no wizard but I definitely do feel more relieved. Hopefully I don't encounter more problems when I start using Priemer Pro. :)

Bro, don't feel stupid. I did the same thing. Thank you for helping me.

 

[epicbaconflips]

OBS Team,
I'm having similar audio issues. I'm trying to record multiple audio tracks and although I get multiple audio tracks, channels 1 and 2, are the only channels with actual audio on them. The rest of my audio channels are blank. I've uploaded my logs in case it'll help. Please advise, and thank you in advance.

 

[AaronD]

OBS Team,
I'm having similar audio issues. I'm trying to record multiple audio tracks and although I get multiple audio tracks, channels 1 and 2, are the only channels with actual audio on them. The rest of my audio channels are blank. I've uploaded my logs in case it'll help. Please advise, and thank you in advance.

Near the top of your log:

11:04:30.878: audio settings reset:
11:04:30.878: samples per sec: 48000
11:04:30.878: speakers: 2

Are you set to stereo? (Settings -> Audio)

And I assume that "tracks" and "channels" mean different things to you? People often get them confused.

 

[epicbaconflips]

Near the top of your log:

Are you set to stereo? (Settings -> Audio)

And I assume that "tracks" and "channels" mean different things to you? People often get them confused.

Yes, I'm set to stereo, and tracks vs channels are different to me. I'm not "concerned" with the tracks. I'm just trying to get the separate channels to record. I'm still troubleshooting today, but I think I might have found my problem. The video codec that I was using seems to not record multiple channels. The video codec I was using was the NVIDIA NVENC HEVC...I'm trying the NVIDIA NVENC H.264 now to see if that works. #fingerscrossed. Did something regarding my audio setup look strange from my log?

Thanks, boss.

 

[AaronD]

Did something regarding my audio setup look strange from my log?

You said you only got channels 1 & 2, as if you wanted more. Meanwhile, you're set for 2 channels. If you wanted 5.1 or something like that, and you were set for stereo, then that might have been the problem. I didn't look beyond that.

 

[epicbaconflips]

You said you only got channels 1 & 2, as if you wanted more. Meanwhile, you're set for 2 channels. If you wanted 5.1 or something like that, and you were set for stereo, then that might have been the problem. I didn't look beyond that.

I perhaps didn't explain what I was trying to do correctly. OBS allows you to record up to 6 different audio sources. However, using the HEVC encoder, it was only allowing me to record audio on channels 1 and 2 (I'm not speaking of stereo vs mono recordings; I'm speaking of audio sources). Once I switched to H.264, I could record all six audio sources. I think I'm good now by switching to H.264. Thank you, boss.

 

[koala]

@epicbaconflips You didn't get to the bottom of your issue, because the video encoder is independent from the number of audio tracks possible to write to the video file.

You also seem to have a different understanding of terminology, so it isn't clear what it it you're actually missing.
About terminology:

• source: one source of audio within OBS, for example a game, an app, Windows sound, a mic.
• channel: one audio recording entity, for example one mic. mono has 1 channel, stereo has 2 channels, one for right and one for left. 5.1 audio has 6 channels, 1 front left, 1 front right, 1 center, 1 subwoofer, 1 surround right, 1 surround left.
• track: one track is a collection of channels. A mono track has 1 channel, a stereo track has 2 channels, a 5.1 track has 6 channels

Now to OBS:

• What channel layout is created and put into every track of the output file is defined in Settings → Audio → General → Channels. All regular users will keep "Stereo" as channel layout.
• How many tracks and which of them are written to the output file is defined in Settings → Output → Audio Track. You can select 1 to 6 tracks.
• What kind of audio OBS will write into each track is defined in Edit → Advanced Audio Properties. In the tracks matrix, you select which OBS source is written to which track. In case you have scene specific audio sources, for example webcams with audio, audio input/output capture or the application audio capture (beta) source, switch to the corresponding scene to see these sources in advanced audio properties.

It's not clear which thing you're actually missing. Is it really a channel, or is it actually a track, or is it actually a source?

• If it's a track, check Settings → Output → Audio Track that you're actually writing this track to the file.
• If it's a source within a track check Edit → Advanced Audio Properties and make sure the source is actually selected for the track.

If you find the thing you're missing in recordings with h.264 but not in recordings with hevc, and you're using different profiles for h.264 and hevc, then also check these settings for both profiles, because these track and source assignments are saved per profile. If you changed the layout in one profile, it's not reflected in other profiles.

 

[epicbaconflips]

@epicbaconflips You didn't get to the bottom of your issue, because the video encoder is independent from the number of audio tracks possible to write to the video file.

