How to Capture Desktop and App Audio in OBS on Mac
On supported Macs, OBS can capture desktop sound or one application's audio using built-in macOS capture sources. You do not automatically need a virtual audio cable just to record computer sound.
The method depends on both the OBS and macOS versions. Start with the source supported by your current setup.
Use macOS Audio Capture
OBS 30 and later on macOS 13 and later provide a macOS Audio Capture source.
- 1.Open the app and play the sound you want to capture.
- 2.In OBS, choose the intended scene.
- 3.Click + in Sources → macOS Audio Capture.
- 4.Choose whether to capture the desktop mix or the intended application using the source's controls.
- 5.Confirm and inspect the Audio Mixer.
Prefer application-specific capture when you want to exclude unrelated sounds. Still test what that application itself can play, including notifications or other content.
Understand screen-capture audio
The macOS Screen Capture source can also capture audio from a display, window, or application. OBS's instructions for OBS 28/29 on macOS 13 use that route.
If your current scene already captures the same app's sound through a screen source, do not add another audio source for it without checking for duplication.
For a current setup needing only sound, a dedicated supported audio source can be simpler than hiding a screen source behind another picture.
Allow operating-system access
Review OBS Studio → Review App Permissions and the relevant Mac privacy settings. Screen and system-audio recording permissions can affect capture even when the microphone works normally.
A microphone permission and a system-audio permission are not the same. Follow any prompt to reopen OBS, then test again.
If you use an older macOS setup
Older systems may require a compatible virtual audio device. That method needs its own routing and monitoring configuration; installing the driver alone does not tell OBS which sounds to receive.
Use the driver's current instructions for your OS and check that your chosen older OBS build is actually compatible. Do not combine several historical workarounds without a clear route for each signal.
Test all sound paths
Record your microphone and app audio separately, then together. Check for missing sound, doubled audio, and unexpected notifications.
If the meter moves but the saved recording is silent, inspect mute state and recording-track assignments. If only one application fails, investigate that app's capture behavior rather than changing every Mac audio setting.