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To get computer sound into a live stream in OBS, capture desktop or application audio directly, or route the 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; the virtual-cable route can help when OBS cannot capture the application directly. Check the audio meters and make a short test recording before going live.
Choose the right audio route
These steps focus on getting sound from your computer into OBS. Exact labels and options vary by operating system and OBS version.
| Method | Best for | Setup | Platform notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct desktop or application capture | All desktop sound, or a supported individual app you want to keep separate | Usually the simpler route; add or select the audio source in OBS | Windows, macOS, and Linux use different capture options |
| Virtual audio cable | An application that OBS cannot capture directly, or an app you want routed as a distinct input | More steps: install a software driver, assign the app’s output, then add the cable input in OBS | The instructions below are for Windows; consult the OBS macOS guide for Mac alternatives |
Method 1: Capture desktop or application audio directly
Check the default audio devices first
OBS commonly captures desktop audio and a microphone by default. Open the Audio Mixer and play sound from the source you want to stream. If the corresponding meter moves, OBS is receiving that sound. If the meter stays still or the wrong device is active, open Settings → Audio and select the correct desktop audio and microphone devices. OBS documents this setup in its Quick Start Guide.
Capture one application on Windows
On Windows 10 version 2004 or later and Windows 11, OBS supports capturing an individual application as its own source. In OBS, add an Application Audio Capture source and select the application whose sound you want. This is useful when you want to include one program without capturing every computer sound, or keep sources separate for mixing or separate audio tracks. OBS 30.1 also added an option to include audio with Window Capture or Game Capture. See the Application Audio Capture Guide for the available options and details.
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Add a device to a scene
To add a particular audio input or output device to a scene, use the audio-source options in OBS and choose the device you need. The exact source type depends on your operating system: OBS’s Audio Sources guide directs Linux users to ALSA or PulseAudio sources rather than the Windows/macOS Audio Input/Output Capture source.
Use the platform-specific route on macOS
Do not assume the Windows application-capture steps apply to a Mac. OBS’s macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide describes macOS Screen Capture and other routing approaches. Follow the instructions for your OBS and macOS setup.
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Method 2: Route an application through a virtual audio cable
If direct application capture does not work for a Windows application, a virtual audio cable can route that app’s sound into OBS as a distinct input. It is a software driver, not a physical cable or a required purchase. OBS documents a VB-CABLE workflow in its Application Audio Capture Guide.
- Install the virtual cable. Download and install VB-CABLE from its publisher, following the publisher’s installation instructions.
- Send the target app to the cable. In the Windows Volume Mixer, set the target application’s output device to CABLE Input. Play sound in the app to confirm it is using that output.
- Add the cable as an OBS input. In the scene, add an Audio Input Capture source and select CABLE Output as its device.
- Check the meter and test. Play the application audio and verify that the new source’s meter moves in the OBS Audio Mixer. Record a short sample and listen to it before streaming.
The virtual cable adds device and routing choices, so make sure the application is still assigned to the intended output. These Windows steps should not be treated as universal macOS or Linux instructions; for Mac, use the routing options in the OBS macOS guide.
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Prevent duplicate audio and verify the stream mix
Echo or doubled sound often means the same signal is reaching OBS twice—for example, as global Desktop Audio and again through an application-capture source. OBS warns about this in its application-capture guidance. If you use application capture, disable the duplicate global Desktop Audio source where appropriate, and remove any duplicate scene source.
- Play the exact application or desktop sound you intend to stream and watch the relevant mixer meter.
- Confirm that the intended source is active and that unwanted devices are not adding sound.
- Make a short recording, then listen for missing audio, clipping, or echo before your first live session. OBS recommends a test before going live in its Quick Start Guide.
When you need external audio hardware
The two software methods above are for computer audio. A physical microphone, mixer, or other external audio source may need to connect through an audio interface, which you then select as an OBS input. Focusrite provides an OBS setup guide for its interfaces; the specific steps depend on the interface and operating system.
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A console or second computer may require a video capture device, but there is no single capture-card setup that applies to every model and connection. Check the device’s instructions and confirm how it passes audio into OBS.
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