Are you tired of background noise and chatter ruining your gaming recordings? Do you want to focus solely on the in-game audio and create a more immersive experience for your viewers? Look no further. In this article, we’ll take you through a comprehensive guide on how to make OBS (Open Broadcasting Software) record only game audio.
Understanding OBS Audio Settings
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of isolating game audio, it’s essential to understand how OBS handles audio. OBS allows you to capture and mix multiple audio sources, including:
- Desktop Audio: This captures all audio playing on your computer, including system sounds, music, and game audio.
- Microphone Audio: This captures audio from your microphone, which can include your voice, background noise, and other external sounds.
- Auxiliary Audio: This captures audio from external devices, such as a webcam or a separate audio interface.
To record only game audio, we’ll need to configure OBS to prioritize and isolate the desktop audio source.
Configuring OBS Audio Settings
To start, open OBS and navigate to the Settings panel. You can do this by clicking on the Settings button in the bottom right corner of the OBS window or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + S on your keyboard.
In the Settings panel, click on the Audio tab. This will bring up a range of audio settings and options.
Desktop Audio Settings
In the Desktop Audio section, you’ll see a dropdown menu labeled Device. This menu allows you to select the audio device that OBS will use to capture desktop audio. Make sure to select the correct audio device, which is usually the default device or the device associated with your sound card.
Below the Device dropdown menu, you’ll see a checkbox labeled Use custom audio device. This option allows you to specify a custom audio device for desktop audio capture. If you’re using a separate sound card or audio interface, you may need to select this option and choose the correct device.
Microphone Audio Settings
In the Microphone Audio section, you’ll see a dropdown menu labeled Device. This menu allows you to select the audio device that OBS will use to capture microphone audio. If you’re not using a microphone, you can disable this option by unchecking the Use custom audio device checkbox.
Auxiliary Audio Settings
In the Auxiliary Audio section, you’ll see a dropdown menu labeled Device. This menu allows you to select the audio device that OBS will use to capture auxiliary audio. If you’re not using an external audio device, you can disable this option by unchecking the Use custom audio device checkbox.
Isolating Game Audio
Now that we’ve configured the OBS audio settings, it’s time to isolate the game audio. To do this, we’ll need to use a combination of OBS’s built-in audio filters and some clever audio routing.
Using OBS Audio Filters
OBS provides a range of built-in audio filters that can help you isolate game audio. To access these filters, click on the Filters button in the Audio Mixer panel.
In the Filters panel, you’ll see a range of options, including:
- Gain: This filter allows you to adjust the volume of the audio signal.
- Noise Suppression: This filter helps to reduce background noise and hiss.
- Noise Gate: This filter helps to reduce background noise and hum.
To isolate game audio, we’ll need to use the Gain filter to boost the desktop audio signal and the Noise Suppression filter to reduce background noise.
Configuring the Gain Filter
To configure the Gain filter, click on the Gain filter in the Filters panel. This will bring up a range of options, including:
- Gain: This slider allows you to adjust the volume of the audio signal.
- Type: This dropdown menu allows you to select the type of gain filter to use.
To boost the desktop audio signal, set the Gain slider to around 10-15 dB. This will help to increase the volume of the game audio and reduce the impact of background noise.
Configuring the Noise Suppression Filter
To configure the Noise Suppression filter, click on the Noise Suppression filter in the Filters panel. This will bring up a range of options, including:
- Threshold: This slider allows you to adjust the threshold at which the noise suppression filter kicks in.
- Reduction: This slider allows you to adjust the amount of noise reduction applied.
To reduce background noise, set the Threshold slider to around -20 dB and the Reduction slider to around 10-15 dB. This will help to reduce the impact of background noise and hiss.
Routing Audio in OBS
Now that we’ve configured the OBS audio filters, it’s time to route the audio signals. To do this, we’ll need to use OBS’s built-in audio routing options.
Using OBS Audio Routing
OBS provides a range of audio routing options that allow you to route audio signals to different destinations. To access these options, click on the Advanced button in the Audio Mixer panel.
In the Advanced panel, you’ll see a range of options, including:
- Audio Monitoring: This option allows you to monitor the audio signal in real-time.
- Audio Routing: This option allows you to route the audio signal to different destinations.
To route the desktop audio signal to the recording output, click on the Audio Routing option. This will bring up a range of options, including:
- Desktop Audio: This dropdown menu allows you to select the destination for the desktop audio signal.
- Microphone Audio: This dropdown menu allows you to select the destination for the microphone audio signal.
To route the desktop audio signal to the recording output, select the Recording option from the Desktop Audio dropdown menu.
Recording Only Game Audio
Now that we’ve configured the OBS audio settings, filters, and routing options, it’s time to record only game audio. To do this, simply start the recording process in OBS and select the Recording option from the Output dropdown menu.
