Question / Help OBS Studio 64bit - Audio Popping Sporadically in Random Audio Tracks

[Dazran303]

Hello! :)

Having an issue with both streaming / recording using OBS Studio 64bit.
I'll use a series of images to explain my setup and outline the issues I am having as best as I can, for you, the potential Wizard who can hopefully help me fix this.

The problem I am having is to do with Audio. I am using the 4 Track Multi-track recording, with Track 1 being everything (Livestreaming for example uses this track) Track 2 is for my Mic, Track 3 for Discord/Skype call, and finally Track 4 for Gameplay.

I have my recordings set to export as .mp4 - I'd like to use a more reliable output but afaik none of the other types open with Sony Vegas Pro (what I use to edit videos)

When I record or livestream (or both at same time), everything is fine on my end, but a loud electronic sounding POP can be heard for the livestream viewers, or in the recording. This can happen on both channels, but can also happen just on left audio channel, or the right.
What is very strange is that even though Track 1 has all audio, the pop may occur on Track 2, but NOT on track 1, and vice versa.

Here are some examples of how the audio pops look in the audio waveform in the editing timeline of Sony Vegas.

In this one, the pop can be seen happening on Track 3 (Discord/Skype) But NOT in Track 1, where Discord is also present.
1. http://imgur.com/a/3sLil

This one was a quick test livestream and the pops are happening in Track 1 & 4, but the pops in each track are unique from eachother
2. http://imgur.com/a/Zh0tR

Here are some screens of my OBS Studio 64bit settings.

Output - Streaming Tab
1. http://imgur.com/a/PvTcm

Output - Recording Tab
2. http://imgur.com/a/YSq3G

Output - Audio Tab
3. http://imgur.com/a/VJr84

Audio
1. http://imgur.com/a/vM783

Video
1. http://imgur.com/a/Gxu4e

Advanced
1. http://imgur.com/a/zly5N

Audio Mixer
1. http://imgur.com/a/2Q4yP

Elgato
1. http://imgur.com/a/pmUnB

Properties for Elgato
1. http://imgur.com/a/P21Ns

Properties for Elgato
2. http://imgur.com/a/ddwNs

Here is a quick 34 second edited recording of instances where the Audio pop occurs if your curious as to how it sounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywf1vwI7-Vo

I hope that's everything, see below for what I use in my setup and log files!
Thanks for reading!

My Setup :
ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming Motherboard,
EVGA FTW GTX 1070
Ripjawz 2133Mhz DDR4 16GB Ram
Sound Blaster Z PCI Sound Card
Behringer Xenyx QX1002USB Premium 10 Input 2 Bus Mixer
Rode NT1-A XLR Condenser Mic
Elgato HD60 Pro PCI

Log Files:
Last Log File : https://gist.github.com/e5049924dd7a60a4daea687e69939ab7
Current Log File https://gist.github.com/7fcebbe82c24d29177f0eabd911eb70c

 

[Dazran303]

Anyone got any ideas?

Spent the best part of the day setting all devices to 48Khz 16bit to match OBS which has audio set to 48000Khz - same problem.
Also tried setting OBS and all devices to 44.1Khz 24Bit - same problem

 

[Roids0777]

I had the same issue last night. I ended the audio captures and re added and it seemed ok.

 

[Dazran303]

No matter what I do, I get audio pops in OBS Studio 64-bit. I have noticed however, the problem is not present in OBS Studio 32-bit. Is anyone interested fixing this??

 

[Beardedbob]

Hi @Dazran303

Do you push the audio via anything else like voice meter or adobe audition?

 

[RytoEX]

I find it odd that the pops occur in 64-bit but not 32-bit. I also find it interesting that they only occur in the outgoing stream data or recording data, but not get output directly through your audio devices. Audio pops can be caused by an overworked CPU, signal interference near cables (insufficient cable shielding, other signals close to cables, etc.), bad cables, or a bunch of other things... However, if it's only appearing in encoded data and not directly in your sound output, I don't think cables are the issue. What's your CPU usage like during this?

Have you tried to replicate this with your audio bitrate at 128, 160, 256 or 320? How about in Mono instead of Stereo?

Also, please post a log from a recording/streaming session that had the audio popping issue so that we can see if anything relevant shows up in the log.

Probably unrelated to your audio issue...
Are you streaming to either Twitch or YouTube? If you're using either of those services, use CBR instead of VBR for your rate control. They both specifically ask for it in their settings (Twitch, YouTube). This is probably already being overridden by "Enforce streaming service encoder settings", but better to be thorough.

I'm not really sure how NVENC and streaming play along at streaming bitrates. If it works for you, great. If it doesn't, you'll have to switch your streaming encoder to x264.

If you want to use a more reliable format, don't record directly to MP4. Record to MKV, then remux your recordings to MP4 after recording. OBS Studio has remuxing built-in to it (see File > Remux Recordings).

 

[Dazran303]

Hi @Dazran303

Do you push the audio via anything else like voice meter or adobe audition?

I do not use anything of those programs

 

[Beardedbob]

Given the audio is fine on your end @Dazran303 then it could be the elgato connectivity that has the issue via the USB. Have you tried a different cable / UBS port or moving the cable away from others to avoid interference?

The OBS looks looks fine, hence the above.

 

[Dazran303]

Given the audio is fine on your end @Dazran303 then it could be the elgato connectivity that has the issue via the USB. Have you tried a different cable / UBS port or moving the cable away from others to avoid interference?

The OBS looks looks fine, hence the above.

