OBS recording

• Prevents Double Processing: If you bake enhancements (like bass boost or loudness equalization) into the video, anyone watching your recording will have their own system effects applied on top of yours, causing distorted or muddy sound.
• Preserves Original Mix: Streams from Netflix or YouTube are already professionally mixed. Leaving enhancements on allows Windows to artificially alter the audio before OBS captures it.
• Avoids Capture Bugs: Spatial sound and "Device Default Effects" can sometimes cause phase issues, echo, or stereo glitches when captured by OBS.

• Prevents Desync Bugs: Using device timestamps relies on your audio hardware's internal clock. If the hardware clock drifts even slightly from your system clock, your audio and video will slowly drift out of sync over long recordings.
• OBS System Clock is Safer: Disabling it forces OBS to use its own internal system clock to stamp the audio. This ensures the audio tracks stay perfectly locked to the video frames.
• Eliminates Audio Stutter: Some hardware drivers pass faulty timestamps to Windows, which can cause OBS to drop audio packets, leading to micro-stutters or crackling in your final file.

AmericanPharaoh said:

It is highly recommended to leave "Use device timestamps" unchecked (disabled) in OBS.
Here is why:

• Prevents Desync Bugs: Using device timestamps relies on your audio hardware's internal clock. If the hardware clock drifts even slightly from your system clock, your audio and video will slowly drift out of sync over long recordings.
• OBS System Clock is Safer: Disabling it forces OBS to use its own internal system clock to stamp the audio. This ensures the audio tracks stay perfectly locked to the video frames.
• Eliminates Audio Stutter: Some hardware drivers pass faulty timestamps to Windows, which can cause OBS to drop audio packets, leading to micro-stutters or crackling in your final file.

Bottom line: Keep it unchecked unless you are using a specialized, high-end external audio interface that specifically requires hardware clock synchronization.

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