Record Game Audio: How to Capture Sound

Updated 8 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, you can record game audio, and this guide explains exactly how to do it on PC, Mac, and consoles. You’ll learn which software to use, how to set it up, and how to fix common problems like low volume or missing sound.

What You Need to Record Game Audio

To capture game audio, you need two things: a way to capture the video (or just audio) and a way to route the sound from your game to the recorder. On PC, most recording software can grab the system audio directly using a virtual audio device. On consoles, you either use the built-in capture features or an external capture card that passes audio to your computer.

How to Record Game Audio on PC (Windows and Mac)

On Windows, the most common method is to use a program like OBS Studio (free) or Audacity (free) and set the audio input to “Stereo Mix” or “Loopback.” On Mac, you can use QuickTime Player’s “New Audio Recording” and select the built-in microphone, but that only records mic audio, not system sound. To record system audio on Mac, you need a virtual audio driver like BlackHole (free) or Loopback (paid).

Here are the basic steps for Windows with OBS:

Download and install OBS Studio.
Open OBS and go to Settings > Audio.
Set “Desktop Audio” to your default output device (or “Stereo Mix” if available).
If “Stereo Mix” isn’t listed, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar, select “Sounds,” go to the “Recording” tab, right-click and enable “Stereo Mix.”
Start a recording or stream; OBS will capture all system audio.

For Mac, a simpler free method is to use the built-in screen recording (Cmd+Shift+5) which records system audio by default (since macOS Mojave). For separate audio tracks, use BlackHole with a multi-output device.

How to Record Game Audio on Console (PS5, Xbox, Switch)

Consoles have built-in recording features that capture game audio automatically:

PS5: Press the Create button and choose “Start Recording” or “Save Recent Gameplay.” Audio is included by default.
Xbox Series X/S: Press the Xbox button, select “Capture & Share,” then “Start Recording.” Audio is included.
Nintendo Switch: Press and hold the Capture button to save the last 30 seconds of gameplay with audio.

These recordings save to your console’s storage and can be shared to your phone or PC. For longer or higher-quality recordings, you need a capture card (like Elgato or AVerMedia) that connects between the console and your PC, and then you record on the PC using OBS or the capture card’s software.

Choosing the Right Recording Software

Your choice depends on your needs:

OBS Studio – free, open-source, supports multiple audio tracks, perfect for streaming and recording.
Audacity – free, simple audio-only recorder, great for capturing just the sound.
NVIDIA ShadowPlay – free for NVIDIA GPU users, low performance impact, easy to use.
Windows Game Bar – built into Windows 10/11, records video with audio, but limited options.
QuickTime Player – free on Mac, records screen with audio (but not system audio without extra setup).

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Here are the most frequent issues and their solutions:

No game audio in recording – Check that “Desktop Audio” is enabled in OBS, or that you’re using the correct audio device. On Windows, enable “Stereo Mix” if it’s disabled.
Audio is too quiet or too loud – Adjust the volume sliders in OBS or your recording software. Aim for levels around -12 dB to -6 dB to avoid clipping.
Only microphone audio is recorded – Make sure you have selected the system audio device, not the mic, as the input source.
Audio is out of sync with video – This often happens with wireless headphones or Bluetooth. Use a wired connection or adjust the audio offset in OBS (Settings > Audio > Audio Offset).
Recording has echo or feedback – If you’re also recording a mic, use headphones to prevent the game audio from being picked up by the mic.

Recording Audio Separately for Editing

If you plan to edit the video later, it’s often better to record game audio and microphone audio on separate tracks. OBS supports this: go to Settings > Output > Recording and set “Audio Track” to 1 and 2, then assign your mic to one track and desktop audio to another. This lets you adjust volumes or mute one track without affecting the other.

Legal and Copyright Considerations

When you record game audio, you’re also recording the game’s music and sound effects. Most game companies allow you to record and share gameplay for personal or non-commercial use, but some have specific policies. For example, Nintendo has guidelines for content creation, and some music tracks in games may be copyrighted. If you plan to monetize your recordings, check the game’s terms of service and the platform’s policies (YouTube, Twitch). Generally, gameplay recordings are considered fair use, but it’s safer to avoid using copyrighted music in the background if you’re monetizing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record game audio on Xbox without a capture card?
Yes, the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One have built-in recording that captures game audio. You can record up to 1 minute (or up to 10 minutes on Series X/S) by pressing the Xbox button and selecting “Capture & Share.”

Why is my game audio not recording in OBS?
Usually because “Desktop Audio” is set to “Disabled” or the wrong device. Go to Settings > Audio and set “Desktop Audio” to your default output device. Also, check that the Windows volume mixer isn’t muted for OBS.

Can I record game audio on a Mac with QuickTime?
QuickTime can record screen with audio, but it only records the microphone by default. To record system audio, you need a virtual audio driver like BlackHole and a multi-output device to hear while recording.

What is the best free software to record game audio?
OBS Studio is the most popular free option because it’s powerful and supports separate audio tracks. Audacity is great for audio-only. Both are free and open-source.

How do I record game audio and my voice separately?
In OBS, set up two audio sources: one for desktop audio and one for your microphone. Then in Settings > Output > Recording, assign each to a different audio track (e.g., track 1 for mic, track 2 for game). When you edit, you’ll have two separate audio files.

Does recording game audio affect game performance?
It can, especially if you use high-quality recording settings. Using hardware encoding (NVENC on NVIDIA GPUs or AMF on AMD) reduces the performance hit. OBS also has a low-latency mode. For most modern PCs, the impact is minimal.

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