OBS will now record only the game audio, without any background noise or chatter. You can monitor the audio signal in real-time using the Audio Monitoring option in the Advanced panel.
Conclusion
Recording only game audio can be a challenge, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s easy to achieve. By configuring the OBS audio settings, using audio filters, and routing the audio signals, you can create high-quality recordings that focus solely on the in-game audio.
Whether you’re a gamer, a streamer, or a content creator, this guide has provided you with the knowledge and skills to take your recordings to the next level. So why wait? Start recording only game audio today and take your content to new heights.
| Software | Version | Operating System |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | 27.0.1 | Windows 10 |
| OBS Studio | 27.0.1 | macOS High Sierra |
| OBS Studio | 27.0.1 | Ubuntu 20.04 |
Note: The software versions and operating systems listed in the table are subject to change and may not reflect the latest versions available.
What is OBS and why is it used for recording game audio?
OBS, or Open Broadcasting Software, is a free and open-source software for video recording and live streaming. It is widely used by gamers and content creators to record and stream their gameplay, as well as other types of video content. OBS is popular due to its flexibility, customization options, and high-quality video and audio recording capabilities.
OBS allows users to record and stream video and audio from various sources, including webcams, microphones, and game consoles. It also supports multiple audio tracks, making it easy to isolate and record game audio separately from other audio sources. This feature is particularly useful for gamers who want to focus on the game audio and eliminate background noise or commentary.
Why would I want to record only game audio with OBS?
Recording only game audio with OBS can be useful for several reasons. For example, you may want to create a walkthrough or tutorial video that focuses solely on the game audio, without any background noise or commentary. Alternatively, you may want to record game audio for editing purposes, such as adding music or sound effects to your video.
By isolating the game audio, you can also improve the overall quality of your recording. This is because OBS can focus on capturing the game audio without any interference from other audio sources. Additionally, recording only game audio can help reduce the file size of your recording, making it easier to store and share.
What are the system requirements for using OBS to record game audio?
To use OBS to record game audio, you will need a computer with a relatively modern operating system, such as Windows 10 or macOS High Sierra. You will also need a decent graphics card, processor, and RAM to ensure smooth video and audio recording. Additionally, you will need a microphone or other audio input device to capture the game audio.
In terms of specific system requirements, OBS recommends a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, a 2.0 GHz dual-core processor, and a graphics card with at least 256 MB of video memory. However, these requirements may vary depending on the specific game and recording settings you are using. It’s always a good idea to check the OBS website for the latest system requirements and recommendations.
How do I set up OBS to record only game audio?
To set up OBS to record only game audio, you will need to configure the software to capture the game audio separately from other audio sources. This can be done by creating a new audio track in OBS and selecting the game audio as the input source. You can then adjust the audio settings to optimize the quality of the game audio recording.
To create a new audio track in OBS, go to the “Settings” menu and select “Audio”. From there, click on the “Tracks” tab and click the “+” button to create a new track. Select the game audio as the input source and adjust the audio settings as needed. You can also use the “Advanced Audio Settings” menu to fine-tune the audio settings and optimize the quality of the recording.
Can I use OBS to record game audio from multiple sources?
Yes, OBS allows you to record game audio from multiple sources. This can be useful if you are playing a game with multiple audio tracks, such as a game with both music and sound effects. To record game audio from multiple sources, you can create multiple audio tracks in OBS and select the corresponding audio source for each track.
For example, you can create one audio track for the game music and another track for the sound effects. This allows you to capture and record each audio source separately, giving you more control over the final recording. You can also use the “Advanced Audio Settings” menu to adjust the audio settings for each track and optimize the quality of the recording.
How do I export and edit my recorded game audio in OBS?
Once you have recorded your game audio with OBS, you can export it as a separate audio file. To do this, go to the “File” menu and select “Export”. From there, select the audio file format you want to use, such as MP3 or WAV, and choose a location to save the file.
You can then edit your recorded game audio using a separate audio editing software, such as Audacity or Adobe Audition. These programs allow you to trim, cut, and arrange your audio clips, as well as add music or sound effects to your recording. You can also use these programs to adjust the audio levels, EQ, and compression to optimize the quality of the recording.
Are there any limitations or drawbacks to using OBS to record game audio?
While OBS is a powerful tool for recording game audio, there are some limitations and drawbacks to consider. For example, OBS may not be able to capture game audio from all games, particularly those that use proprietary audio formats. Additionally, OBS may introduce some latency or delay when recording game audio, which can affect the overall quality of the recording.
Another potential drawback is that OBS may not be able to record game audio at very high quality, particularly if the game audio is encoded in a lossy format. However, OBS does support a wide range of audio formats and codecs, including lossless formats like FLAC and WAV. Overall, the limitations and drawbacks of using OBS to record game audio are relatively minor, and the software remains a popular choice among gamers and content creators.