Have you ever wanted to stream your gaming sessions or create tutorial videos with OBS but faced the issue of it not picking up your desktop audio? This can be frustrating, especially when you want to capture in-game audio or include background music in your streams. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to get OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to pick up desktop audio on your Mac or Windows system.
Step 1: Download and Install OBS: Visit the official OBS website and download the software for your operating system. Once downloaded, run the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions to install OBS on your computer.
Step 2: Launch OBS and Add Audio Source: After installation, launch OBS on your computer. To add desktop audio as a source, click on the " + " icon in the "Sources" panel, and select "Audio Input Capture" or "Audio Output Capture."
Step 3: Configure Audio Source: In the "Properties" window, select your desired audio device from the drop-down menu. If you want to capture all the audio playing on your computer, select "Desktop Audio" or "System Sound." You can also select a specific application’s audio by choosing its name from the list.
Step 4: Adjust Audio Settings: In OBS, click on "Settings" in the bottom-right corner. Navigate to the "Audio" tab. Under "Desktop Audio Device," select the audio device that you want OBS to capture. Ensure that the volume sliders are appropriately adjusted. You can test the audio by clicking on the "Mixer" button and adjusting the audio levels.
Step 5: Start Streaming or Recording: Once you have set up the audio sources and adjusted the settings, you are ready to start streaming or recording. In OBS, click on "Start Streaming" or "Start Recording" to begin your session. OBS should now be able to pick up your desktop audio along with other sources, such as microphone input or camera audio.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Allows you to capture desktop audio for streaming or recording purposes. | 1. May require troubleshooting if audio is not being detected or captured properly. |
| 2. Provides flexibility to choose specific audio sources, such as system sound or application audio. | 2. Can result in audio feedback or echo issues if not properly managed. |
| 3. Compatible with various operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux). | 3. May require additional setup or configuration depending on the complexity of your audio setup. |
By following these steps, you should be able to get OBS to pick up your desktop audio, allowing you to create professional-looking streams or recordings with ease. Remember to check your audio settings and adjust them according to your preferences and requirements.
So, whether you are a streamer, content creator, or simply want to enhance your video production capabilities, this tutorial will help you overcome the hurdle of not being able to capture desktop audio in OBS. Happy streaming and recording!
Video Tutorial:Why is my stream not picking up game audio?
Does OBS record mic and desktop audio separately?
Yes, OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) can record microphone audio and desktop audio separately. This is a useful feature for content creators who want to have more control over their audio recordings. Here are the steps to set it up:
1. Launch OBS and go to the "Sources" section.
2. Click on the "+" button to add a new source and select "Audio Input Capture" to add your microphone as a source.
3. Name the microphone source and select the appropriate microphone device from the drop-down menu.
4. Click "OK" to add the microphone source. You can resize and reposition the source as needed.
Now that you have added the microphone as a source, you need to configure OBS to capture desktop audio separately:
1. Go to the OBS settings by clicking on the "Settings" button in the bottom-right corner of the OBS window.
2. In the settings menu, select the "Audio" tab.
3. Under the "Sources" section, you will find options for both desktop audio and microphone audio.
4. Make sure that the desktop audio device is set to the appropriate device you want to capture.
5. Adjust the volume levels for both microphone and desktop audio sources as needed.
By setting up your microphone and desktop audio as separate sources in OBS, you can easily adjust their individual levels and record them separately. This is useful when you want to have more control over the audio in your recordings, such as balancing voice commentary and in-game sounds for gaming videos, or capturing system audio alongside your narration for tutorial videos.
How do I sync my desktop audio to my mic OBS?
To sync your desktop audio to your microphone in OBS, you can follow these steps:
1. Open OBS Studio: Launch the OBS Studio application on your computer.
2. Add Audio Sources: In the OBS Studio interface, click on the "+" icon under the "Sources" box and select "Audio Input Capture" or "Audio Output Capture" (whichever applies to your setup).
3. Select the Microphone: In the properties window that appears, choose your microphone as the audio source by selecting it from the dropdown menu.
4. Adjust Audio Delay: To sync your desktop audio and microphone, you may need to add an audio delay. Right-click on the added audio source in the "Sources" box and select "Filters."
5. Add Audio Delay Filter: In the filters window, click on the "+" icon at the bottom and choose "Audio Delay" from the list. Adjust the audio delay value (+/- milliseconds) until you achieve the desired sync. You can play around with different values to get the best result.
6. Test and Fine-tune: Start a test recording or stream and monitor the audio playback. If the audio is not in sync, repeat step 5 and adjust the delay until synchronization is achieved. You may need to experiment with different delay values depending on your computer’s processing power and setup.
Keep in mind that the exact steps may vary slightly depending on the version of OBS you are using, but the general process remains the same. Additionally, it’s worth noting that OBS provides a variety of other audio filters and settings that you can explore to enhance your audio recording and streaming experience.
Remember to fine-tune the delay settings to ensure an optimal audio sync, as the ideal delay value can vary based on hardware, software, and network conditions.
Why is OBS not detecting mic audio?
There could be several reasons why OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is not detecting microphone audio. Here are some possible steps to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Check microphone settings: Ensure that your microphone is properly connected to your computer and recognized by the system. Go to your computer’s sound settings and make sure the correct microphone is selected as the default recording device.
2. Verify OBS settings: In OBS, navigate to the audio settings and check that the correct audio input device is selected. Sometimes, OBS may default to a different audio input source, so ensure that your microphone is chosen.
3. Set proper audio levels: Adjust the microphone volume levels in both your computer’s sound settings and OBS to ensure they are appropriately configured. Make sure the microphone volume is not muted or set too low.
