With the introduction of application audio capture sources you can now separate audio tracks in OBS Studio. Using application audio capture the audio from each program can be captured separately. Resulting in complete control over the volume and sound of each application.
- Select a scene in OBS.
- Create a new source.
- Select application audio capture.
- Name the source, then click Ok.
- Set the window to the application you want to capture audio from.
- Set window match priority to match title, otherwise find window of same executable.
- Click Ok and the application will be added to the audio mixer.
Split Audio Tracks for Recording
Splitting audio tracks in recordings makes the editing process a lot easier. With split audio you can easily mute certain sounds when needed or add effects.
- Go to the OBS output settings.
- Set the output mode to advanced.
- Switch to the recording options.
- Set the audio tracks you want to record.
- Apply and close settings.
- Open the advanced audio properties via the audio mixer.
- Set what audio sources you want to be heard on each track.
- Click “Ok” to confirm your options.
Split Audio Tracks for Streaming
Although split audio tracks don’t directly affect streaming, it does give more control over your audio. Additionally, Twitch streamers also get access to a VOD track. Allowing you to separately choose what audio is heard on stream and on VOD. This can be used to remove music or specific audio from your past broadcast.
- Head to the OBS output settings.
- Set the output mode to advanced.
- Find the audio track options under the streaming tab.
- Choose a track to be used for streaming.
- Twitch streamers can also choose to enable and select a VOD track.
- Apply and close the settings.
- Open advanced audio properties through the audio mixer.
- Enable the audio sources you want to be heard on your selected streaming track.
- Repeat for the selected VOD track.
Additional Tips & Tricks
Being able to split audio tracks gives you more control over your stream & recording audio. It’s wise to take into consideration the new abilities to come with this addition to make your content the best it can be.
Organizing Tracks
Selecting what audio is heard on each track can be fairly difficult at first. The easiest method is to assign a category to each track and enable the applications from there. For example, track 3 for microphone, track 4 for Discord, track 5 for gameplay and track 6 for music and other sounds. This will allow you to easily enable each application on its correct track.
Adding Filters
Application audio capture sources can have filters applied to them. Allowing you to add noise suppression and noise gate filters to Discord. This can help remove background noise from friends in your call.
Hotkeys & Quick Sound
Using OBS hotkeys allows you to mute specific audio devices with a keyboard shortcut. This is particularly useful if you have an Elgato Stream Deck, or another kind of macro pad. You can use this to mute Discord or music when needed.
Pay Music without Hearing it
Music can be played through a different audio device, then added to OBS using an application audio source. This will prevent you from being able to hear the music while your stream still can. Although this may result in the sound being heard on another device, often the volume on the device can be muted while still being heard in OBS.
Organizing Audio Sources
To make all the audio sources a little easier to contain you can either add them to a group or create a scene specifically for audio. The scene can then be added as a source to other scenes, giving you full control over each application in the audio mixer.
Final Thoughts
Separating audio tracks in OBS has many benefits. From giving more control when streaming, to expanding the ability when editing content. The addition of application audio sources has made splitting audio in OBS even easier. Before you would need multiple audio outputs in order to split each application. Typically this was done using an audio device like a GOXLR. Now, even creators with minimal equipment can split audio.
This serves as a great opportunity for creators to easily create higher quality content. By being able to mute Discord audio during the editing process, emphasis can be placed on the entertainment. In other scenarios, gameplay or music can be lowered to emphasize the vocals coming from a microphone or Discord.
