The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To record selected app audio in OBS, first capture each app or device as its own source, then assign those sources to recording tracks. Those are separate steps: adding an app source does not automatically create an isolated track. For a ready-to-hear recording, put the full mix on track 1 and add isolated sources on other tracks.
Choose what you need OBS to do
Selective capture, multitrack recording, custom mixes, and hardware routing solve related but different problems. Decide which result you want before adding sources:
- Capture selected apps: Add an audio source for each app you want, rather than capturing all desktop audio.
- Keep sources editable: Assign the captured sources to separate recording tracks.
- Make different mixes: Configure which sources are heard in a stream, recording, or headphones. Separate recording tracks alone do not create different live mixes.
- Record microphones or instruments alongside computer audio: Use the relevant device inputs; a compatible audio interface with loopback may help bring computer playback into the recording software.
For example, “How do I record game audio and Discord separately in OBS?” requires both app-specific sources and track assignments. A virtual cable, interface, or separate routing application is not a universal prerequisite; use one only if OBS’s native options do not expose the source or mix you need.
Capture selected app audio in OBS
Windows: use Application Audio Capture
OBS documents Application Audio Capture for Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. In the Sources dock, select +, add Application Audio Capture, and choose the target app or window. Add a separate source for each app you want to control independently. OBS recommends matching by window type for most applications; for apps with changing window titles, such as browsers or music apps, matching by executable name can keep capture attached as the title changes. The precise available choices can vary with the app and OBS version. OBS Application Audio Capture guide.
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When using application sources, disable global desktop capture in Settings → Audio to avoid recording the same sound twice. If you need desktop audio as well, plan the sources so a device or app is not captured both globally and individually.
Windows fallback: route an incompatible app through VB-CABLE
If an app’s sound is unavailable through Application Audio Capture, OBS documents a fallback using VB-CABLE. Install and configure VB-CABLE according to its vendor’s current instructions. In Windows Volume Mixer, set the problem app’s output device to the cable; in OBS, add an Audio Input Capture source and select the cable’s recording endpoint. This is a workaround for particular capture incompatibilities, not a step every Windows user needs. Check the device names shown on your own system rather than assuming they match an example. OBS Application Audio Capture guide.
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macOS: use the source that matches your versions
On macOS 13 Ventura or later with OBS Studio 30 or later, add a macOS Audio Capture source and choose desktop audio or an individual application. The macOS Screen Capture source can also include audio; where supported, configure it for a specific application or window. OBS 28 and 29 on macOS 13 use a different screen-capture-source workflow, so do not follow the Windows Application Audio Capture steps on a Mac. OBS macOS Screen Capture guide.
Older macOS versions may need a software-based routing method. OBS’s VB-CABLE instructions for macOS describe creating a Multi-Output Device, but that setup does not provide per-application capture in the documented workflow. Check the OBS instructions for your macOS and OBS versions before installing or routing audio. OBS macOS audio capture guide.
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Record separate audio tracks
Once each app or device is available as a source, decide which sources should appear together and which should remain isolated for editing. OBS’s guide explains that assigning sources to multiple tracks is useful when working with an editor after recording. OBS Multiple Audio Track Recording Guide.
- In the Audio Mixer, open Advanced Audio Properties from its gear or menu.
- For each source, select the track or tracks it should appear on. For a common game-and-Discord setup, put both sources on track 1 for a combined mix, game audio on track 2, and Discord on track 3.
- Open Settings → Output and enable the audio tracks you want included in the recording.
- Record a short sample and check the tracks in the editor or player you intend to use.
Track 1 in that example is a practical default, not a requirement; choose a layout that suits your editing workflow. Many standard media players play only one audio track at a time. If you record only isolated tracks, playback in an ordinary player may seem silent or incomplete because it is playing a track that does not contain the full mix. Include all sources on one combined track when the file should play back as a ready-to-hear recording, then add isolated tracks as needed.
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Prevent duplicate audio, echo, and feedback
- Do not capture the same sound twice. If a device is enabled in global Settings → Audio and also added as an input source in a scene, disable one of those captures. OBS warns that capturing a device in both places can cause echo.
- Check where audio is routed. A hardware interface’s loopback input can capture computer playback, but routing that loopback back into a mix that feeds itself can create a feedback loop. Focusrite advises muting loopback channels in recording software to avoid feedback.
- Keep app capture and track assignment distinct. A source can be captured correctly but assigned to the wrong track, or omitted from the tracks enabled for recording.
OBS audio sources · Focusrite loopback guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to use a virtual cable, interface, or routing app
Start with OBS-native capture when your operating system and OBS version support the source you need. Consider an alternative only to address a specific limitation:
| Route | Useful when | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| OBS-native app capture | You need to capture selected applications on a supported Windows version or modern macOS/OBS combination. | App capture and track assignment are separate setup steps; exact behavior depends on the supported OS, OBS version, and app. |
| Virtual cable | A Windows app does not work with native application capture and can be routed to another output device. | It adds configuration and is a software fallback, not a physical interface or universal requirement. |
| USB audio interface with loopback | You want computer playback available as an interface input alongside microphones or instruments. | Loopback support depends on the exact model and generation. Verify the interface’s compatibility and your recording application’s support before buying. Focusrite describes loopback as capturing computer audio into recording software on a separate channel alongside mics or instruments. |
| Dedicated routing or mixing software | You need more control over application routing, submixes, or separate mixes for stream, headphones, and VOD. | RØDE UNIFY describes application routing as Windows-only. Elgato Wave Link 3.0 describes separate mixes for stream, headphones, and VOD and support for any microphone. Check each vendor for current availability, licensing, and compatibility. |
Sources: OBS Application Audio Capture, OBS macOS Screen Capture, Focusrite Control 2 loopback guide, Focusrite interface compatibility list, RØDE UNIFY guide, and Elgato Wave Link 3.0 overview.
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Verify the recording before relying on it
- Start the target app or play the target audio, then watch the OBS Audio Mixer meters. Speak into the microphone if it is part of the setup.
- If a meter does not move or the wrong source responds, check the selected application or device. Choose a device manually under Settings → Audio if OBS is listening to the wrong input.
- Make a short test recording. Check the combined mix and each isolated track in the editor or player you will actually use.
- If the file sounds incomplete in a standard player, confirm which track that player selected and whether your combined mix is present. OBS encourages test recordings before relying on a configuration for an important recording. OBS Quick Start Guide.
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Quick Recap
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