In this guide
Assign the mic and game or desktop audio to different OBS recording tracks, enable those tracks in output settings, and test them in an editor that can read multiple tracks. Keep a combined track for ordinary playback if useful, but mute it when editing the separate tracks together.
To record microphone and game audio separately in OBS Studio, route each source to its own recording track in Advanced Audio Properties, then enable those tracks under Settings → Output. Make a short test and inspect each track in a multitrack editor. The tracks are contained in the recording; they are not necessarily separate audio files.
This setup makes future recordings easier to edit. It does not retroactively split audio that was already recorded on one mixed track.
Example: one combined track and two editable tracks
| Source | Track 1: combined | Track 2: mic | Track 3: game or desktop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microphone | On | On | Off |
| Game or desktop audio | On | Off | On |
Track 1 provides a convenient combined mix for standard playback. Tracks 2 and 3 give you separate sources to edit, provided the recording format and editor support them. OBS explains this combined-plus-separated arrangement in its multiple audio track guide.
Set up the recording in OBS Studio
- Verify the sources. Make sure OBS has a microphone source and a game or desktop audio source. Speak and play a short game sound; confirm the corresponding meters move. Desktop audio can include other system sounds, so it is not automatically a game-only source.
- Open Advanced Audio Properties. In the Audio Mixer, open the advanced audio settings and assign the track checkboxes using the table above. Other sources must also be routed deliberately: for example, a separate browser or chat source will not appear on a track unless you assign it.
- Enable the recording tracks. Open Settings → Output, choose the recording settings and enable tracks 1, 2 and 3. Depending on the OBS output mode and version, switch to Advanced output mode to expose multiple-track controls. Routing a source to a track is not enough if that track is not enabled for recording.
- Choose a suitable recording format. OBS's advanced recording guide notes that not all containers support multiple audio tracks. Use a compatible format such as MKV and confirm that your editor can import it or your chosen remuxed format.
- Record a short test. Speak, play game audio, and create a moment where both overlap. Stop the recording and inspect it before beginning a long session.
Verify every track in your editor
Import the test into an editor that exposes the recording's audio tracks. Solo track 1: it should contain both sources. Solo track 2: it should contain the microphone. Solo track 3: it should contain the game or desktop source. Listen at an overlap, not just during pauses.
If the combined track plays alongside both separate tracks, the same sounds can be doubled. Mute or remove the combined track in the edit when using the individual tracks, and check your final mix. A normal video player may play only one track at a time, so hearing the combined mix there does not verify that the separate tracks were recorded.
A separate mic track is still a microphone recording: it may include keyboard clicks, speakers playing in the room or headphone leakage. For keyboard noise, use the keyboard cleanup guide; for headphone leakage, see headphone bleed.
Troubleshooting missing or doubled audio
| Symptom | Check |
|---|---|
| Only one audio track appears in the editor | Confirm tracks were enabled under Output, the container supports them, and the editor imports multiple tracks. |
| Track 2 or 3 is silent | Check the source meter, its track checkbox and the enabled recording tracks. Test the actual source again. |
| Game sound is doubled or echoing | Check for duplicate capture and for the combined track playing alongside the isolated track. |
| Desktop track includes unwanted apps | Desktop capture can contain more than the game. Consider a supported per-application source and verify all wanted sound. |
For Windows setups, OBS documents Application Audio Capture and advises disabling global Desktop Audio when using those sources to avoid duplicate capture. If you change that setting, test every wanted application: disabling a global source can also omit sounds you meant to record. Availability and behavior depend on the OBS version and system.
What if the recording already has one mixed track?
First inspect the original video in an editor: it may contain separate audio tracks even if your player only exposes one. Audio tracks inside a video are not the same as the left and right channels of one stereo track. The video audio extraction guide explains the distinction.
If only a mixed soundtrack exists, you can test voice isolation on a short excerpt. Describe the spoken voice and compare Isolated sound with the original. Game sound can remain, and overlapping effects can alter words; the result is an estimate, not the separate microphone track that OBS would have recorded. The interface accepts MP3, WAV, MP4 and MOV up to 50 MiB (52.43 MB); the download dialog shows the cost and AI downloads require an account and sufficient credits.
Return the chosen audio to its original start in the editor, mute the old mix while comparing, and check sync and transitions. Follow the audio replacement guide for the full workflow.
Common questions
Does OBS create separate MP3 or WAV files?
This setup records multiple audio tracks inside a compatible video container. Export separate audio files from an editor if your workflow needs them.
Can I change the game volume later without changing my microphone?
Yes, if the game and mic were recorded on separate usable tracks and your editor exposes them. Adjust the game track while the combined mix is muted, then listen to the final export.
Does assigning separate tracks automatically separate game chat?
No. Game audio and chat must enter OBS as distinct sources and be assigned to distinct enabled tracks to edit them independently. Some applications require additional routing; test your particular setup.