OBS Record Game Audio Only? Here’s How

Yes, OBS can record game audio only, and you can set it up in a few minutes by creating a dedicated audio track and assigning your game’s audio source to it. This guide walks you through the exact steps, explains how OBS handles audio, and covers common pitfalls so you get clean, game-only recordings every time.

Formula

The calculator uses two simple formulas:

• Average pace = Finish time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km) — the result is minutes per kilometer.
• Average speed = Distance (km) ÷ (Finish time (minutes) ÷ 60) — the result is kilometers per hour.

Variables:

• t = finish time in minutes (you can enter hours and minutes by converting to minutes, e.g., 1:30:00 = 90 minutes).
• d = distance in kilometers (or miles; the formula works the same, just the unit label changes).

Worked Example

Using the default values (t = 50 minutes, d = 10 km):

1. Pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

So the calculator returns 5.00 min/km and 12.00 km/h. These match the default output exactly.

Why Record Game Audio Only?

Most streamers and video editors want game audio alone for several reasons:

• Cleaner edits: You can add commentary, music, or sound effects later without having to separate or remove your voice from the track.
• Better quality: Game audio captured directly is often louder and clearer than audio recorded from a microphone placed near speakers.
• Privacy: If you talk to friends on Discord or your mic picks up background noise, recording only the game avoids capturing those.
• Post-production flexibility: With separate tracks, you can adjust the game volume or mute it entirely in your editor without affecting other audio.

OBS gives you up to six audio tracks per recording, so you can record game audio on track 1, your mic on track 2, and so on. That way you have both a combined mix and individual sources.

How OBS Handles Audio

OBS captures audio from two main categories:

• Application audio — sound from specific programs (your game, a music player, a browser).
• Desktop audio — everything your computer outputs to the default playback device.

By default, OBS adds a “Desktop Audio� source that captures everything. To record only game audio, you need to either:

• Use an application audio capture (Windows 10/11, macOS, or Linux) to grab just the game’s sound, or
• Set up per-app audio routing with tools like Voicemeeter (Windows) or BlackHole (macOS) to separate the game from other sounds.

The easiest method is to use OBS’s built-in “Application Audio Captureâ€� (Windows only) or the “Audio Output Captureâ€� source (macOS). These let you select a specific app and only record its audio.

Step-by-Step: Record Game Audio Only

Here’s the simplest workflow for Windows (steps are similar on macOS):

1. Create a new audio track in OBS: go to Settings → Output → Recording and set “Audio Track� to a track you want for game audio (e.g., Track 2). Keep Track 1 for your main mix.
2. Add an Application Audio Capture source: click the + in the Sources box, choose “Application Audio Capture,â€� name it (e.g., “Gameâ€�), and select your game from the dropdown. If you don’t see it, make sure the game is running.
3. Assign the source to the track: click the source in the mixer, then click the gear icon → “Advanced Audio Properties.â€� Under “Audio Tracks,â€� check only the track you want (e.g., Track 2). Uncheck Track 1 if you don’t want it in the main mix.
4. Mute or remove Desktop Audio: if you have a Desktop Audio source, either mute it or remove it so it doesn’t bleed into your recording.
5. Record and check: start recording, play your game, then stop and listen to the file. The audio should be only the game.

If you want to also record your voice but keep it separate, add a Mic/Aux source and assign it to Track 3. Then in your editor, you can mute or delete the mic track if needed.

Common Problems and Fixes

Even with the right setup, you might run into issues:

• Game audio is missing — Check that the game is actually outputting sound and that the Application Audio Capture source is set to the correct app. Some games use multiple processes (e.g., launcher + game), so try selecting the game executable specifically.
• You still hear desktop sounds — Make sure Desktop Audio is muted or removed. Also check if other apps (like a browser) are playing sound — they might be captured by the Application Audio Capture if you selected the wrong app.
• Audio is out of sync — This can happen if your game runs at a high frame rate and OBS’s audio buffering is off. Go to Settings → Audio and try increasing the “Audio Buffer Sizeâ€� (e.g., from 20ms to 40ms).
• Game audio is too quiet or too loud — In the mixer, adjust the volume slider for the game source. You can also apply filters like a compressor to even out levels.
• No audio on macOS — macOS doesn’t have an “Application Audio Captureâ€� source. Use “Audio Output Captureâ€� and select your game’s output, or use a virtual audio device like BlackHole to route only the game’s audio.

When You Might Not Want Game Audio Only

There are times when recording everything together is actually better:

• Live streaming — You usually want your mic and game audio combined for the stream, so you don’t need separate tracks.
• Simple recordings — If you never edit the audio, a single mixed track is fine and easier to manage.
• Game audio with your reactions — For Let’s Plays or commentaries, you want both game and your voice in the same file, so you don’t need to sync them later.

But even in those cases, recording game audio on a separate track (in addition to the mix) is a smart backup. If you later want to remove your voice or replace it, you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record game audio and my mic at the same time but on separate tracks?

Yes. In OBS, assign your game audio source to Track 2 and your mic to Track 3. In the Recording settings, set the audio track to “All tracks� or select the tracks you want. The output file will contain multiple audio tracks that you can separate in an editor like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.

Why does my recording have no game audio even though I can hear it?

This usually happens because you’re using Desktop Audio and the game is playing through a different output device (like a headset) that OBS isn’t capturing. Make sure your default playback device in Windows is the same one OBS uses. Alternatively, use an Application Audio Capture source and select the game specifically.

Does OBS record game audio in high quality?

OBS records audio in the format you choose in Settings → Output → Recording. For best quality, select a high bitrate (e.g., 320 kbps for MP3 or FLAC for lossless). The default AAC at 160 kbps is decent, but you can increase it if you notice artifacts.

Can I record game audio only on a Mac?

Yes, but the process is different. On macOS, use the “Audio Output Captureâ€� source and select your game’s output device. If your game doesn’t appear, you might need to use a virtual audio device like BlackHole to route the game’s audio to OBS. Some users also use Soundflower, but BlackHole is more current.

How do I remove background noise from my game recording?

OBS has a noise suppression filter. Right-click the game audio source, go to Filters, add a “Noise Suppression� filter (RNNoise is a good choice), and adjust the strength. This works best for constant background hum, not for loud sudden sounds.

Is it legal to record game audio and upload it?

Generally yes, for personal use or content creation, but it depends on the game’s terms of service and copyright laws. Many games allow streaming and recording, but some have restrictions on music or story content. Always check the game’s EULA and the platform’s policies. For music, use royalty-free tracks if you’re monetizing.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2