> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://chrisenns.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Nothing Ever Works - Streaming Edition - URL: https://chrisenns.com/2025/10/nothing-ever-works-streaming-edition/ - Published: 2025-10-07T18:06:02.000Z - Updated: 2025-10-07T18:34:18.000Z - Description: My 10+ year journey to try and simply show everyone how bad I am at video games RIGHT NOW while it's happening. - Author: Chris Enns - Tags: video games, streaming I feel like I've been attempting to [stream video games](https://www.twitch.tv/lemoncasting?ref=chrisenns.com) for over 10 years and have never figured out how to do it reliably. By the way, this is strictly for fun and goofs. I have no desire to make a career out of dying in Fortnite at the hands of 12 year olds scrolling TikTok while I throw medkits at them by mistake instead of shooting back. I just want it to work reliably so I can have fun playing the games instead of troubleshooting tech. ## Current Gear and Software Stack To connect my Xbox X console to my Mac Studio computer, I've got an aging [Elgato HD60 S+](https://help.elgato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034170131-Elgato-Game-Capture-HD60-S-Technical-Specifications?ref=chrisenns.com) which plugs in to my Mac Studio via a USB C cable. Which all works just fine, by the way! I can open up [OBS](https://obsproject.com/?ref=chrisenns.com), an incredible feat of open source free to use capture + streaming software, and see / hear everything happening on my Xbox in OBS. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/50/6750cf9b-787e-4b61-ae0a-04a8492a2ece/content/images/2025/10/CleanShot-2025-10-07-at-11.28.41.gif) You don't need to hear it to know it's working - the little meter in the bottom-middle of the GIF is moving as Rumi, Mira, and Zoey drop in to the island. I've also tried this same set up with [Ecamm Live](https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp%5Fref=ichris&ref=chrisenns.com), so I know it's the Xbox and or an OBS setting as far as I can tell. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/50/6750cf9b-787e-4b61-ae0a-04a8492a2ece/content/images/2025/10/CleanShot-2025-10-07-at-12.27.53-1.gif) That's what it looks like when I've got a headset turned on. No nice sound bars moving as Gorillaz get launched into the game. Plus the game audio works if I don't turn on the headset. So why the blog post? ## I Bought a New Headset Like I said, everything works fine right up until I turn on my gaming headset, a very nice [Arctis Nova 7X wireless headset](https://amzn.to/47bGiKq?ref=chrisenns.com), and then OBS only picks up Xbox menu navigation sounds. Game audio is non existent. If I turn off my headphones, the game audio comes back immediately. 🤑 Proof that blogging saves money: While writing this post I went to get the link to the headset I bought and I realized it's[ now $60 cheaper for Prime Days](https://amzn.to/47bGiKq?ref=chrisenns.com), and I was still in the return window. So I'm sending it back. Blogging for the win! As you can imagine, streaming a game without any game sound other than me crying into my microphone after getting destroyed by 3 teenagers making 6, 7 jokes isn't a great experience for anyone involved. What seems to be happening is that when a headset is engaged, the Xbox turns off audio through the HDMI output. Which kind of makes sense, because if you have a headset on you don't need audio going to your TV and annoying your family. Except that when I have my Xbox X connected to our TV and not using any sort of capture card, it does still send audio down the HDMI cable to our TV when I turn on my headset. Something is happening with how the Elgato HD60 S+ identifies itself to the Xbox that's different than my TV. ## Voice Chat can be toxic, but also a lot of fun I can hear some of the smart tech folks wondering why I don't just use my fancy podcasting microphone and headset when gaming + streaming? The main reason I don't want to do that is because then I can't talk with anyone in my party in game. Not that I always want to be able to hear or talk to "*BarbieGirl203*" or "*Transformer203*" while they're reviving me *again*. But every so often it's fun to join in the conversation about the game. Plus I do have my #FortniteDad pickle squad that hangs out every so often that I want to be able to chat with. For people I do actually know, we can always hop on Discord to chat while we play so that's not as big a deal. But there's also a lag from the HD60 S+ capture card to what I'm seeing on screen that I don't trust is the real reason I'm not able to hit "*MarkyMarkandtheFortniteBunch*" while they're running across my screen. ## Solutions One possible fix is buying a newer capture device. The [Elgato 4K X](https://amzn.to/46WPl0m?ref=chrisenns.com) would be pretty sweet for sending 4K video everywhere. Oh and would you look at that! [It's on sale this week](https://amzn.to/46WPl0m?ref=chrisenns.com). And I just saved $60 on my headset! It might also fix my lag issues? Another fix might be buying the official [Microsoft Xbox Wireless headset](https://amzn.to/432EUar?ref=chrisenns.com) which uses Microsoft's built in bluetooth signal to send audio back and forth, unlike the Arctis Nova 7X which comes with a proprietary USB dongle that I plug into the Xbox X which then sends the signal to the headset wirelessly. Or I could just stop trying to make streaming happen. It's been 10 years. Maybe I should move on to something else like starting a podcast?