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To get computer sound into an OBS live stream, capture desktop or application audio directly, or route an app through a virtual audio cable and add that cable as an OBS audio input. Direct capture is simpler when your operating system and OBS version support it; a virtual cable can help when direct app capture does not work. The exact steps differ on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Choose the right audio route
| Method | Best for | Setup and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Direct capture | Desktop sound or a supported individual application | Simpler where supported. Individual application capture in OBS is available on Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11. |
| Virtual audio cable | An application whose audio OBS cannot capture directly, or audio you want as a distinct input | Requires installing a software driver and selecting the app’s output and OBS input devices. The documented VB-CABLE route here is for Windows. |
OBS’s Quick Start Guide says desktop audio and microphone are captured by default. Before adding sources, check the Audio Mixer meters: they show whether OBS is receiving sound and which sources are active. If you want an external physical source—such as a mixer, microphone, console, or second computer—you may need an audio interface or video capture device instead of either software route.
Method 1: Capture desktop or application audio directly
Check the default audio sources
- Open OBS and look at the Audio Mixer while playing the sound you want to stream. If the relevant meter moves, OBS is receiving that audio.
- If the wrong device is active or no meter moves, open Settings → Audio and select the intended desktop audio and microphone devices. Labels and available choices can vary by operating system and OBS version.
- Play the sound again and confirm the correct mixer meter responds. If you hear an echo, check whether the same device is selected both globally in Settings and again as a source in the scene.
Capture one application separately on Windows
On Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11, OBS supports Application Audio Capture, which adds an individual app as its own source. This is useful when you want to isolate one program from other computer sounds or keep sources separate for audio tracks.
- In the scene where you want the sound, use the Sources panel’s add control and choose Application Audio Capture.
- In the source properties, choose the application whose sound you want OBS to capture.
- Play audio in that application and check the Audio Mixer meter for the new source.
- If you are using application-capture sources, disable global Desktop Audio when it would capture the same sound again. Duplicate capture can cause echo.
OBS 30.1 added the option to include audio with Window Capture or Game Capture. This is another Windows-specific option; do not assume its controls or availability are identical on other operating systems.
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Use the operating-system-specific route
- macOS: Follow OBS’s macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide. It describes macOS Screen Capture and other routing approaches; Windows device steps do not transfer unchanged.
- Linux: OBS’s audio sources guidance points users to ALSA or PulseAudio audio sources rather than the Windows/macOS Audio Input/Output Capture source.
Method 2: Route an application through a virtual audio cable
On Windows, a virtual cable can send an application’s output to a separate input that OBS can capture. It is a software driver, not a physical cable, and this route does not require buying hardware.
- Download and install VB-CABLE from its publisher.
- In the Windows Volume Mixer, set the target application’s output device to CABLE Input.
- In OBS, add an Audio Input Capture source to the scene and select CABLE Output as its device.
- Play sound in the target application and check the new source’s Audio Mixer meter.
Keep the signal routed only once. If global Desktop Audio or another scene source also captures the same sound, disable that duplicate route to prevent echo. macOS has other routing approaches documented in OBS’s macOS guide; these Windows VB-CABLE steps should not be treated as universal instructions for Mac or Linux.
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Check the sound before going live
- Play the intended audio and confirm that the correct OBS mixer meter moves.
- Make a short OBS test recording or test stream, then listen back to verify the sound is present, clear, and not duplicated.
- If the audio is missing, recheck the selected device, the app’s output routing, and whether the source belongs to the active scene.
Troubleshooting common audio problems
- No meter movement: OBS may be listening to the wrong device, or the application may be routed elsewhere. Select the device manually in Settings → Audio or verify the app’s output in the Windows Volume Mixer.
- Echo or doubled sound: The same signal is likely captured both globally and as a scene or application source. Disable the duplicate source; OBS specifically advises disabling global Desktop Audio when using application-capture sources that would otherwise capture it again.
- One app is silent while other desktop sound works: Try Application Audio Capture on supported Windows versions. If OBS cannot capture that app directly, route it through VB-CABLE and add CABLE Output as an input.
- External mixer or device is not available as a desktop source: A physical audio source may need to connect through a USB audio interface or another suitable input device. An interface is optional for the software methods above.
When physical hardware is needed
If a microphone, mixer, or other external audio device must feed OBS, a USB audio interface can provide the connection; Focusrite publishes a guide for setting up one of its interfaces in OBS. A console or second computer may require a video capture device, but the right setup depends on the equipment and signal path, so there is no single capture-card procedure that applies to every case.
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