You also seem to have a different understanding of terminology, so it isn't clear what it it you're actually missing.
About terminology:

• source: one source of audio within OBS, for example a game, an app, Windows sound, a mic.
• channel: one audio recording entity, for example one mic. mono has 1 channel, stereo has 2 channels, one for right and one for left. 5.1 audio has 6 channels, 1 front left, 1 front right, 1 center, 1 subwoofer, 1 surround right, 1 surround left.
• track: one track is a collection of channels. A mono track has 1 channel, a stereo track has 2 channels, a 5.1 track has 6 channels

Now to OBS:

• What channel layout is created and put into every track of the output file is defined in Settings → Audio → General → Channels. All regular users will keep "Stereo" as channel layout.
• How many tracks and which of them are written to the output file is defined in Settings → Output → Audio Track. You can select 1 to 6 tracks.
• What kind of audio OBS will write into each track is defined in Edit → Advanced Audio Properties. In the tracks matrix, you select which OBS source is written to which track. In case you have scene specific audio sources, for example webcams with audio, audio input/output capture or the application audio capture (beta) source, switch to the corresponding scene to see these sources in advanced audio properties.

It's not clear which thing you're actually missing. Is it really a channel, or is it actually a track, or is it actually a source?

• If it's a track, check Settings → Output → Audio Track that you're actually writing this track to the file.
• If it's a source within a track check Edit → Advanced Audio Properties and make sure the source is actually selected for the track.

If you find the thing you're missing in recordings with h.264 but not in recordings with hevc, and you're using different profiles for h.264 and hevc, then also check these settings for both profiles, because these track and source assignments are saved per profile. If you changed the layout in one profile, it's not reflected in other profiles.

@koala...I checked the profile as you suggested, and I don't have a different profile per codec. H.264 gives me the tracks that I select for my recordings. I know there's been confusion about what I've been saying regarding Audio Tracks/Channels. Here is a picture, within OBS, of what I'm trying to do. I'm only trying to record Audio Tracks 2, 3, and 4. When I use a codec other than H.264, I only get Audio Tracks 1 and 2, regardless of what options I have selected within OBS. It's weird that I can't use the other codecs, but definitely not a show-stopper since H.264 works. Sorry for any confusion I caused with the terminology, and I appreciate you trying to help me figure out the source of this craziness.

 

[Albusss]

Hello, I have the same problem as mentioned above. I would like to record a video with 2 audio tracks: my microphone and the game separately. Problem when I export the video I only hear one audio source (the first). For example I put my microphone on track 1 and the game on track 2, the final video I only hear my microphone. And conversely game in 1 and microphone in 2 I only hear the sound of the game. I think I have configured OBS correctly with the advice mentioned above but it does not work. Thank you for your help.
PS: I am French this is an automatic translation

https://obsproject.com/logs/mZhChLhvAXpawDQQ

 

[AaronD]

Hello, I have the same problem as mentioned above. I would like to record a video with 2 audio tracks: my microphone and the game separately. Problem when I export the video I only hear one audio source (the first). For example I put my microphone on track 1 and the game on track 2, the final video I only hear my microphone. And conversely game in 1 and microphone in 2 I only hear the sound of the game. I think I have configured OBS correctly with the advice mentioned above but it does not work. Thank you for your help.
PS: I am French this is an automatic translation

https://obsproject.com/logs/mZhChLhvAXpawDQQ

The tracks don't mix. They're meant for alternate languages, descriptive audio, things like that. You only hear one at a time when you play it back, and most editors default to Track 1. Any player and any editor that are actually worth using, will let you choose which track to listen to, but they still don't mix, unless you explicitly mix them in your video editor.

If you want to hear multiple things at the same time, directly from OBS, then they need to be on the same track, probably Track 1.

 

[Albusss]

The tracks don't mix. They're meant for alternate languages, descriptive audio, things like that. You only hear one at a time when you play it back, and most editors default to Track 1. Any player and any editor that are actually worth using, will let you choose which track to listen to, but they still don't mix, unless you explicitly mix them in your video editor.

If you want to hear multiple things at the same time, directly from OBS, then they need to be on the same track, probably Track 1.

Thank you very much for the quick response !

I feel stupid the solution was so simple.

I wanted to use the capcut editing software, but it does not support multiple audio tracks. I tried with another software and it works.

Thanks again for helping me, and sorry for bothering you with something so stupid.

 

[DrSupermanShadow]

why do people always insist on posting long technical replies?
Most people streaming/ using obs are not going to know half of what you are talking about.
make this simple, if you have the correct and working settings.
post pictures of the correct setup.


nearly 90% of humans born since 1990 are mostly visual and short attention spanned

Im running into the same issue. I'm trying to record audio track 1, one Game on 2
and obs instructions on how to record 2 things simultaneously are completely useless.

also Picture Exchange Communication( pictures with small words, help people fix things faster)
i suggest you techo babble speakers learn how to utilize it....
You're a minority now....

 

[koala]

@DrSupermanShadow It seems your post is directed to me. Well, I post this way to enable people understand more of the software, so they are enabled to find solutions on their own. Looking into my forum posts/reactions ratio, it seems I'm not entirely wrong with that approach.
If you're not interested in extending your knowledge but instead just want to be told the option you should click to make your issue magically go away, unfortunately my posts are not for you. I'm sorry. You should probably ask in Discord. It's more of a "click this" forum over there.

