Are you tired of dealing with background noise and unwanted audio while recording or streaming with OBS (Open Broadcasting Software)? Do you want to focus on a specific window’s audio and eliminate all other distractions? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of making OBS only record one window audio, ensuring a seamless and professional audio experience.
Understanding OBS Audio Settings
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of recording one window audio, it’s essential to understand how OBS handles audio. By default, OBS captures all audio from your computer, including system sounds, browser audio, and external inputs. This can lead to a messy audio mix, especially if you’re trying to focus on a specific window or application.
To access OBS audio settings, follow these steps:
- Open OBS and navigate to the “Settings” panel (usually found in the bottom right corner of the screen).
- Click on the “Audio” tab.
- Here, you’ll see a list of available audio devices, including your default system audio, microphone, and any external audio inputs.
Audio Input Options
OBS offers several audio input options, including:
- Default: This option captures all system audio, including sounds from your browser, applications, and external inputs.
- Microphone: This option captures audio from your external microphone or built-in laptop microphone.
- Auxiliary: This option captures audio from external audio inputs, such as a separate audio interface or mixer.
Using the “Window Capture” Method
One way to record one window audio is by using the “Window Capture” method. This involves capturing the audio from a specific window or application, while ignoring all other system audio.
To use the “Window Capture” method, follow these steps:
- Create a new scene in OBS by clicking the “+” button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Select “Window Capture” as the source type.
- Choose the window or application you want to capture audio from.
- In the “Window Capture” settings, select the “Capture audio from this window” option.
- Make sure the “Use custom audio device” option is unchecked.
Configuring Window Capture Audio Settings
To further customize your window capture audio settings, follow these steps:
- In the “Window Capture” settings, click on the “Advanced” tab.
- Here, you can adjust the audio bitrate, sample rate, and channel layout to suit your needs.
- You can also select the specific audio device you want to use for the window capture.
Using the “Audio Input Capture” Method
Another way to record one window audio is by using the “Audio Input Capture” method. This involves capturing the audio from a specific audio input, such as a virtual audio cable or a separate audio interface.
To use the “Audio Input Capture” method, follow these steps:
- Create a new scene in OBS by clicking the “+” button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Select “Audio Input Capture” as the source type.
- Choose the audio input device you want to capture audio from.
- In the “Audio Input Capture” settings, select the “Use custom audio device” option.
- Choose the specific audio device you want to use for the audio input capture.
Configuring Audio Input Capture Settings
To further customize your audio input capture settings, follow these steps:
- In the “Audio Input Capture” settings, click on the “Advanced” tab.
- Here, you can adjust the audio bitrate, sample rate, and channel layout to suit your needs.
- You can also select the specific audio device you want to use for the audio input capture.
Using Virtual Audio Cables
Virtual audio cables are a great way to capture audio from a specific window or application, while ignoring all other system audio. A virtual audio cable is a software-based audio interface that allows you to route audio from one application to another.
To use a virtual audio cable with OBS, follow these steps:
- Download and install a virtual audio cable software, such as Virtual Audio Cable or VoiceMeeter.
- Create a new virtual audio cable by following the software’s instructions.
- In OBS, create a new scene and select “Audio Input Capture” as the source type.
- Choose the virtual audio cable as the audio input device.
- In the “Audio Input Capture” settings, select the “Use custom audio device” option.
- Choose the specific audio device you want to use for the virtual audio cable.
Configuring Virtual Audio Cable Settings
To further customize your virtual audio cable settings, follow these steps:
- In the virtual audio cable software, adjust the audio settings to suit your needs.
- You can adjust the audio bitrate, sample rate, and channel layout to match your OBS settings.
- You can also select the specific audio device you want to use for the virtual audio cable.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you’re experiencing issues with recording one window audio, here are some common troubleshooting steps to try:
- Audio not capturing: Make sure the “Capture audio from this window” option is selected in the “Window Capture” settings.
