In this guide
To capture sound playing through a Windows output, Audacity's Windows WASAPI loopback can record that output directly. On Mac, a supported OBS system-audio capture can record the sound in a video file; extract the soundtrack if you need an audio-only copy. Test the saved file and check permissions.
To record audio playing on a Windows computer, open Audacity, choose Windows WASAPI as the audio host and select the loopback input for the speakers or headphones playing the sound. Play the source, record a short test, stop and listen back before exporting. A loopback input captures the selected computer output; it is different from a microphone recording sound in the room.
On Mac, OBS can capture desktop or app audio on supported versions. Its recording is a video file; you can then extract the soundtrack if an audio-only file is needed. Capture only material you have permission to record and use, and respect application restrictions.
Choose the right source
| You want | Starting point | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Audio playing through a Windows output | Audacity Windows WASAPI loopback for that output. | The same speakers or headphones are used for playback and loopback. |
| Desktop or app audio on Mac | OBS macOS audio or screen capture on supported versions. | Permissions, selected app and the saved recording. |
| Your spoken voice | A microphone input or separate voice recording. | The microphone is selected and the saved speech is clear. |
| An existing video soundtrack | Convert the local video to audio. | The output includes everything mixed into that soundtrack. |
Record computer audio with Audacity on Windows
- Choose the output. Start playing a permitted audio source and note which Windows output device you hear it through. Mute unrelated notifications if they might be captured.
- Select the host. In Audacity, open Audio Setup and choose Windows WASAPI as the host. Then choose the recording device labeled loopback for the same speakers or headphones. Audacity's Windows playback recording guide documents these settings.
- Avoid monitoring feedback. Make sure Transport → Transport Options → Enable audible input monitoring is off. The Audacity manual warns that monitoring computer playback this way can create echo or distortion.
- Record a short sample. While the source is playing, press Record. Stop after a few seconds and play the captured track. If it is silent, check the chosen loopback matches the output currently playing sound.
- Record and export. Make the full recording, stop, listen through it and export an audio file in the format you need. Keep the Audacity project or an unedited copy if you plan further changes.
Audacity notes that WASAPI loopback needs an active playback stream and may pause when no signal is active; this can affect timing around silent gaps. If mono capture produces an error, its guide suggests trying two recording channels. Changing your selected Windows output halfway through may send audio to a different device from the loopback you selected.
Capture system audio on a Mac
For macOS 13 or later, OBS documents a macOS Audio Capture source in OBS 30 and later, with a choice of desktop or application audio. Its macOS Screen Capture source also supports audio on macOS 13 and later. Older macOS versions require additional routing software according to OBS.
- In OBS, create a scene and add a supported macOS audio capture source, or a macOS Screen Capture source if you also need the picture. Select the intended application or desktop source.
- Allow the requested screen and system-audio access where appropriate. Apple documents this under Screen & System Audio Recording permissions.
- Play the source and check its OBS mixer meter. Record a short test, stop and play the saved file. A moving meter does not by itself verify what was saved.
- If you need audio only, extract the soundtrack from a compatible saved video with an appropriate converter, then listen to the exported file. Recording and extracting are separate steps.
If you also need narration, add a microphone as a separate source and test it alongside the app audio. Avoid capturing the same app sound twice, and use headphones to reduce speaker leakage. The Mac screen-recording guide covers the screen workflow in more detail.
Fix silence, feedback or the wrong mix
- No audio: Check that the source is playing, the selected loopback or app matches it, and the recording app has required permissions. Then make a new test.
- Echo or doubling: Turn off unnecessary monitoring and duplicate audio sources. Check whether a microphone is picking up your speakers.
- Notifications in the recording: Loopback can capture other system sounds routed to the same output. Disable avoidable sounds before recording.
- Wrong timing: Listen for missing silent gaps or offsets, especially if you plan to sync the recording to video. Keep a reference and compare the end as well as the start.
Save and edit the result
If you already have a supported short MP4 or MOV, the video-to-audio converter can decode it locally to WAV or MP3 within its five-minute, 50 MiB input and additional output limits. It extracts the mixed soundtrack, not independent app and microphone tracks. For spoken audio with a competing sound, the voice isolator can test a supported file; it can alter speech or leave bleed, and AI downloads require an account and credits.
Common questions
Does a microphone record internal computer audio?
It records acoustic sound, including any sound leaking from speakers. Loopback or an app-audio source captures a computer output directly when supported.
Can I record my voice and computer audio separately?
Use a recorder that supports multiple sources or tracks, and verify its settings with a test. A single mixed file cannot automatically recover the original independent tracks.
Why did Audacity record silence?
Check that the playback stream is active, Windows WASAPI is selected and the loopback device matches the output being used. Record a fresh test after changing settings.