 

[DrSupermanShadow]

@DrSupermanShadow It seems your post is directed to me. Well, I post this way to enable people understand more of the software, so they are enabled to find solutions on their own. Looking into my forum posts/reactions ratio, it seems I'm not entirely wrong with that approach.
If you're not interested in extending your knowledge but instead just want to be told the option you should click to make your issue magically go away, unfortunately my posts are not for you. I'm sorry. You should probably ask in Discord. It's more of a "click this" forum over there.

It's actually directed at all help professionals who speak techno-babble but don't correctly educate for the modern world..... in the 1980's they had an excuse. but in 2024 no excuse for not educating properly. nothing personal.

(if you want a useless help section example look at Facebook help )
( you will also find way fewer complaints if more coders adapted to a modern world where a person needs a 1 on 1 video or needs picture instruction; or even though the backend is complex, the front end is kept medium-function Autism { just an example} UX, Ui friendly)
​

Posted by epicbaconflips dec 24 2023.
it's almost the correct way to help people.
i would post examples but I had that on a non-solid-state drive. and its damaged beyond repair.
( my profile picture is technically a style of help Picture Exchange communication.)

but you post pictures side by side showing
1: dont do this

2 hey this should allow you to record 2 channels.

3 check these places. more pictures
are they set correctly? ( more images)

4. if you want to educate...on components
then you post a screenshot red circle with an arrow point to info you wish to convey with 1 or 2 lines of text.
example this is an encoder. red circled arrow pointing to : encoder is for this function or type.

not even I have the attention span or brain power to follow word-by-word, step-by-step instructions without pictures, and in all techno-babble and i read instruction manuals.... my brain goes huh? hahaha

although most have switched to a P.E.C VERSION....

i still can't figure out why my audio track 1 and 2 won't records and I watched every YouTube video on it....

So I came to the OBS forums....

also not related:
but I can only take joining so many social networks and big ones that have no search function to quick look up a response or help..... including the joining leave yo-yo effect of discord...
way to many things are like "join my discord but you have to have a cellphone"
like no i don't and even if i did. I'm not giving you that number so you can sell it to the highest sponsor.
i get enough spam as it is... also that's why voips were created in the first place 0.E :L)​

​

 

[AaronD]

It's actually directed at all help professionals who speak techno-babble but don't correctly educate for the modern world..... in the 1980's they had an excuse. but in 2024 no excuse for not educating properly. nothing personal.​

​

(if you want a useless help section example look at Facebook help )​

( you will also find way fewer complaints if more coders adapted to a modern world where a person needs a 1 on 1 video or needs picture instruction; or even though the backend is complex, the front end is kept medium-function Autism { just an example} UX, Ui friendly)​

​

Posted by epicbaconflips dec 24 2023.​

it's almost the correct way to help people.​

i would post examples but I had that on a non-solid-state drive. and its damaged beyond repair.​

( my profile picture is technically a style of help Picture Exchange communication.)​

​

but you post pictures side by side showing​

1: dont do this​

​

2 hey this should allow you to record 2 channels.​

​

3 check these places. more pictures​

are they set correctly? ( more images)​

​

4. if you want to educate...on components​

then you post a screenshot red circle with an arrow point to info you wish to convey with 1 or 2 lines of text.​

example this is an encoder. red circled arrow pointing to : encoder is for this function or type.​

​

not even I have the attention span or brain power to follow word-by-word, step-by-step instructions without pictures, and in all techno-babble and i read instruction manuals.... my brain goes huh? hahaha​

​

although most have switched to a P.E.C VERSION....​

​

i still can't figure out why my audio track 1 and 2 won't records and I watched every YouTube video on it....​

​

So I came to the OBS forums....​

​

also not related:​

but I can only take joining so many social networks and big ones that have no search function to quick look up a response or help..... including the joining leave yo-yo effect of discord...​

way to many things are like "join my discord but you have to have a cellphone"​

like no i don't and even if i did. I'm not giving you that number so you can sell it to the highest sponsor.​

i get enough spam as it is... also that's why voips were created in the first place 0.E :L)​

​

​

​

​

​

Maybe I misread, but it looks to me like you want everyone here to cater to *you* specifically??? There are lots of different mindsets on here, lots of different technical levels, lots of different experiences, etc. If one doesn't line up with you, try another, and the one that works for you is *not* the same one that works for someone else!

I often find that the history of something and how it works, go a long way in understanding not only the immediate problem, but also what's likely to come up in the future. If someone just tells me, "click here," that might get me going for 5 minutes, and then I'm back to ask about something else that I can't figure out, and I have to wait another volunteer-forum cycle to get an answer. But if they tell me the thought process that made it that way, I can solve the next 10 problems in 30 minutes all by myself!

THAT'S why we include things like history, technical details, etc. We're not just solving your immediate problem. We're also solving the raft of problems that you're likely to have next, without waiting for us to log in again and see your next question that's 23 hours old by then. (or however long we've been away)

And besides, media production is inherently technical. No way around that, without also resorting to single-function apps with very limited functionality. If one of those does do what you want, great! Use it! But if you really want to be creative, you must also get technical. That's where OBS is: it's a technical thing that does whatever you set it up to do, which means you kinda have to know that, at least a little bit. :-)