How to Record Separate Audio Tracks in OBS
OBS can record audio sources on separate tracks so you can adjust them independently in an editor. For example, you can lower background sound later without changing your microphone volume.
Most ordinary video players play one audio track at a time. Keep a complete mix on one track if you want the recording to sound complete outside an editor.
Decide on a track layout
A practical layout is:
| Track | What to include |
|---|---|
| 1 | The complete mix you want to hear during normal playback |
| 2 | Microphone only |
| 3 | App or background audio only |
You do not need to use every available track. Give each one a clear purpose before recording.
Assign sources to tracks
- 1.Open Advanced Audio Properties from the Audio Mixer menu or the Edit menu.
- 2.Find each audio source.
- 3.Select the track checkboxes that should receive it.
- 4.Include each intended source on track 1 as well as its isolated track, if using the layout above.
For example, the microphone would go to tracks 1 and 2. Background audio would go to tracks 1 and 3.
Track assignment does not fix duplicate capture. If Desktop Audio and a separate app source both contain the same sound, resolve that before recording.
Enable the recording tracks
Open Settings → Output, select Advanced output mode, and open Recording. Select the audio tracks you want the file to save.
Both steps matter: assigning a source to track 3 does not help if the recording is set to save only track 1. Choose a recording container that supports the tracks and codecs you intend to use.
Check the file in an editor
Record a sample with each sound separately and then together. Import it into your editor and confirm that the isolated tracks contain the expected audio.
When playing the file in a normal video player, select the complete-mix track if necessary. Hearing only a microphone track there does not automatically mean the other sounds were lost.
Keep streaming separate
Recording tracks and the audio sent to a live stream are separate output choices. Check the streaming audio selection as well if you record and broadcast simultaneously.
Separating copyrighted music from a recording also does not grant permission to broadcast that music live. Treat track routing as an editing tool, not a rights workaround.