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Audio

Record Desktop Audio in OBS Without a Stereo Mix

The old stereo mix device is gone from most drivers. OBS captures the output directly, and the part that matters is keeping it on its own track.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:25 min level:Beginner tested on:Windows 11 24H2, OBS Studio 32 works on:Windows 10, Windows 11 tools:OBS Studio
TL;DR

Add **Audio Output Capture**, choose the playback device, and put desktop and microphone on **separate tracks**. Never enable two sources that capture the same sound.

Before you start

Requirements

  • OBS Studio
  • A playback device
  • Two minutes
Step by step

Instructions

01

Add the output capture source

Audio Output Capture records whatever the chosen playback device plays, with no virtual cable and no driver tricks. The device list shows the same entries as the Windows sound panel.

Sources > + > Audio Output Capture
02

Match the device, not the default

Point the source at the device you actually use, such as the headset rather than the monitor speakers. A source following the system default switches mid-recording when a headset connects.

Properties > Device: Headphones (not Default)
⚠ warningExclusive-mode apps can block the capture entirely. If a source stays silent, check the app's audio output mode first.
03

Separate the tracks

Put desktop audio on track 1 and the microphone on track 2. A single mixed track cannot be fixed afterwards, and a viewer complaining about game volume is a five second edit with two tracks.

Advanced Audio Properties > Tracks
tipEnable both tracks in the output settings, otherwise the recording keeps only track 1 and the second one is silently dropped.
04

Avoid capturing the same sound twice

Display capture can carry audio as well. With an output capture source added, disable the audio on the display source or the recording gets a doubled, slightly delayed copy.

05

Balance the two sources

Set the desktop around -20 dB and the voice so it sits clearly above it. A sidechain compressor ducks the music under speech and sounds more deliberate than a static level.

Filters > Compressor (sidechain from Mic)
06

Verify a real recording

Record thirty seconds with speech and music at once, then play it back in a player outside OBS. Watch for drift between the two tracks and for a channel that is silent.

Troubleshooting

Common issues

The meter moves but the file is silent

The track the source uses is not enabled in the output settings. Check both places.

Only the microphone is in the file

The output capture source points at a device with no playback, or the app uses a different output.

Audio and video drift apart

A device at a different sample rate. Set 48 kHz everywhere, including the Windows device settings.

Crackling in loud sections

The desktop source is clipping. Lower its volume in the mixer rather than the system volume.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Do I still need a virtual cable?

Only for per-application routing or for apps that block capture. A plain desktop recording does not need one.

Can I record a browser tab only?

Not with this source. Use an application audio capture source if OBS offers it for that app.

How to undo this

Remove the **Audio Output Capture** source and restore the previous track assignments in the advanced audio properties. Recordings already on disk are unaffected.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
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