Question / Help OBS Not Recording Multiple Tracks

[MagnusModestus]

Hi folks, up to now I've been recording with Shadowplay, but it barely picks up my voice, even with my headset mic almost in my mouth! So now I'm trying to set up OBS for recording my gameplay footage as I'm hoping the audio options will allow me to adjust the relative capture volumes of game audio/my voice so that I can actually be heard clearly.

The trouble I'm having is, that having set my recording format to mp4 and activated tracks 1 and 2 (also tried adding 3, it didn't help), I've then gone to create scenes (as the setup videos I watched suggested doing) and have assigned my headset mic to track 1 and game audio (speakers) to track 2. This has resulted in my voice being recorded, but not the game sound. I've tried tweaking it various ways EG swapping the tracks around, changing game audio device to headset, or to default, and so on, and no matter what I do, every time I get EITHER my voice OR the game audio. Never both. There doesn't seem to be any particular pattern. I've had track 1 work with both, I've had track 2 work with both, but not both tracks at once. Any suggestions?

Also, I've tried setting up for two games so far (Witcher 3 and Car Mechanic Simulator). I have had the same audio issues with both, but with CMS I also am not getting any image recorded, just a black screen. Any ideas on that one, too?

 

[c3r1c3]

1. Where's the log?

2. How do you know the tracks aren't being recorded? Are you testing in a proper media player (like VLC) and switching between the different audio tracks (as stated in the VLC manual)?

3. It's a horrible, horrible idea to record in the MP4 format. Use MKV and remux to MP4 if you need it.

4. Post a screenshot of the Advanced Audio Properties window, settings->Output->Recording and settings->output->Audio.

 

[MagnusModestus]

1. Where's the log?

No idea where to look for it, or that it was needed. If you think it will help, and can point me in the right direction where to find it, I'm happy to oblige

2. How do you know the tracks aren't being recorded? Are you testing in a proper media player (like VLC) and switching between the different audio tracks (as stated in the VLC manual)?

Honestly, this is all very new to me. I was watching the vids back in whatever the default program is (something called "Films and TV", apparently). I had no idea what VLC is, but after reading your comment I checked and apparently have it installed already so gave it a whirl.

One video that was only playing game audio in the default program is only playing my voice in VLC (so I guess both ARE recording but are not both playing back). Another video that played game audio in default program plays no sound at all in VLC.

Switching between audio tracks on the video that DOES have sound in VLC, it appears that this is indeed working (track 1 seems to be me, track 2 the game), however it doesn't seem to allow both tracks open at once, so presumably that's going to be a problem?

3. It's a horrible, horrible idea to record in the MP4 format. Use MKV and remux to MP4 if you need it.

Again, this is all new to me. What is wrong with MP4? Isn't this pretty much the standard these days?

4. Post a screenshot of the Advanced Audio Properties window, settings->Output->Recording and settings->output->Audio.

 

[c3r1c3]

If you record to MP4 and the recording is interrupted, the file will be corrupted and unrecoverable. If you require MP4 files for some other purpose like editing, remux them afterwards by selecting File > Remux Recordings in the main OBS Studio window.

As to the multi-track audio: Since everything is working correctly in OBS now you need a proper video editor that supports multi-audio-track files (Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro support such. I think the latest version of DaVinci Resolve does as well, but I can't say for sure on that one).

 

[MagnusModestus]

Thanks for the advice. I have downloaded Blender to use as an editor, so I'll give that a go first, though I understand the learning curve may be quite a steep one. I also saw on a youtube vid a program called Filmora that's fairly affordable and looks very user-friendly so if I can't get to grips with Blender I might try that or one of the ones you've suggested above, so long as they're not too pricey ( I'm not sure I can justify Adobe's prices right now, for instance).

Thanks again for the help :)

 

[DoAGoldeneye]

Magix Movie Studio (formerly by Sony) is very affordable and a lite version of Sony Vegas. Been using it for a while now.

 

[c3r1c3]

Davinci Resolve is free, just to state that.