If AAC files are silent in an OBS playlist, first find where the sound disappears: check the OBS mixer meter, make a short local recording, then compare it with the YouTube output. Those checks distinguish a playback or file-compatibility problem from an audio-track routing problem. OBS lists AAC as supported, so the extension alone does not identify the cause.
Find the point where audio disappears
- Test one known-good AAC file. Play a single file rather than troubleshooting the whole playlist at once.
- Watch the OBS audio mixer. If its meter moves during playback, OBS is receiving audio from the source. If it does not, investigate source playback and file compatibility first.
- Make a short local recording. Play that recording in a media player. If it contains sound but the YouTube stream does not, focus on OBS output routing and the stream’s selected audio track. If it is silent too, return to the source and media checks below.
Mixer activity, local monitoring, a local recording, and the sound heard in a YouTube stream are separate checks. A meter moving does not by itself prove that the stream includes that audio.
Check the OBS source and playlist setup
If you use VLC Video Source
OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes VLC Video Source as a playlist-capable source backed by VLC libraries. VLC must be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, the documentation calls for 64-bit VLC; if VLC Video Source is missing, check that VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS.
If you use Media Source
OBS also lists .aac among the audio types supported by Media Source, but Media Source is for media-file playback rather than a multi-item VLC playlist. In its properties, verify the correct file is selected and check the relevant playback options, including Local File, Loop, Restart playback when source becomes active, and Close file when inactive. Make sure the source is active in the scene and that scene visibility is not interrupting playback.
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Separate decoding from audio-track routing
If the source meter responds, audio is reaching OBS from that source. Next, verify that the source is assigned to the audio track used by the YouTube stream, then compare a brief local recording with the live output. OBS controls and routing options can vary by version and setup, so check the track assignment in your installed version rather than assuming every configuration uses the same controls.
- Local recording has audio; YouTube does not: prioritize the stream’s selected audio track and output configuration.
- Neither the local recording nor YouTube has audio: prioritize source playback, the media file or container, and OBS/VLC version checks.
A 2025 OBS GitHub issue describes a user report in which VLC Video Source audio was audible locally and its mixer meter responded, while the live output lacked audio after an OBS update. It is an example of this symptom pattern, not proof of a current, universal OBS defect or a confirmed cause.
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Check the AAC file and its container
A filename ending in .aac does not tell you every detail of the encoded stream or its container. OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide documents AAC across multiple container combinations and describes it as widely supported. If the file plays elsewhere but not in OBS, inspect the actual codec and container rather than treating the suffix as a complete diagnosis.
- Keep an untouched copy of the original file.
- Test the same audio in another compatible container if the evidence points to an interoperability problem.
- Retest it as a single source in OBS before rebuilding the playlist.
One user in a separate OBS GitHub issue about looping a .aac file reported success after remuxing to M4A or audio-only MP4. That is an individual report, not a guaranteed fix; remuxing or converting may not address a routing or source-configuration problem.
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Keep YouTube’s codec guidance in context
YouTube’s HLS setup guidance lists AAC, AC3, and EAC3 as audio codecs and specifies 44.1 kHz for stereo and 48 kHz for 5.1 surround sound. These are requirements in YouTube’s HLS ingestion instructions, not a general explanation for silence in a local OBS playlist or a universal setting for every YouTube streaming protocol.
Common symptoms and what to check next
| What you observe | Where to investigate |
|---|---|
| VLC Video Source is unavailable | Confirm VLC is installed and, for 64-bit OBS, that VLC is also 64-bit. |
| The source meter does not move | Confirm the source is active, test one file, and inspect playback and file/container compatibility. |
| The meter moves, but a local recording is silent | Check OBS output and track configuration, then compare with a fresh single-file test. |
| The local recording has sound, but YouTube does not | Check which audio track is sent to the stream and the output configuration. |
| A file plays outside OBS but not in the playlist | Check the actual codec/container and test a copy in a compatible container; retain the original. |
| The problem began after an OBS or VLC update | Record the installed versions and repeat the single-file, meter, and local-recording checks to identify which stage changed. An issue report alone does not establish that an update caused the problem. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a continuous YouTube playlist rather than troubleshooting a local OBS setup, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos from the cloud: upload a recording or playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the file as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
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