To capture desktop audio in OBS Studio, first play sound and check whether the Audio Mixer’s Desktop Audio meter moves. OBS often captures the default desktop audio device already, so check before adding another source. If you need to record just one app, use a platform-specific source instead. Make a short test recording and listen to it before an important recording or stream.
Choose what you need to capture
- All desktop audio: capture the computer’s system playback, including sounds from multiple apps.
- One application: capture a particular game or app separately, where your operating system and OBS version support it.
- Audio only in a particular scene: add an audio source to that scene, and disable the corresponding global Desktop Audio device to avoid capturing the same sound twice.
Capture all desktop audio
Check the existing Desktop Audio source first
- Open OBS Studio and play audio from the game or application you want to record.
- Watch the Audio Mixer. If the Desktop Audio meter moves, OBS is receiving playback from the selected device. You may not need to add a source.
- If the meter stays still or responds to the wrong output, open Settings → Audio and choose the intended desktop audio device. Return to the mixer and check again while audio is playing.
Use a scene-specific output source on Windows
If you want to control desktop audio through a source in a particular scene, add an Audio Output Capture source and select the output device. If you use that source, disable the same device under Settings → Audio so OBS does not capture it globally as well. Capturing one output twice can cause duplicate or echoing audio. Source availability differs by operating system; OBS marks Audio Input/Output Capture unavailable on Linux.
Capture one application on Windows
OBS documents Application Audio Capture for Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. This lets you capture an app independently rather than including all system playback.
- In the Sources dock, select + and add Application Audio Capture. Give the source a descriptive name.
- Select the window that produces the sound.
- Choose a matching preference. OBS recommends matching by type for most apps. If the window title changes—for example, when a browser tab or playlist changes—matching by executable name can help keep capture attached to the app.
- Play audio in the selected app and verify that the new source’s meter moves in the Audio Mixer.
- Disable global Desktop Audio if it captures the same output. Otherwise, the app’s sound may appear twice.
OBS 30.1 and later also offers a Capture Audio (BETA) option on Window Capture or Game Capture sources. If you use an application-audio source or this option, check for overlapping global capture.
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If Application Audio Capture does not capture the app
Some application audio paths may not work with Application Audio Capture. OBS documents VB-CABLE routing as a fallback: route the app’s sound through the virtual cable, then add the cable’s output as an Audio Input Capture source. On Windows, you can assign an app to CABLE Input in the Volume Mixer. This is a software routing workaround, not a requirement to buy a physical cable.
Capture desktop audio on macOS
macOS 13 Ventura or later
OBS Studio 30 and later includes a macOS Audio Capture source for capturing all desktop audio or a selected application. The macOS Screen Capture source can also capture audio on macOS 13 and later. OBS describes Screen Capture-based audio for OBS 28 and 29 on macOS 13 or later.
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Older macOS versions
OBS says older macOS versions need additional software for desktop audio capture. Its guide describes a VB-CABLE setup and names Loopback and Sound Siphon as audio-routing options. These are third-party software choices; check their current compatibility and terms before relying on them.
Capture audio on Linux
OBS marks Audio Input/Output Capture unavailable on Linux and points users to ALSA or PulseAudio audio capture sources. The exact setup depends on the Linux audio configuration. Select the relevant ALSA or PulseAudio source in OBS and confirm its mixer meter responds; the cited OBS guidance does not provide a distribution-specific desktop-routing walkthrough.
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Test the recording and fix common problems
- No meter movement: play audio, then check Settings → Audio and select the intended device. Confirm that the source is active in the current scene.
- Wrong app or output is captured: check which device or application the source is assigned to, then verify the meter while playing the target audio.
- Echo or doubled sound: look for the same output captured both as global Desktop Audio and as a scene or application source. Disable the redundant global device or source.
- A Windows app is missing from Application Audio Capture: try the VB-CABLE routing fallback and capture the cable’s output as an Audio Input Capture source.
- Audio works in the mixer but not in the saved video: make a short recording, listen to the file, and confirm the intended audio is included before starting the real session.
OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends testing for a few minutes to catch issues before a first stream or recording. A brief test is especially useful after changing devices or capture sources.
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OBS is the right route when you need to capture live computer playback, such as game audio, while recording or streaming from that computer. If your goal is instead to keep uploaded videos looping as a 24/7 YouTube stream, StreamNeo is a different option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams each upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and can recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for uploaded video streams to YouTube, not live camera or desktop-audio capture. Learn about StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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