- Audio delay: Adjust the audio delay settings in the “Advanced” tab of the “Window Capture” or “Audio Input Capture” settings.
- Audio distortion: Adjust the audio bitrate and sample rate settings in the “Advanced” tab of the “Window Capture” or “Audio Input Capture” settings.
Conclusion
Recording one window audio with OBS can be a bit tricky, but with the right techniques and settings, you can achieve a seamless and professional audio experience. By using the “Window Capture” method, “Audio Input Capture” method, or virtual audio cables, you can focus on a specific window’s audio and eliminate all other distractions. Remember to adjust your audio settings and troubleshoot common issues to ensure the best possible audio quality. Happy streaming!
What is OBS and why do I need to record one window audio?
OBS, or Open Broadcasting Software, is a free and open-source software for video recording and live streaming. It’s widely used by gamers, YouTubers, and other content creators. Recording one window audio is essential when you want to focus on a specific application or game’s audio, eliminating background noise and other distractions.
By recording one window audio, you can ensure that your audience only hears the audio that’s relevant to your content, creating a more immersive experience. This is particularly important for gamers who want to focus on the game’s audio, or for YouTubers who want to create high-quality tutorials without background noise.
How do I set up OBS to record one window audio?
To set up OBS to record one window audio, you’ll need to access the settings menu. First, open OBS and click on the “Settings” button in the bottom right corner of the screen. Then, navigate to the “Audio” tab and select the “Advanced” option. From there, you can choose the specific window or application you want to record audio from.
Make sure to select the correct audio device and adjust the settings as needed. You may need to experiment with different settings to get the desired audio quality. Additionally, you can use the “Push-to-talk” or “Push-to-mute” features to control the audio recording.
What is the difference between global audio and window audio in OBS?
In OBS, global audio refers to the overall audio settings that apply to all windows and applications. This includes the system’s default audio device and any additional audio devices you’ve added. Window audio, on the other hand, refers to the audio settings specific to a particular window or application.
When you record window audio, OBS will only capture the audio from the selected window, ignoring any other audio sources. This allows you to focus on the audio from a specific application or game, creating a more immersive experience for your audience.
Can I record multiple window audio sources at the same time?
Yes, OBS allows you to record multiple window audio sources simultaneously. To do this, you’ll need to add multiple audio sources to your scene and select the specific windows or applications you want to record audio from. You can then adjust the audio settings for each source individually.
Keep in mind that recording multiple audio sources can increase the complexity of your setup and may require more advanced audio settings. However, this feature can be useful for creating complex audio scenarios, such as recording multiple game audio sources or combining audio from different applications.
How do I troubleshoot audio issues in OBS?
If you’re experiencing audio issues in OBS, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. First, check that your audio device is selected correctly and that the volume is turned up. You can also try restarting OBS or your computer to see if that resolves the issue.
If the problem persists, you can try adjusting the audio settings in OBS or updating your audio drivers. Additionally, you can check the OBS logs for any error messages related to audio issues. If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may need to seek further assistance from the OBS community or a technical support specialist.
Can I use OBS to record audio from a specific browser tab?
Yes, OBS allows you to record audio from a specific browser tab. To do this, you’ll need to use the “Window Capture” feature in OBS, which allows you to capture the audio and video from a specific window or application. You can then select the specific browser tab you want to record audio from and adjust the audio settings as needed.
Keep in mind that recording audio from a browser tab may require additional setup, such as installing a browser extension or configuring the browser’s audio settings. However, this feature can be useful for creating tutorials or recording audio from online applications.
Is it possible to record audio from a minimized window in OBS?
Yes, OBS allows you to record audio from a minimized window. To do this, you’ll need to use the “Window Capture” feature in OBS and select the minimized window as the audio source. You can then adjust the audio settings as needed and start recording.
Keep in mind that recording audio from a minimized window may require additional setup, such as configuring the window’s audio settings or using a third-party plugin. However, this feature can be useful for creating tutorials or recording audio from applications that run in the background.