The Elgato HD60 PRO is an Internal PCI card.
The problems I am having with audio happen so frequent on OBS Studio 64bit, but have done long recordings with OBS Studio 32bit and have not had any audio pops.
I'm still not sure what is causing it, or why it behaves better in OBS Studio 32bit

 

[Dazran303]

I find it odd that the pops occur in 64-bit but not 32-bit. I also find it interesting that they only occur in the outgoing stream data or recording data, but not get output directly through your audio devices. Audio pops can be caused by an overworked CPU, signal interference near cables (insufficient cable shielding, other signals close to cables, etc.), bad cables, or a bunch of other things... However, if it's only appearing in encoded data and not directly in your sound output, I don't think cables are the issue. What's your CPU usage like during this?

Have you tried to replicate this with your audio bitrate at 128, 160, 256 or 320? How about in Mono instead of Stereo?

Also, please post a log from a recording/streaming session that had the audio popping issue so that we can see if anything relevant shows up in the log.

Probably unrelated to your audio issue...
Are you streaming to either Twitch or YouTube? If you're using either of those services, use CBR instead of VBR for your rate control. They both specifically ask for it in their settings (Twitch, YouTube). This is probably already being overridden by "Enforce streaming service encoder settings", but better to be thorough.

I'm not really sure how NVENC and streaming play along at streaming bitrates. If it works for you, great. If it doesn't, you'll have to switch your streaming encoder to x264.

If you want to use a more reliable format, don't record directly to MP4. Record to MKV, then remux your recordings to MP4 after recording. OBS Studio has remuxing built-in to it (see File > Remux Recordings).

Hey RytoEX.
My CPU Usage would be no higher than 30% during recording sessions.

I have only ever used the 192 bitrate setting. It was probably recommended as a setting in some video and just stuck with it.
And same with the Stereo setting over Mono.

I have changed my streaming settings to CBR and also back to x264 from your advice, thanks.
I have also started using the .MKV output and can easily remux it to MP4 afterwards. I'm really impressed at how quick and easy it is to do it! Thanks for that too!

Here is a log file from just now, using OBS Studio 64bit, recording Super Mario Maker for 01:14:58.
I can confirm there were about 8 audio pops and they existed in both the exported .mkv file and were also in the remux'd .mp4 file.

 

[RytoEX]

Hmm, the only thing I see of interest in the log file is a bunch of audio buffering, but that's not entirely unusual (that I know of).

16:52:57.536: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 85 milliseconds
16:54:24.938: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 106 milliseconds
16:54:42.773: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 128 milliseconds
17:21:06.479: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 149 milliseconds
17:21:07.157: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 170 milliseconds
18:00:18.324: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 192 milliseconds

I have only ever used the 192 bitrate setting. It was probably recommended as a setting in some video and just stuck with it.

The audio is handled by different encoders at certain bitrates, and I was also curious if a lower or higher bitrate would introduce more or less popping. Could you test out the bitrates I listed above?

Does it happen if you're only recording a single track of audio instead of four?

I am still confused why it doesn't seem to happen in the 32-bit build. Though, if I recall correctly, I have read warnings that the 64-bit build may have compatibility issues with some drivers. Maybe that's the case here? If the audio popping happens at all bitrates, sample rates, and with different encoders, then I'd be more inclined to say a driver isn't playing nice with 64-bit. If nothing else, at least you have a workaround with the 32-bit build.

Glad you like the remux feature!

 

[Beardedbob]

The Elgato HD60 PRO is an Internal PCI card.
The problems I am having with audio happen so frequent on OBS Studio 64bit, but have done long recordings with OBS Studio 32bit and have not had any audio pops.
I'm still not sure what is causing it, or why it behaves better in OBS Studio 32bit

R ok hadn't noticed it was a Pro...

Have you tried a lower bitrate for the audio? @RytoEX had mentioned this higher up but I've not seen a response as to whether this had made a change?

 

[Fonnin]

I do believe I have a decent workaround at this time. I have had this as a recurring issue. When I record with this solution I hear no glitches, pops or any of that.

I would love to share it with the community and get feedback.

- I exported my video as Quicktime - GoPro CineForm - Quality 2 - NO AUDIO
- Then I exported the .mp3 and .wav of that video files audio, I am using the mp3 for this
IN OBS STUDIO 64 BIT (because I dun wanna use 32 bit, I need dat Randum Accezz 'Memberberries)
- Create a new scene for your video
- Add two media sources, for your video, and your mp3
- Place them both into a Group
- Select the eye of the Group off and on to play the video with the audio
Let's go further
- Create a new scene
- Add your camera or gameplay
- Add a scene into this scene, Select the video scene that you just made
- Honestly, for tidiness create a Group called routed assets and throw that video scene into there and collapse the Group
- Then just make sure that your video scene is above your gameplay/camera and when you highlight the eye in the video scene it will overlay the underlying layers. This is effective when using the elgato stream deck.

Hope this helps someone.

Thanks! :)

 

[Aaron Hopkins]

Fix for audio stutter / intermittent audio glitch / pop whilst doing a local recording using an Elgato HD60 pro capture card whilst using OBS Studio 64 bit. Click file > settings > output > recording tab > (where it says audio track 1) and there are tick boxes, it will have 1 tick box ticked by default, tick all 6 audio track tick boxes. Then click apply. This fixed it for me.

 

[Narcogen]

That's got nothing to do with this post. The OP's audio issue also occurred during livestreams, which use only one track, and the workaround in #13 is also not relevant because that only applies to recording and not streaming at all.

Bottom line: the symptoms of many audio problems can be broadly similar (clicks, pops, distortion, echo) but the causes are many and various, and often upstream of OBS. Users having audio issues should make new threads and post logs rather than necroing old posts-- the OP here was using OBS 15 for instance, where the current version is 24.

People should not just turn on multi track recording if they don't need it because they are getting random clicks and pops. Even if it worked, that doesn't actually reveal what the cause of the issue is, and I'd be willing to bet it would recur. There's also no reason for people to be recording more tracks than they need.