How to Fix Audio Dropouts in OBS: One Problem’s Solution
Disclaimer: There are many potential causes for audio dropouts. This article outlines my particular problem and its solution. Also, I am not affiliated with any companies mentioned or linked in this article, nor am I receiving any compensation from them.
This is going to be a pretty niche article, but I thought it deserved to be written because of how elusive the cause of the problem was, and how simple a solution it required. I also thought the reason for the solution deserved to be explained.
About a month or so ago, I began having problems during my weekly live stream show, underground stream. Without warning and seemingly without a cause, my audio signal would drop, yielding only intermittent bursts of sound. It ruined multiple streams. Fortunately, I was able to upload audio-only versions because I record my sets elsewhere, but it was a dire problem that had to be solved.
Scouring forums and message boards provided little guidance, and I could not reliably recreate the problem at will – so I had no way of knowing why or when it would happen.
Finally, after several test streams, session log analysis, and a little back and forth with DeepSeek, the issue was brought to light. Not going to lie – I felt kind of dumb!
The Problem:
Unpredictable catastrophic audio dropouts with OBS during live streams.
The Solution:
Use a better USB cable! (TL;DR – I used one of these. Read on for an explanation.)
Now, before you slap me upside the head, allow me to explain the nuance to the problem -and thus its solution. The keyword in the solution is better. I had never given it much thought before, but not all USB cables are created equal!
For context, my live streaming setup flows like this:
Macbook (Rekordbox DJ) > DDJ-1000 > Komplete Audio 6 > Mac Mini (OBS Studio)
According to the logfile for an affected test stream from OBS, the problem was intermittent connectivity from the Audio 6. That was odd because I have had the Audio 6 for many years, and it has never given me issues. I suspected it could have been the cable, but I wanted to be sure.
I took the logfile to DeepSeek and provided some context. It concluded that the problem was very likely a faulty port or cable.
Then I found this article on Native Instruments’ website:
Choosing the Correct USB Cable for your NI Hardware Device
The article is full of valuable information, but the important bit for our explanation of the problem is this:
“Certain USB cable types are not suitable for use with our hardware devices due to the diameter of their internal power wires being too small. This draws additional power along the cable, exceeding the capacity of USB bus-powered mode.”
This is the elusive cause of the problem. I have had the Audio 6 for many years, and I lost the original cable long ago. Not thinking much of it, I used some random USB A to B cable I had laying around to connect it. The thing is, the Audio 6 is a bus-powered device. And according to this article from Native Instruments, it requires more power than your average bus-powered device. If the diameter of the cable is too small, the Audio 6 will draw more power to compensate. And over time, this mismatch will cause the cable to degrade.
I had been using this random USB cable for the weekly live stream for about a year. Pretty good run for a subpar cable, but it couldn’t last forever. The cable had finally degraded enough that it couldn’t maintain a steady connection, and my audio began to fail.
Enter DJ Tech Tools
In my search for a cable with the proper specs, I found myself at DJ Tech Tools. Their USB cables aren’t labeled with AWG (American Wire Gauge) standard codes, but DJ Tech Tools actually started off by making products specifically for Native Instruments devices. Their sales rep said that their cables are of a very high quality and are designed to work well with devices like the Audio 6.
I took him at his word and ordered a bright green USB Chroma Cable.
Problem Solved!
I directly connected the the Audio 6 with the new USB cable – bypassing my USB hub – to avoid any minor problems that may have arisen there. After a test stream and a full broadcast of the underground stream, the problem has not surfaced again. It turns out that using the correct type of cable eliminates problems – who knew!
Conclusion
While this article focused on the problem presenting itself in the context of live streaming with OBS, it is important to consider that this problem was not with OBS at all. It extends to any situation where one would use USB powered devices for any reason. While the majority of USB powered devices would work find with a cheap USB cable, more intensive devices – such as audio interfaces – may require higher quality cables.
Always read the manual and check for manufacturer’s statements regarding power supplies and sources. At least, it could save your stream. At most, it could save your gear!
I hope this article helps some producer or streamer out there with a similar issue.
Until next time,
AudioMunk
