[2023] Causes & Fixes for OBS Not Recording Audio Issue

OBS Studio, as one of the most popular software for video recording and live streaming, has gained an increasing number of users around the world. Unfortunately, some users discuss that OBS not recording audio such as game audio, mic audio or desktop audio, which frustrates the users a lot. 

“It doesn’t record my mic or my video sound (but I do see the soundbars going up and down visually). I’ve checked all of the above things and all seem fine according to the suggestions”.  A forum user said.

Take it easy, here we are explaining the causes of OBS mic audio recording failure and introducing 7 tested methods to fix the OBS audio recording issue.

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Causes of OBS Not Recording Audio

The OBS not recording audio issue varies on different devices. Based on several users’ feedback, the common causes for this audio issue are shown in the following:

1. Wrong OBS audio settings.
2. Outdated sound drivers on PC.
3. Outdated OBS version.
4. Incompatible with other programs on audio recording.

Having known these possible reasons, you can try the following solutions to get OBS live audio to work.

7 Methods to Fix OBS Not Recording Audio

Method 1. Update OBS Studio.

Sometimes, the functions of the old software may be influenced after a new version is available, just as the case with OBS not recording desktop audio. Go to your OBS dashboard and select Help > Check For Updates. Then update to the latest OBS version and check if the audio recording is back to normal.

Or you can go to OBS Studio’s official website and download the latest version accordingly.

Method 2. Check OBS Audio Settings

If the audio recording failure is caused by the wrong OBS settings, then you should check all related settings and make it run correctly. Sometimes, your OBS fails to record audio due to the disabled audio settings without notice. Follow the steps and ensure your OBS audio settings are just perfect for recording games.

Step 1. Open OBS Studio and go to settings.

Step 2. Select Audio and make sure all audio types are set as Default rather than Disabled, including Desktop audio and Mic/Auxiliary audio. By switching all devices to default, the audio will be recorded correctly in OBS.

Step 3. Apply the settings.

Step 4. Restart OBS.

Method 3. Verify OBS Audio Track Settings

Improper output settings can also cause OBS not recording audio. To set proper output settings in OBS, you can refer to the following:

Step 1. Open OBS Studio and go to settings and select Output.

Step 1. Find out Audio Bitrate and set it as 128, type 3500 kbps in the Video Bitrate box.

Step 2. Scroll down to Recordings and check if the audio track is correct.

Step 3. Apply the settings and restart OBS.

To make sure the setting changes are workable, you’d better run a recording test after restarting OBS Studio.

Method 4. End Unnecessary Processes

Multiple processes running in the backstage will also cause conflicts in some cases. If OBS is conflicted with another recording or sound program, it may not work. Stop any of the other programs, especially recording ones, give OBS the privilege of recording game audio without incompatibility.

Method 5. Update the Audio Driver

The outdated audio driver can not only influence the recording function of OBS but also some other recording programs. To solve OBS not recording mic audio with the outdated driver, you can simply check and update the audio driver with a few steps.

Step 1. Open Device Manager, and unfold “Sound, video and game controllers”;

Step 2. Right-click the audio driver and update;

Step 3. Click search automatically for drivers.

Wait for the updating process and restart your computer.

Method 6. Reinstall OBS Desktop

Some users may notice that there is no updates for OBS Studio or the audio drivers. If this is the case, you can try reinstalling OBS and solve the audio recording issue. Simply uninstall OBS studio with the systematic way or use a third-party uninstaller to remove it first, then visit the OBS site to download and install the latest version.

Method 7. Record with the Best Free Screen Recorder

The worst thing is that all methods above don’t really solve the OBS not recording audio issue, but you are urgent for recording a fantastic live streaming or gameplay. Be bright! The best OBS alternative software Gemoo Recorder Lite is handy to use. No more settings, no audio recording failure and 100% efficient.

Gemoo Recorder Lite is born for recording audio on PC and Mac. To make things easier, it has divided the important functions into parts so that a greenhand can even record high-quality clips! The main features of Gemoo Recorder Lite are quickly scanned as:

1. Record screen, webcam, and microphone with high quality.
2. No watermark on the recordings.
3. Customize the recording screen on your computer.
4. Exclusive audio setting to ensure smooth audio recording.

According to the OBS not recording audio issue, you can choose your preferred way to record gameplay or live streaming. Free download Gemoo Recorder Lite and start a wonderful recording journey!

1. Launch Gemoo Recorder Lite, choose the way you want to record. There are 4 recording types available to choose from in Gemoo Recorder Lite.

2. Set recording details before starting, such as the recording saving path, audio settings, display resolution and screen area etc.

3. Then you can start recording. During the process, you can complete your recording by adding some annotations or skip unnecessary clips.

Once finished, check the recording files in your local saving folder.

The Bottom Line

In a word, the OBS not recording audio issue is annoying but can be solved with some settings or changes. Among all the solutions to OBS failed to record mic audio problem, Gemoo Recorder Lite is strongly recommended to try as an alternative to OBS Studio. It’s a must-have tool for gamers to record Discord in easy steps. Download now and start your wonderful recording!