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Choose what “separately” means
There are three different outcomes people mean when they ask how to record audio separately while screen recording:
- Audio included: sound is present in the screen recording, whether sources are mixed together or not.
- Separate tracks in one video: microphone narration and system or app audio remain independently adjustable in an editor.
- A separate audio file: audio is saved apart from the screen video.
The OBS workflow below supports separate recording tracks in one video file. The built-in recording instructions for Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android described here offer various audio controls, but do not establish a universal way to create separate editable tracks or a separate audio file.
Record separate microphone and system-audio tracks in OBS
OBS Studio’s Multiple Audio Track Recording Guide describes assigning audio sources to recording tracks and enabling the tracks for the recording. The names and availability of capture sources can vary by operating system and installation.
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- Add the sources you need. In your OBS scene, add or enable the desktop or app audio source and the microphone or other input. On Windows, OBS documents Audio Input/Output Capture sources. On Linux, OBS says to use ALSA/PulseAudio sources instead. OBS also lists Audio Input/Output Capture for macOS, but the available route can depend on macOS version and capture permissions.
- Open the track assignments. In the Audio Mixer, open Advanced Audio Properties.
- Choose which tracks each source uses. Assign the microphone and system or app audio to different recording tracks. If you also want a version that plays easily in a standard video player, a practical arrangement is to put both sources on one combined track and put each source on its own additional track. OBS’s guide explains that assigning sources to track 1 ensures playback in standard video players.
- Enable the tracks in the output settings. Open Settings → Output and enable the audio tracks you want OBS to record. Track assignments alone are not enough if the corresponding tracks are not enabled for recording.
- Make a short test recording. Open it in a video editor that exposes multiple audio tracks. Confirm that the picture is present, each intended source is audible on the intended track, and the tracks line up in time.
Do not rely on a basic video player to confirm that every track is present. The OBS Project’s Multiple Audio Track Recording Guide, published July 14, 2023, says that “all standard video players will only play back one audio track at a time.”
Avoid capturing the same device twice
If you add a microphone or output device directly to a scene and also capture that same device globally, OBS warns that the duplicate capture can cause echo. If you hear an echo, check whether the device is active both as a scene source and in Settings → Audio, then disable the duplicate global device.
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Use a built-in recorder when a mixed recording is enough
Built-in controls are simpler, but their documented audio options should not be mistaken for proof of separate editable tracks.
| Platform and route | Documented audio control | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 and 11: Xbox Game Bar | In Game Bar settings, choose Capturing and select 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 documents computer-audio capture and a microphone toggle, not independently editable tracks. Clips are saved as MP4 files in Videos/Captures. |
| Mac: built-in screen recording | In the screen recording controls, select a microphone if you want voice or other audio included. | Apple documents microphone selection, not a universal built-in system-audio-plus-microphone split-track feature. |
| iPhone: Screen Recording | Open Control Center, touch and hold Screen Recording, turn on Microphone, then start recording. | The microphone control adds audio to the screen-recording workflow; Apple’s instructions do not promise separate editable microphone and app-audio tracks. |
| Android: Screen recorder | Open Screen recorder from Quick Settings, choose whether to record audio, start, and stop from the Screen recorder notification. | Google’s general instructions do not specify a universal choice of audio sources or independently editable tracks across Android devices. |
Mac: recording multiple audio inputs
For a production workflow that records independent audio inputs, Apple’s Logic Pro guide documents assigning different inputs to different tracks. Recording multiple sources simultaneously requires an audio interface with multiple inputs. This is an audio-recording workflow, not a built-in screen recorder by itself.
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Check the recording and fix common problems
- You hear only one source in playback: Open the video in an editor that shows its audio tracks. A standard player may play only one track even when others are in the file.
- OBS audio echoes: Check for the same device being captured globally and as a scene source. Disable one of the duplicate captures.
- A phone does not show the audio option you expect: Android steps and choices depend on the device and software version. Google directs users to the phone maker when its general instructions do not work.
- An app’s content is missing from the recording: Capture may be restricted for some content or apps. Apple notes that some iPhone apps may not allow their content to be recorded; check the relevant platform or app guidance rather than assuming every screen can be captured.
- You are preparing a long tutorial or presentation: Make a short test first. Check the screen, each source on its intended track, and alignment before recording the full session.
Optional equipment
An external USB microphone can be useful for clearer narration, but it is not a requirement for recording separate audio tracks. The essential step is routing the audio sources you want to record to the right tracks in the recording software. On Mac, Apple’s Logic Pro guidance describes assigning microphone inputs to tracks; recording multiple sources simultaneously requires an audio interface with multiple inputs.
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