Fix OBS Audio Cutting Out When Discord Is Open

When Discord and OBS Studio run simultaneously, audio conflicts can cause OBS audio to cut out entirely. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step solution to resolve this issue by disabling exclusive audio control in Windows, matching your system’s sample rates, and adjusting Discord’s internal voice settings.

Step 1: Disable Exclusive Mode in Windows

Windows has a feature that allows certain applications to take exclusive control of an audio device’s driver. When Discord opens, it may hijack the audio device, cutting off OBS.

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type mmsys.cpl, and press Enter to open the Sound Control Panel.
  2. Under the Playback tab, right-click your primary audio device (headphones or speakers) and select Properties.
  3. Navigate to the Advanced tab.
  4. Under the Exclusive Mode section, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
  5. Click Apply and then OK.
  6. Repeat this process under the Recording tab for your microphone.

Step 2: Match Audio Sample Rates

Mismatched sample rates between Windows, OBS, and Discord can cause the audio engine to crash. Ensuring all devices use the same frequency (either 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz) will prevent conflicts.

  1. In the same Sound Control Panel, right-click your playback device and select Properties.
  2. Go to the Advanced tab.
  3. Under Default Format, note the sample rate (e.g., 24-bit, 48000 Hz).
  4. Open OBS Studio and go to Settings > Audio.
  5. Ensure the Sample Rate in OBS matches the rate set in Windows (48 kHz is highly recommended for streaming).

Step 3: Change Discord’s Audio Subsystem

Discord’s default audio subsystem can sometimes conflict with OBS Studio’s capture methods. Switching to the legacy subsystem often resolves compatibility bugs.

  1. Open Discord and click the gear icon (User Settings) in the bottom-left corner.
  2. Select Voice & Video from the left sidebar.
  3. Scroll down to the Audio Subsystem dropdown menu.
  4. Change the setting from Standard to Legacy.
  5. Discord will prompt you to relaunch the app to apply the changes.

Step 4: Disable Discord Attenuation

Discord has a built-in feature called Attenuation that lowers the volume of other applications when someone is speaking. This can sometimes trigger a complete mute in OBS.

  1. In Discord’s Voice & Video settings, scroll down to the Attenuation section.
  2. Move the slider to 0% to completely disable it.
  3. Uncheck both “When I speak” and “When others speak”.

Once you have completed these steps, restart both OBS Studio and Discord as administrator to apply the changes and ensure proper permissions.