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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If you want to adjust your voice and computer sound independently after recording, use a multitrack recorder such as OBS Studio: assign the microphone and system or app audio to separate recording tracks, enable those tracks in OBS’s output settings, then verify them in a multitrack editor. A built-in screen recorder can include audio, but that does not necessarily mean it saves separate, editable sources.
Choose what “separately” means
There are three different outcomes people often mean by recording audio separately while screen recording:
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| 1 |
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Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB-C Audio Interface | $119.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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| 3 |
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Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB-C Audio Interface | $189.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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M-AUDIO M-Track Solo USB Audio Interface | $49.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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PreSonus AudioBox 96 25th Anniversary USB Audio Interface | $94.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Audio included: the video has sound, but the microphone and computer audio may be mixed together.
- Separate tracks in one video: microphone narration and system or app sound are stored on different tracks, so you can adjust them independently later.
- A separate audio file: the sound is saved in a file apart from the screen video.
The OBS workflow below is for separate tracks inside a recording. The built-in platform instructions later in this guide describe ways to include audio; they do not establish that the sources are saved as separate editable tracks or files.
Record separate microphone and system-audio tracks in OBS
The OBS Project’s Multiple Audio Track Recording Guide, published July 14, 2023, documents assigning audio sources to recording tracks and enabling those tracks for output. Menu labels and device availability can vary with the operating system and OBS installation.
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- Pro performance with great pre-amps - Achieve a brighter recording thanks to the high performing mic pre-amps of the Scarlett 3rd Gen. A switchable Air mode will add extra clarity to your acoustic instruments when recording with your Solo 3rd Gen
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- Add the audio sources you need. Set up the desktop or app output and microphone as sources available to your scene. OBS documents Audio Input/Output Capture for devices such as a microphone, headset, or other selected audio device. On Linux, its Audio Sources documentation directs users to ALSA/PulseAudio sources instead. On macOS, available capture routes can depend on the OS version and permissions; do not assume every installation exposes identical options.
- Open Advanced Audio Properties. In OBS’s Audio Mixer, open Advanced Audio Properties to see the track assignments for each source.
- Assign each source to its own track. For example, assign the microphone to one track and desktop or app audio to another. If you also want a version that plays easily in ordinary video players, assign both sources to a shared track as well. That combined track is optional; it does not replace the separate tracks.
- Enable the tracks for recording. Go to Settings → Output and enable the audio tracks you assigned. Track assignment in the mixer alone is not enough if a track is not enabled for output.
- Make a short test recording. Speak, play the computer audio you intend to capture, and confirm that the screen and audio are present. Open the file in an editor that displays multiple audio tracks, then check that each source is audible on the intended track and aligned with the video.
Do not rely only on a basic video player to confirm that tracks are missing. The OBS Project warns that “all standard video players will only play back one audio track at a time.” Use an editor with multitrack audio visibility to inspect the recording.
Avoid capturing the same device twice
If you add a microphone or output device directly to a scene, check whether OBS is also capturing that device globally under Settings → Audio. OBS warns that capturing the same device in both places can cause echo. Disable the duplicate global capture if you are using the scene source.
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Built-in screen recording options by platform
Built-in recorders are convenient when you only need audio included in the screen video. Their controls are not a substitute for confirming that a file contains independently editable tracks.
| Platform | Documented audio control | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 and 11: Xbox Game Bar | In Game Bar settings, open Capturing and choose the option to include all computer sounds. Start or stop a clip with Windows key + Alt + R; toggle the microphone with Windows key + Alt + M. | Microsoft’s instructions describe including system audio and controlling the microphone. They do not say the sources are saved on independent tracks. Clips are saved as MP4 files in Videos/Captures. |
| Mac: built-in screen recording | In the Mac Screenshot screen-recording controls, select a microphone if you want to record voice or other microphone audio. | Apple’s instructions establish microphone selection, not a universal built-in workflow for splitting system sound and microphone audio into separate tracks. |
| iPhone | Open Control Center, touch and hold Screen Recording, turn on Microphone, then start recording. | Apple documents a microphone control, not independently editable mic and app-audio tracks. Some apps may not allow their content to be recorded. Screen recording cannot be used at the same time as screen mirroring. |
| Android | Open Screen recorder from Quick Settings, choose whether to record audio, then stop from the Screen recorder notification. | Google’s general instructions do not establish the same audio-source choices or separate-track support on every Android device. If the steps do not work, Google directs users to their phone maker. |
When you need a separate audio file
The platform instructions above do not establish a universal built-in method for saving the microphone or system audio as a separate file alongside a screen recording. If your editing goal is to adjust voice and computer sound independently, separate tracks in a multitrack recording are the supported workflow described here. For a dedicated audio-production workflow on Mac, Apple’s Logic Pro documentation describes assigning different inputs to different tracks; recording multiple sources simultaneously requires an audio interface with multiple inputs. Logic Pro is an audio-recording workflow, not a screen recorder by itself.
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Check the result and fix common problems
- You hear only one source in playback: Inspect the file in an editor that displays audio tracks. A standard video player may play only one track even when the file contains more.
- OBS audio echoes: Look for the same input or output device captured both as a scene source and globally under Settings → Audio; remove the duplicate capture.
- A phone recorder has no suitable audio choice: Check the phone maker’s instructions. Google’s general Android guidance does not specify identical controls across devices.
- An app’s content is missing: Capture may be restricted by the app or platform. Apple specifically notes that some iPhone apps may not allow their content to be recorded; check the relevant app or platform guidance.
- You have not checked sync or track routing: Make a short test before a long tutorial or presentation. Confirm the screen, intended sources, track assignments, and alignment in an editor.
Do you need an external microphone?
No. A USB microphone is optional: it can be a separate input for narration, but it is not required to create separate tracks. The important part is that the recorder can capture the sources you want and route them to distinct tracks.
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