To get computer audio into a live stream, add it to OBS either as a desktop or application-audio source, or route the app through a virtual audio cable and capture that cable as an input. Direct capture is simpler when your operating system and OBS version support it; a virtual cable can help when OBS cannot capture the application directly. The exact steps differ between Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Choose the route that fits your audio
| Route | Best for | Support and setup |
|---|---|---|
| Direct desktop or application capture | Capturing all desktop sound, or a supported app as a separate OBS source | Usually the simpler route where supported. Application Audio Capture is documented for Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11; macOS and Linux use different approaches. |
| Virtual audio cable | Routing a specific application into OBS when direct application capture is unsuitable | Creates a separately selectable audio input, but requires installing and choosing a virtual audio device. The VB-CABLE steps below are for Windows. |
If you want a physical source—such as a mixer, external microphone, console, or second computer—these software routes may not be enough. An audio interface can bring some physical audio sources into OBS; a console or second computer may require a video capture device. The right hardware and setup depend on the source.
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Method 1: Capture desktop or application audio directly
Check whether OBS is already capturing sound
- Open OBS and look at the Audio Mixer. OBS commonly captures desktop audio and a microphone by default, so play the sound you want to stream and watch for movement on the meters.
- If the wrong device is selected or a meter does not move, open Settings → Audio and select the intended device. Labels and available options can vary by operating system and OBS version.
- For a supported Windows app, add an Application Audio Capture source to the scene and choose the application. OBS documents this feature for Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. Capturing an app separately can help you control it independently or keep it on a separate audio track.
Account for your operating system
- Windows: Application Audio Capture is an option on supported Windows versions. OBS 30.1 added the option to include audio with Window Capture or Game Capture. If you use an application-capture source, disable global Desktop Audio if it would also capture the same sound.
- macOS: Follow OBS’s macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide. It describes macOS Screen Capture and other routing approaches. Do not assume Windows source names or steps apply on a Mac.
- Linux: OBS’s audio-source guidance uses ALSA or PulseAudio sources rather than the Windows/macOS Audio Input/Output Capture source. Select the appropriate source for your Linux audio setup.
To add a device to just one scene, use OBS’s audio input or output source rather than relying only on a global device. The available source names depend on your platform.
Method 2: Route an application through a virtual audio cable
On Windows, a virtual cable can give OBS a separate input for an application whose sound is not working with direct capture. VB-CABLE is a software driver, not a physical cable. Download it from its publisher and follow the publisher’s installation instructions before selecting it in Windows and OBS.
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- In the Windows Volume Mixer, set the target application’s output device to CABLE Input.
- In OBS, add an Audio Input Capture source to the scene.
- Select CABLE Output as that source’s device.
- Play audio in the target application and check that the new source’s meter moves in the OBS Audio Mixer.
The cable gives you a distinct route for that application, but adds a driver and device-selection steps. OBS documents other audio-routing approaches for macOS; the Windows VB-CABLE instructions above should not be treated as universal Mac or Linux steps.
Prevent echo and test the stream audio
Echo often means OBS is capturing the same signal twice—for example, once through global Desktop Audio and again through an application-capture source, or through both a global device and a scene source.
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- Play the audio and identify which Audio Mixer meters move.
- Mute or disable the duplicate global or scene source, then listen again. Keep the route you intend viewers to hear.
- Make a short test recording and play it back to confirm the right audio is present and not doubled.
- Before an important live session, run a brief test stream as well. OBS recommends testing before going live.
Troubleshoot missing or doubled audio
- No meter movement: Check that the intended device is selected in Settings → Audio or on the scene source, then verify that the target application is sending sound to that device.
- The wrong sound is captured: Choose the correct desktop device or application source. On Windows, confirm that the app is routed to the intended output; for VB-CABLE, that is CABLE Input.
- Audio is doubled or echoes: Disable the duplicate global or scene source. In particular, do not capture an application through its own source and also capture the same sound through Desktop Audio.
- The direct application source is unavailable or silent: Check the operating system and OBS version. On supported Windows systems, try the virtual-cable route if direct application capture does not work. macOS and Linux require their platform-specific routing options.
- Sound is missing from the recording or test stream: Recheck the active source and mixer meters, then record a short test and listen to the result before starting the full broadcast.
When an audio interface or capture device is needed
Desktop capture and a virtual cable are software methods for computer audio. A USB audio interface may be useful when a physical microphone, mixer, or other external audio source must feed OBS; it is not required for the two computer-audio methods. A console or second computer may need a video capture device, but the exact setup depends on the equipment and is not the same for every source.
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