4. Update audio drivers: Outdated or faulty audio drivers can cause issues with microphone detection. Check for driver updates from your computer manufacturer’s website or the manufacturer of your sound card.
5. Restart OBS and your computer: Sometimes, simply restarting OBS and your computer can resolve minor glitches or conflicts that may be causing the microphone detection problem.
6. Check conflicting applications: Close any other applications that may be using your microphone, as they can interfere with OBS detecting the microphone audio. For example, video conferencing apps or other streaming software running in the background might be grabbing control of the microphone.
7. Disable exclusive mode: If you are using Windows, go to your computer’s sound settings, locate the microphone properties, and uncheck the "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" option. This can prevent other applications from blocking OBS’ access to the microphone.
8. Test with a different microphone or USB port: If possible, try using a different microphone or connect your current microphone to a different USB port to rule out any hardware-related issues or port conflicts.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of OBS not detecting microphone audio. Remember to test your microphone in other applications to ensure it is working properly and not experiencing any hardware problems.
How do I get OBS to pick up game audio?
To get OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to pick up game audio, follow these steps:
1. Launch OBS: Open OBS on your computer. Make sure you have the latest version installed for optimal performance.
2. Check audio settings: Go to the "Settings" tab in OBS and select the "Audio" section. Ensure that the correct audio devices are selected for both the desktop audio and mic/auxiliary audio. You can choose your system’s default audio output device or select a specific device if needed.
3. Configure game audio: In OBS, add a new source by clicking the "+" button in the "Sources" panel. Choose "Audio Output Capture" or "Desktop Audio" (depending on the version of OBS you are using). Name the source and click "OK."
4. Select the game audio source: In the newly created source, click on the drop-down menu next to "Device" and choose the audio source that corresponds to your game. This will usually be the system’s default audio output, which is capturing the audio playing from the game.
5. Adjust audio levels: To ensure the game audio is properly picked up, make sure the volume levels are appropriately set. In OBS, you can control the audio levels by adjusting the volume sliders in the "Audio Mixer" section. You can increase or decrease the volume of specific sources, including the game audio source, by dragging the sliders accordingly.
6. Test and optimize: After setting up the game audio source and adjusting the audio levels, test your setup by launching the game and checking if the audio is being captured in OBS. If you encounter any issues, adjust the settings as necessary or refer to the OBS documentation for troubleshooting tips.
Remember that OBS offers various advanced audio settings, such as filters and audio monitoring options, that you can explore based on your specific needs. Experimentation and fine-tuning may be required to achieve the desired audio setup within OBS.
Why isn t OBS picking up desktop audio?
There can be several reasons why OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is not picking up desktop audio. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and address the issue:
1. Check Audio Source Settings: First, ensure that the correct audio source is selected in OBS. Go to the Mixer section and confirm that the desktop audio device is set correctly. If it is set to "Default," verify that your desired audio device is set as the default device in your computer’s sound settings.
2. Configure Desktop Audio Device: Double-check that the desktop audio device is properly configured. In OBS, go to Settings > Audio, and under the Desktop Audio section, make sure the correct audio device is selected. If it is already selected correctly, try selecting a different audio device and see if that resolves the issue.
3. Restart Audio Services: Sometimes, audio services can encounter errors or conflicts. Restarting the audio services on your computer can help. Open the Windows Services Manager, locate the "Windows Audio" and "Windows Audio Endpoint Builder" services, right-click on each and select "Restart."
4. Check Volume and Mute Settings: Ensure that the volume levels for your desktop audio are not muted or set too low. Check both the volume control on your device and the software volume control in OBS.
5. Test with Different Applications: Verify that the audio issue is not specific to a particular application. Test OBS with different desktop audio sources, such as a media player or a web browser, to see if the issue persists across multiple sources. If it does, the problem might lie with OBS or your computer’s audio settings.
6. Update Audio Drivers: Outdated or faulty audio drivers can cause various issues, including problems with OBS picking up desktop audio. Update your audio drivers to the latest version provided by your sound card manufacturer.
7. Check System Sound Settings: Ensure that your system sound settings are properly configured. Check the sound output settings and confirm that the correct audio device is selected as the default output device.
By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve most issues related to OBS not picking up desktop audio. Remember to save your OBS settings before making any changes and restart OBS after applying any modifications.
How do I get my mic to pick up audio on OBS?
To get your microphone to pick up audio on OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), you can follow these steps:
1. Connect your microphone to your computer: Ensure that your microphone is properly connected to your computer either through USB or the audio input port. Make sure it is recognized and working correctly.
2. Open OBS: Launch the OBS software on your computer. If you don’t have OBS installed, you can download it from the official OBS website and install it.
3. Set up the audio input source: In OBS, click on the "+" icon in the "Sources" panel at the bottom of the screen and select "Audio Input Capture." Give it a name, and in the "Device" drop-down menu, select your microphone.
4. Adjust audio settings: After adding the audio input source, you may need to adjust the audio settings to ensure proper audio levels. Right-click on the audio source you just added, select "Filters," and then click on the "+" icon. Choose "Gain" from the list and adjust the gain level according to your preference. This helps control the microphone’s audio volume.
5. Test the audio: To ensure your microphone is picking up audio correctly, speak into it or make a noise. You should see movement in the audio levels in the OBS mixer panel. If not, check the audio source settings, make sure the microphone is working, and adjust the levels accordingly.
6. Fine-tune audio settings: OBS provides additional audio settings to further enhance the audio quality. Experiment with options like noise suppression, noise gate, and audio compression to fine-tune the audio output as per your requirements.
Note: Make sure your microphone is not muted or turned off, and check your computer’s audio settings to ensure the correct microphone is selected as the default input device.
Following these steps should help you configure your microphone to pick up audio in OBS. Remember to adjust settings and test the audio input to achieve the desired results.