The Tool Desk
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Before you route tracks: check that sources are separate
OBS can record separately only what it receives separately. If game sound and music arrive together in one desktop-audio or console-capture source, assigning that source to several tracks will copy the combined signal; it will not recover the original components.
- In the OBS Audio Mixer, identify which entries represent your microphone, game or application audio, desktop audio, chat, and music.
- If two sounds are already combined, look for a way to expose them as separate inputs—for example, capture an application separately or use a game’s Streamer Mode or separate music-volume control where available.
- Elgato notes that console-capture audio may arrive as one combined signal, which cannot then be split into game music and effects in OBS (Elgato’s Twitch VOD track guide, last updated August 31, 2026).
Record separate audio tracks locally in OBS
This workflow creates a multitrack recording on your computer. OBS’s guide uses track 1 for a complete mix and tracks 2–6 for separated audio; you can choose a different layout if it suits your editing workflow.
- Open Advanced Audio Properties. In the Audio Mixer, select the gear menu and choose Advanced Audio Properties. OBS also documents access through the Edit menu.
- Assign each source to tracks. In the track columns, select the tracks on which each source should appear. A practical layout is to send every source to track 1 for a complete mix, then send each independently editable source to its own track—for example, microphone on track 2, game audio on track 3, and chat on track 4. A source can be assigned to more than one track.
- Enable tracks for recording. Open Settings → Output and enable the audio tracks you want included in the recording. Selecting a source’s track in Advanced Audio Properties does not by itself ensure that the track is enabled for output.
- Make a short test recording. Import it into the editing application you plan to use. Confirm that the expected sources appear on the expected tracks and that the editor handles the recording as intended before relying on the setup for a long stream.
OBS’s Multiple Audio Track Recording Guide (dated July 14, 2023) explains source assignment and output-track selection. OBS cautions that standard video players generally play one audio track at a time. Retaining a full mix on track 1 gives the file a ready-to-play mix outside an editor; without it, a player may play only one isolated source.
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Track handling varies by editing application and container, and the sources cited here do not establish compatibility for every combination. Check the behavior in your own editor and recording format before a critical session.
Keep the Twitch live mix different from the VOD mix
If your goal is to keep music in a Twitch live broadcast but leave it out of the saved VOD, configure the Twitch VOD feed separately from your local recording tracks. OBS documents track 1 as the live audio feed and track 2 as the VOD feed by default; tracks 3–6 can remain available for editing separation.
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- Connect your Twitch account in OBS. Go to Settings → Stream and connect the account.
- Enable the Twitch VOD track. In Settings → Output, turn on the Twitch VOD track. The location and visible controls may differ with output mode or application version.
- Route sources in Advanced Audio Properties. Send sources you want in both the live broadcast and VOD to both feeds. To omit music from the VOD, send the separately captured music source to the live feed only, not the VOD feed.
- Test the result. Make a test VOD and listen at points where the music and other audio play. Confirm that the saved VOD has the intended mix before relying on the route.
OBS’s Twitch VOD Track Guide (dated July 14, 2023) describes the live/VOD distinction and default track mapping. Elgato’s setup guide describes enabling the feature in Output settings, with the control depending on Simple or Advanced output mode.
Keep music separate and avoid monitoring feedback
Music must be a distinct source or routed mix if it is to be excluded from the VOD. Elgato suggests capturing it separately—for example, with Application Audio Capture or a virtual audio device—instead of folding it into Desktop Audio. Its example sends other sources to both tracks and music to the live track only. Set OBS’s monitoring device to headphones that OBS does not capture, then test the VOD to check for missing sound or duplication. Wave Link is another routing option identified by Elgato, but confirm its current availability and suitability for your setup.
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Routing a source away from a VOD is not permission to transmit it in the live stream. The cited routing documentation does not determine whether you have rights to stream or publish a particular recording; check the applicable rights and platform rules for the music you use.
Choose the workflow that matches what you need
| Goal | What to configure | Important check |
|---|---|---|
| Edit microphone, game, or other sources separately after streaming | OBS local track assignments in Advanced Audio Properties, plus recording-track selection in Settings → Output | Import a short sample into your intended editor and confirm track layout. |
| Keep a source out of a Twitch VOD while retaining it in the live feed | The Twitch VOD feed and source routing in Advanced Audio Properties | Test a saved VOD; local recording track assignments alone do not set the VOD mix. |
| Do both | Configure local recording tracks and the Twitch VOD feed independently | Verify both the local file and the saved VOD. |
There is no hardware purchase requirement for the documented OBS track-assignment workflow. An audio interface may help if you need an independent microphone input that your current setup does not expose, but no particular model is established here.
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Other Twitch recording option: verify current availability
Twitch’s Local Recording page has been indexed as describing a multitrack local recording option for system audio, microphone, and stream-only audio, with up to four tracks selectable and MKV recommended to reduce corruption risk if a recording crashes. The page could not be opened to confirm those details, so check the current Twitch interface and help documentation before depending on the option. This is distinct from OBS’s local track assignment and Twitch VOD routing workflows.
Troubleshooting separate audio tracks
- The recording has one combined audio source. The inputs may already be mixed before reaching OBS. Capture the applications or inputs separately, or use available game audio controls; track assignment cannot split a combined capture.
- A track is missing from the file. Check both the source’s track selection in Advanced Audio Properties and whether that track is enabled under Settings → Output. Then record and inspect another short sample.
- The file plays only one source in a normal player. Standard players generally play one track at a time. Include a complete mix on track 1 if you need a ready-to-play version, and use your editor to access isolated tracks.
- Music is still audible in the Twitch VOD. Check that music is a distinct source, that it is excluded from the VOD feed, and that it is not also entering through Desktop Audio or another combined input. Verify by listening to a test VOD.
- Audio is duplicated or echoes during monitoring. Check OBS monitoring and choose headphones that OBS does not capture, as Elgato advises. Also check whether the same audio is entering through more than one source.
- The controls do not match the instructions. OBS’s Twitch VOD controls can vary with output mode. Check whether the interface is using Simple or Advanced mode and consult the current OBS guide for your installed version.
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