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How to Fix No Game Audio on Streamlabs: A Comprehensive Guide

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Having your stream viewers unable to hear your game audio is incredibly frustrating and can significantly detract from the viewer experience. The good news is that this issue is usually solvable with a bit of troubleshooting. The core solution involves ensuring the correct audio sources are selected and configured within Streamlabs Desktop, checking for any conflicting software, and verifying your hardware settings.

Here’s a step-by-step approach to fixing no game audio on your Streamlabs stream:

Verify Basic Audio Settings: The first and most crucial step is to check that your game audio source is not muted or set too low within the Streamlabs mixer. Look for the volume sliders for your Desktop Audio source. Ensure the slider is raised to an appropriate level and that the mute icon (typically a speaker with a slash through it) is not active.
Add the Correct Audio Source:
- In Streamlabs Desktop, navigate to the “Sources” panel of your scene.
- Click the “+” (plus) sign to add a new source.
- Select “Audio Output Capture.”
- If “Desktop Audio” already exists, choose “Add Existing” and select it. If not, select “Add New Source” and give it a descriptive name. Click “OK.”
- Confirm the correct audio output device is chosen. In the properties of the Audio Output Capture source, you should be able to select from a list of available audio devices. You need to ensure this is correctly selecting the audio output that your game is playing through (usually your primary speaker/headphone device).
Check for Conflicting Software: Some audio management software can interfere with Streamlabs’ ability to capture audio. Software like Nahimic 2, Sonic Studio Sound, Realtek HD Audio Manager, and Sound Blaster Recon are known culprits. Close any of these running programs and check if the game audio now works. It’s often good practice to keep these types of apps closed when streaming.
Verify Game Capture Source Settings: If you are capturing your game through a dedicated Game Capture source (as opposed to Display Capture or Window Capture), verify that the game sound dial is not set too low within the Game Capture software. If you’re using an external capture card, make sure the analog audio level is not set too low within the software settings of the card.
Monitor Audio Settings To hear your audio through your capture card, click the gear to the right of the Mixer in Streamlabs Desktop, and set it to Monitor Only. If you want to always hear your capture card audio, use Monitor and Output.
Audio Output Ensure that the correct audio output device is enabled in your Windows sound settings, where the game audio is outputting to. You can do this by clicking the speaker icon in the taskbar and ensuring the output selected is the device you expect the audio from.
Review Your System Audio Settings: Double check your Windows sound settings, located in the taskbar by clicking on the speaker icon, to be sure that the correct default output device is selected and that the game is also set to play through that device in the Windows sound settings app.
Restart Streamlabs: Sometimes a quick restart can resolve a lot of weird issues. Close Streamlabs Desktop completely and reopen it to see if that fixes your issue.

If none of these steps works, it may be necessary to dig a bit deeper and consider more specific scenarios, which will be covered in the frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What if my desktop audio is still not being captured?

If your Desktop Audio source isn’t working, try the following:

Re-add the source: Delete the existing Desktop Audio source and add a new one. This can sometimes resolve a misconfiguration.
Check the source properties: Ensure that the correct device is selected as the audio source within the source properties.
Ensure correct Output Device: As discussed, verify in windows sounds that the output device selected in Streamlabs is the same one in Windows.

Why is my microphone working, but not game audio?

If your microphone is working but game audio isn’t, you’ve likely got your microphone source setup correctly but not the correct desktop audio.

Check the Desktop Audio source mentioned above, making sure the correct device is selected for output and that it’s unmuted and at an audible level.

How can I test audio on Streamlabs?

To test audio on Streamlabs:

Monitor the mixer: Observe the volume meters in the Streamlabs mixer. If you’re playing audio and the meter for your game audio source isn’t moving, there’s an issue with the source, either at the streamlabs level or the output level of the audio itself.
Start a local recording: Initiate a local recording to check if the audio is being captured. This will prevent you from having to test live on stream.

Could my internet connection affect game audio?

While a poor internet connection can cause audio lag or stream drops, it generally won’t cause game audio to be completely absent. That being said, it’s still wise to make sure your internet connection is stable and performing well by performing a speed test, as it can cause a multitude of other issues.

Why does OBS mute my audio, and could that be impacting Streamlabs?

OBS can mute audio if you’re using a Bluetooth headset because it can switch between stereo (A2DP) and headset (HFP) modes. This won’t directly impact Streamlabs but can be good to keep in mind for troubleshooting, as the same underlying principle could be the cause of issues. Make sure your headset is on the right output and input in Windows sound settings.

How do I fix game audio through my microphone?

If you’re hearing game audio through your microphone, it might be due to “Listen to this device” being enabled on your microphone settings.

Right-click on your speaker icon in the windows taskbar.
Select Sound settings and then go into sound control panel to open a new window.
Go into recording and double click your microphone.
In the new window, go to the Listen tab and uncheck “Listen to this device“.

Does Steam have sound settings I should consider?

Steam itself has audio settings that can impact your game. Ensure the audio output device in Steam is correctly set to your desired device, and that Steam Audio is enabled in any games that utilize it.

Why is my capture card audio not coming through?

If you’re using a capture card for your game console, make sure that in Streamlabs Desktop, within the capture card source properties, the correct audio input device is selected, and also that the capture card output in the windows sound settings is set to your desired device. Double check the volume levels for the capture card in the Streamlabs mixer as well.

How do I reset my Streamlabs audio settings?

To reset your Streamlabs audio settings:

Open Streamlabs Desktop.
Click the settings cog in the audio mixer to open the advanced audio settings.
You will be able to adjust the most pertinent settings from there.
If all else fails, you can reset the whole settings file by going to File -> Settings -> Remove Settings. This will reset EVERYTHING in Streamlabs. You’ll have to re-add your scenes and sources, and reconfigure all your settings.

What are the ideal audio settings for gaming streams in Streamlabs?

While there aren’t universally ideal settings, consider these as a good base:

Bitrate: 128-192 kbps is usually sufficient for audio.
Sample Rate: 48 kHz is the standard for streaming.
Gain: Adjust gain levels individually for each source to ensure they’re appropriately balanced in the mix.

My stream has game audio, but I can’t hear it. Why?

This issue can arise when your audio is being output to your stream, but not to your headphones. In this case, in Streamlabs, select the gear to the right of the audio source in your mixer, and choose Monitor and Output from the dropdown menu.

Can other audio programs interfere with Streamlabs?

Yes, as mentioned earlier, software like Nahimic, Sonic Studio, Realtek Audio Manager, and Sound Blaster Recon can all interfere with audio capture in Streamlabs. It is best practice to keep them closed while you are streaming.

Why can’t I hear game chat while streaming on Twitch?

If you are unable to hear yourself or others on your broadcast, you must review the Privacy and Online Safety Settings for your account. Check your settings and make sure you allow audio to be shared outside of Xbox Live.

How do I stream Steam games with sound?

To ensure audio from Steam games streams successfully:

From the Steam Link menu: Go to Settings.
Select Streaming.
Press (Y) to enter Advanced Options.
Ensure that Audio Streaming is set to Enabled.

Is there any specific hardware that is better for Streamlabs audio?

While you can achieve good audio with many setups, using a dedicated external audio interface can provide more granular control and better sound quality. Using high-quality microphones and headsets will also increase the quality of your audio.

By meticulously following these steps and exploring these common troubleshooting scenarios, you should be well-equipped to resolve the issue of no game audio on your Streamlabs stream. Remember to double check every step, as it’s often a missed setting causing the problem. Happy streaming!