If the clip only needs to play in an OBS scene, add it as a Media Source—you usually do not need to edit the file. If the video file itself must contain an audio track, use FFmpeg to mux generated silence into a new file. YouTube’s encoder guidance lists supported audio codecs, but does not say every live stream must have an audio track.
Choose the right method
| What you need | Use | Does it modify the file? |
|---|---|---|
| Play a video in an OBS scene, with looping or source playback controls | OBS Media Source | No |
| Create a video file that includes a silent audio stream | FFmpeg | Yes; it creates a new output file |
Adding a video to OBS does not make its existing audio silent. If it already has sound, mute or route that source appropriately in OBS, or create a replacement file with FFmpeg if the file itself must have silent audio.
Add the video to OBS without changing the file
- In OBS, find the Sources dock, select +, then choose Media Source.
- Name the source if prompted, then select the local video file. OBS lists MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM as supported video types in its Media Sources guide.
- Choose whether to loop the file and whether playback should restart when the source becomes active. These controls affect OBS playback, not the contents of the original file.
- Check the Audio Mixer while the clip plays. Mute or route its audio according to what you want viewers to hear. Verify the whole scene and test before streaming; OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends checking audio meters and testing settings.
If the goal is only to keep the clip visually silent in the scene, muting the source in OBS is simpler than generating a new file. If another player or workflow needs the file to contain an audio stream, use the FFmpeg method below.
Add a silent audio stream with FFmpeg
FFmpeg’s anullsrc filter generates silent audio. This example maps the input video and a generated stereo audio stream, copies the video without re-encoding, encodes audio as AAC, and ends when the shortest input ends:
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ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -f lavfi -i anullsrc=r=48000:cl=stereo -map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0 -c:v copy -c:a aac -shortest output.mp4- Replace
input.mp4with your source filename andoutput.mp4with a different destination filename. - Run the command in a terminal where FFmpeg is installed and available. The
anullsrcinput here creates stereo silence at 48 kHz. - Use explicit stream mapping as shown:
-map 0:v:0selects the first input’s first video stream, and-map 1:a:0selects the generated audio. This also avoids carrying an existing audio track into the output when you intend to replace it. - Inspect the output with a media-information tool and play it before using it. Confirm it has the expected video and audio streams and duration.
The command is an example assembled from FFmpeg’s documented null audio source options and stream selection and muxing options, not a verbatim command from its manual. FFmpeg’s null source can be configured for channel layout, sample rate and duration; without a set duration, it can generate indefinitely. In this command, -shortest makes output stop when the finite video input ends.
What the options mean
-f lavfi -i anullsrc=...adds a generated silent-audio input.r=48000:cl=stereosets the generated audio’s sample rate and channel layout.-c:v copycopies the video stream instead of re-encoding it.-c:a aacencodes the audio stream as AAC.-shortestends the output when the shortest mapped input ends.
Container and codec compatibility can still cause muxing to fail. If MP4 output is unsuitable for the codecs in your source, check the formats and codecs supported by your target workflow before choosing another container. OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide describes MKV as a flexible recording container that can be remuxed to a more compatible format; its guide lists AAC as compatible with MP4.
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Check YouTube and OBS audio settings
YouTube’s live encoder settings list H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 video codecs, and AAC or MP3 audio codecs for RTMP/RTMPS. The guidance does not establish that every stream needs an audio track, so treat silent audio as a compatibility workaround only if your particular playback or streaming setup requires it.
For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube recommends 44.1 kHz for stereo audio and 48 kHz for 5.1 audio; its listed audio bitrates are 128 Kbps for stereo and 384 Kbps for 5.1. These are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that every encoder configuration is appropriate. The FFmpeg example’s 48 kHz stereo silence is a deliberate choice for the generated file, not a claim that it is YouTube’s recommended stereo sample rate.
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Before the live stream, test the actual OBS scene and ingest path with representative audio and video activity, then monitor YouTube’s stream-health indicators and messages. See YouTube’s live streaming tips for computers.
Troubleshoot common problems
- The clip still has sound in OBS: The file may already contain audio. Check the Audio Mixer and mute or route the Media Source; simply adding the source does not remove its audio.
- The output file has no audio stream: Inspect the FFmpeg command’s input ordering and mappings. The generated audio is input 1, so the audio map must select
1:a:0. - FFmpeg reports a muxing or codec error: The chosen container may not support the source codecs or the desired combination. Check the codec/container compatibility and select an appropriate output format.
- The output duration is unexpected: This command uses
-shortest; verify the input video’s duration and that the intended video stream was mapped. - YouTube reports an audio or stream-health issue: Confirm the encoder’s audio codec and settings against YouTube’s current guidance, inspect OBS meters, and test the real scene and connection before going live.
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