How to Add Discord Audio to OBS (3 Methods That Actually Work)

Your gameplay sounds perfect in OBS, but your Discord voices have vanished from the recording. Relax! You are one of the many users who face the same issue. And yes, it can be resolved. This is one of the most common audio issues streamers and content creators run into, and it has a clear fix. This guide walks through three working methods to capture Discord audio in OBS, from the simplest one-step solution to a more advanced routing setup, so you can pick the approach that fits your workflow.

Why OBS Doesn’t Capture Discord Audio Automatically

OBS only monitors audio from the system devices you explicitly assign to it. If Discord sends sound to a headset or another playback device, OBS is not monitoring it. As a result, that audio is left out of your recording or stream. Discord’s output device setting and OBS’s monitored device must match for capture to work. That mismatch is the root cause in almost every case.

Note: This guide is written primarily for Windows users. macOS has different limitations covered briefly in the troubleshooting section.

Before You Start, Set Discord’s Audio Output Correctly

This step applies to all three methods. Skipping it is the most common reason none of them seem to work.

1. Open Discord and click the gear icon at the bottom left to enter User Settings.

2. Navigate to Voice & Video in the left sidebar.

3. Under Output Device, confirm it is set to Default or to the same playback device your system uses as the primary output (typically your speakers or headphones connected to the motherboard audio jack).

4. If Discord is currently set to output exclusively to a USB headset or a secondary audio device, change it to Default and click Okay.

Once Discord outputs to the correct device, proceed to whichever method fits your situation.

Method 1: Use OBS Desktop Audio (Easiest, Recommended for Most Users)

Desktop Audio is the simplest way to capture Discord in OBS. It routes all sound playing on your system into OBS as a single audio source. Most streamers and casual recorders will never need anything more than this.

1. Open OBS and click Settings in the bottom-right corner.

2. Go to the Audio tab.

3. Under Global Audio Devices, find the Desktop Audio dropdown.

4. Set it to the same playback device your system uses as the default output (for example, “Speakers (Realtek)” or “Headphones”).

5. Click Apply, then OK.

6. Return to the main OBS window and speak in a Discord call or play a Discord audio clip. Watch the Audio Mixer at the bottom of the screen for meter movement confirming capture.

This method captures all system audio together, meaning game sounds, browser tabs, and Discord voices all appear on the same channel. For most streamers, this is completely fine.

Verify Audio Is Being Captured in the OBS Mixer

• The meter bar next to Desktop Audio should animate when someone speaks in Discord.

• If the meter is silent, go back and confirm the Discord Output Device and OBS Desktop Audio device match.

• Use the volume slider in the OBS Audio Mixer to independently adjust the Desktop Audio level without affecting your microphone or other sources.

Method 2: Add an Application Audio Capture Source (Windows, OBS Version 28 or later)

Application Audio Capture adds Discord audio to OBS as its own separate audio source. This method requires OBS version 28 or later and works on Windows only.

1. In the main OBS window, locate the Sources panel at the bottom.

2. Click the + button to add a new source.

3. Select Application Audio Capture from the list.

4. Name the source something descriptive, such as “Discord Audio,” and click OK.

5. In the source properties window, open the Window dropdown. Discord must already be running for it to appear in this list.

6. Select Discord.exe, then click OK.

7. Check the Audio Mixer to confirm the new source shows meter movement when Discord audio plays.

You now have Discord audio as its own dedicated channel, completely separate from your game sounds or browser audio.

When to Use This Method Instead of Desktop Audio

Use Application Audio Capture when you need Discord voices on a separate recording track for post-production, or when you want to mute or adjust Discord audio independently during a live stream without affecting gameplay audio.

Quick comparison:

• Method 1 (Desktop Audio): Simpler setup, all audio on one channel, no per-app control

• Method 2 (App Audio Capture): More setup, Discord isolated, independent volume and track assignment

Method 3: Route Discord Audio Through a Virtual Audio Cable (Advanced)

This method is for users who need complete separation between audio sources or who have a system setup where Discord and game audio share the same output device and cannot be split through OBS alone.

1. Download and install VB-Audio Virtual Cable from vb-audio.com. It is free for personal use.

2. Restart your computer after installation to ensure the virtual device registers in Windows.

3. Open Discord, go to User Settings → Voice & Video, and set the Speaker to CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).

4. Open Windows Sound Settings and confirm that CABLE Input is listed and active under playback devices.

5. In OBS, go to Settings → Audio. Set Desktop Audio 2 (or add a new audio source) to CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable).

6. Click Apply and OK, then confirm meter movement in the OBS Audio Mixer during a Discord call.

Discord audio now travels through the virtual cable into OBS as its own isolated channel, completely independent from your game or browser audio.

This method adds complexity to your setup. Only use it if Methods 1 and 2 do not meet your routing needs.

Discord Audio Still Not Working in OBS: Quick Fixes

• Meter shows no movement: The Discord output device does not match the device OBS is monitoring. Go back to the earlier step and make sure both settings match.

• Audio captured but very low: Raise the output volume inside Discord’s Voice & Video settings, then also adjust the slider for that source in the OBS Audio Mixer.

• Works in headphones but silent in OBS: Your headset is selected as Discord’s output instead of Default. Change Discord’s Output Device to Default.

• Application Audio Capture shows a blank app list: Discord was not running when you opened the source properties. Close the source, launch Discord, then re-add the Application Audio Capture source.

• macOS users: OBS does not natively support application-level audio capture on macOS. Use BlackHole (free) or Loopback (paid) to create a virtual audio device and route Discord through it into OBS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can OBS record Discord audio and game audio on separate tracks?

Yes. Add Discord using Method 2 (Application Audio Capture), then go to OBS Settings → Output → Output mode to Advanced → Recording and enable multi-track audio. Assign the Discord source to a dedicated track and your game audio to a different one. This gives you full control over each audio layer when editing.

Q2: Why does Discord sound echo or double in my OBS recording?

You likely have both Desktop Audio and an Application Audio Capture source capturing Discord at the same time. OBS then records both, creating a doubled signal. Remove one of the two sources to fix the duplication immediately.

Q3: Does adding Discord audio to OBS violate any rules?

Check the Terms of Service for your streaming platform and review Discord’s own ToS before recording. More importantly, recording private voice conversations without the knowledge of other participants may have legal implications depending on where you and your participants are located. Always get consent before recording calls.

Q4: Do I need to pay for any software to route Discord audio in OBS?

No. Method 1 uses OBS built-in settings and costs nothing. Method 2 requires OBS 28 or later, which is free. VB-Audio Virtual Cable used in Method 3 is free for personal use. 

Conclusion

Choose Method 1 if you want a quick setup without separate app audio. Pick Method 2 if you use OBS 28 or newer on Windows. It records Discord on its own audio track. Use Method 3 only if your setup needs complete hardware audio routing. After Discord audio appears in the OBS mixer, adjust your recording settings for better sound quality.