Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To capture computer playback in OBS Studio, first play a sound and check whether the Desktop Audio meter moves in the Audio Mixer. OBS commonly captures desktop audio by default. If the meter is silent or the wrong output is selected, choose the intended device in Settings → Audio, then make a short test recording and listen to it before streaming or recording for real.
The right setup depends on whether you want all desktop audio or sound from one application, and on your operating system. Avoid capturing the same output through both a global desktop device and a scene source: that can record the sound twice and cause echo.
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Choose what OBS should capture
- All desktop audio: Capture the computer’s general playback, such as sounds from several open apps. Start by checking the Desktop Audio meter; you may not need to add a source.
- One application: Use an application-specific source where your operating system and OBS version support it. This lets you keep that app’s sound separate from other system audio.
- Only in a particular scene: Use a scene source for the relevant output or application, and disable the matching global capture device so the same sound is not included twice.
In every case, the Audio Mixer meter is the quickest indication that OBS is receiving a signal. A moving meter does not replace a playback check: record a short sample and listen to confirm the audio is present and routed as intended.
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Capture all desktop audio
Windows
- Play audio on the computer.
- Look for movement on Desktop Audio in the OBS Audio Mixer.
- If it is silent or listening to the wrong output, open Settings → Audio and select the intended desktop audio device.
- Make a short test recording and listen back.
If you want the output available only in a particular scene, add an Audio Output Capture source in that scene and select the device. When using that scene source, disable the corresponding global Desktop Audio device in Settings → Audio; otherwise, the same sound can be captured globally and by the scene.
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macOS
OBS Studio 30 and later includes a macOS Audio Capture source for macOS 13 Ventura and later. It can capture all desktop audio or a selected application. The macOS Screen Capture source can also capture audio on macOS 13 and later. OBS documentation also describes Screen Capture-based audio for OBS 28 and 29 on macOS 13 or later.
- On a supported setup, add the appropriate macOS audio or screen-capture source in the Sources dock.
- Choose desktop audio or the application you want, as appropriate for the source.
- Play audio and check the Audio Mixer meter, then make and listen to a short test recording.
For macOS versions older than 13, OBS says additional software is needed for desktop audio. Its documentation describes VB-CABLE setup and names Loopback and Sound Siphon as routing options. These are third-party software choices, not requirements for the supported built-in capture paths on newer macOS versions.
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- WORKS ON WINDOWS, MAC AND LINUX - Driverless on Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8, Linux and Mac OSX, and compliant with the USB Audio Device Class 1.0 specification, so any system that supports class-compliant USB audio will see it. Select it as the sound output and input device after plugging it in.
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Linux
OBS lists ALSA and PulseAudio capture sources for Linux. Its Audio Sources documentation marks Audio Input/Output Capture as unavailable on Linux, so do not follow Windows instructions for that source. The exact routing steps depend on the Linux audio setup; after choosing an ALSA or PulseAudio source, verify its meter in OBS and make a short test recording.
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Capture audio from one application
Windows 10 and Windows 11
OBS documents Application Audio Capture for Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. It is useful when you want one app’s sound without recording every other computer sound.
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- In the OBS Sources dock, select + and add Application Audio Capture.
- Give the source a descriptive name so it is easy to identify in the scene.
- Select the window producing the sound and choose the matching preference.
- For most apps, OBS recommends matching by type. If an app’s window title changes—for example, a browser or music app—matching by executable name can help the capture stay attached when the title changes.
- Play audio in the selected app and check the source’s meter in the Audio Mixer. Make a test recording and listen to it.
OBS 30.1 and later also offers a Capture Audio (BETA) option on Window Capture or Game Capture sources. If you use an application-specific source, disable global Desktop Audio when it would also capture that application’s sound; otherwise, you may hear or record a duplicate.
If Application Audio Capture misses an app
Some application audio paths may not work with Application Audio Capture. OBS documents a software-routing fallback using VB-CABLE:
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- Route the application’s output through VB-CABLE. On Windows, you can assign the app to CABLE Input in the Volume Mixer.
- In OBS, add an Audio Input Capture source and select the cable’s output.
- Play audio in the application, check the OBS meter, and record a short test to confirm the routing.
This is a software workaround for compatibility problems, not a requirement to buy an audio cable or other hardware.
Prevent duplicate audio and check the result
- One capture path per sound: If Desktop Audio and a scene or application source both capture the same output, disable the redundant global device or source.
- Check the right meter: Play sound from the intended app or device and watch the corresponding Audio Mixer meter. If it stays still, OBS is not receiving that signal through the selected source.
- Listen to a recording: A brief test can reveal silence, the wrong device, or duplicate capture before an important session. OBS’s Quick Start Guide strongly encourages testing for a few minutes before a first stream or recording.
Troubleshoot silent or doubled desktop audio
| What you notice | What to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Audio Mixer meter movement | Is audio playing, and is OBS using the intended device? | Play a sound and select the intended device in Settings → Audio. If using an application or scene source, check that source’s meter as well. |
| The meter moves, but the recording is silent | Is the sound reaching the intended OBS source and included in the recording? | Make a short test recording and listen to it. Recheck the selected device or application source and adjust the capture route if needed. |
| Echo or doubled sound | Is the same output captured both by global Desktop Audio and by a source in the scene? | Disable the matching global device or remove the duplicate source so the sound is captured only once. |
| One Windows app is missing | Does Application Audio Capture see the app, and is its window or matching preference correct? | Re-select the app and try matching by executable name if its window title changes. If its audio path is unsupported, try OBS’s VB-CABLE routing fallback. |
| Linux instructions do not match the source list | Are you looking for Audio Input/Output Capture? | OBS marks that source unavailable on Linux; use an ALSA or PulseAudio capture source instead. |
| Older macOS setup has no built-in desktop audio capture | Is the system older than macOS 13? | OBS says older macOS versions need additional software for desktop audio; its documentation describes VB-CABLE setup and names Loopback and Sound Siphon as routing options. |
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Quick Recap
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