How to Fix Audio Crackling in OBS Studio

Audio crackling, popping, or distortion in OBS Studio can severely degrade the quality of your livestreams and recordings. This article provides a quick, step-by-step troubleshooting guide to resolve these audio issues by matching device sample rates, adjusting buffer sizes, managing CPU usage, and configuring your audio hardware settings.

Match Your Sample Rates

The most common cause of audio crackling in OBS Studio is a mismatch between the sample rate of your operating system’s audio devices and the sample rate set in OBS.

Step 1: Check OBS Studio Sample Rate

1. Open OBS Studio and go to Settings > Audio.
2. Look at the Sample Rate (usually set to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz). Note this value.

Step 2: Check Windows Audio Settings

1. Press Windows Key + R, type mmsys.cpl, and hit Enter to open the Sound Control Panel.
2. Under the Playback tab, right-click your active audio device and select Properties.
3. Go to the Advanced tab.
4. Under Default Format, ensure the sample rate matches the sample rate set in OBS (e.g., “24-bit, 48000 Hz” if OBS is set to 48 kHz).
5. Repeat this process for your microphone under the Recording tab.

Adjust Audio Interface Buffer Size

If you are using an external USB audio interface (such as a Focusrite Scarlett, Behringer, or Motu), the buffer size may be set too low. A low buffer size reduces latency but requires more CPU power, which can result in crackling.

1. Open the proprietary control panel software for your audio interface.
2. Locate the Buffer Size (or ASIO Buffer Size) setting.
3. Increase the buffer size (e.g., from 128 samples to 256 or 512 samples).
4. Restart OBS Studio to apply the changes.

Disable “Use Device Timestamps”

OBS Studio features a setting that synchronizes audio using your hardware’s internal clock. Sometimes, this clock mismatch causes crackling.

1. In OBS, locate your audio source in the Audio Mixer dock.
2. Click the three dots (options icon) next to the source and select Properties.
3. Uncheck the box labeled Use Device Timestamps.
4. Click OK and test the audio.

Reduce CPU Usage

Audio crackling can occur when your CPU is overloaded, causing the audio encoder to lag.

• Run OBS as Administrator: Right-click the OBS Studio shortcut and select Run as administrator. This gives OBS priority processing power over other background applications.
• Close Background Apps: Close unnecessary browser tabs, game launchers, or hardware monitoring software.
• Lower Encoding Settings: Go to Settings > Output and lower your video bitrate or change your encoder preset to a faster option (e.g., from “Quality” to “Performance”) to free up CPU resources.

Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers

Outdated, corrupt, or generic motherboard audio drivers can cause processing bottlenecks.

1. Visit the manufacturer’s website for your motherboard or dedicated sound card.
2. Download and install the latest Realtek or proprietary audio drivers.
3. If using a USB microphone (like a Blue Yeti or Elgato Wave), ensure you have installed the manufacturer’s companion software (e.g., Logitech G Hub or Elgato Wave Link) to keep the firmware updated.