Knowledge Base > Audio > macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide

macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide

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Capture audio on macOS 13 and higher

When using OBS Studio 28+ on macOS 13 (Ventura) or later, you can capture desktop audio or just the audio coming from a single application.

The audio will automatically be added to the audio mixer. If the source is hidden, the audio will be removed.

1. Add a macOS Screen Capture Source (not the deprecated Window and Display Sources).

2. The Source will appear in the Audio Mixer Dock.

3. To capture only audio from a single application or window, switch the mode to Application Capture or Window Capture.

If you only wish to capture audio, not show any picture, you can either:

  • Place the macOS Screen Capture Source behind all other sources, or
  • Edit the macOS Screen Capture Source's transformation to set the size to zero width by zero height

Note: you can combine the new macOS Screen Capture Source audio with the other methods below for advanced control over audio.

Capture audio on previous versions of macOS

In order to capture desktop audio on older versions of macOS, you will require additional software. There are many options, including free and non-free software.

VB-CABLE

VB-CABLE by VB-Audio can be used to record macOS desktop audio. It must be set up manually does not support per-application audio capture.

  1. Download VB-CABLE for macOS and run the installer OR install it using Homebrew
  1. After you have installed VB-CABLE, open the Audio MIDI Setup application
Audio MIDI Setup
  1. Click on the + button at the lower-left of the window
  2. Click on Create Multi-Output Device
Create Multi-Output Device
  1. Uncheck VB-Cable in the list to the right
  2. Check one device from which you want to hear audio
Selecting the preferred output device
  1. Re-check VB-Cable. Make sure the device you selected in step 5 is set as the Master Device at the top of the window
  2. Close Audio MIDI Setup
Re-enabling BlackHole 16ch
  1. In System Preferences, click on Sound
System Preferences, showing the Sound preference pane
  1. Click on Output, then click on the Multi-Output Device you created
Selecting the Multi-Output Device as your output device
  1. In OBS Studio's Settings window, click on Audio
  2. Change the Desktop Audio device to VB-CABLE
Selecting BlackHole 16ch in OBS

Loopback

Loopback by Rogue Amoeba can be used for hassle-free audio routing, including per-application audio capture.

Sound Siphon

Sound Siphon by Static Z Software can be used for hassle-free audio routing, including per-application audio capture.

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