How to Record Specific Chrome Tab Audio with OBS

This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step tutorial on how to use the “Application Audio Capture” feature in OBS Studio to isolate and record audio from a single Google Chrome tab. By utilizing this built-in feature, you can capture game sounds, music, or video audio from a specific tab without picking up background noises from other desktop applications, system alerts, or other open browser windows.

Step 1: Isolate the Chrome Tab

Because OBS Studio targets audio at the application and window level, you must isolate the tab you want to record.

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click and hold the specific tab you want to record.
  3. Drag the tab downward and release it to separate it into its own dedicated Chrome window.

Step 2: Add the Application Audio Capture Source

Make sure you are running OBS Studio (version 28.0 or newer, as this feature is natively supported in these versions).

  1. Open OBS Studio.
  2. Navigate to the Sources dock at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Click the + (Add) icon.
  4. Select Application Audio Capture from the list.
  5. In the pop-up window, name the source (e.g., “Chrome Tab Audio”) and click OK.

Step 3: Configure the Source Settings

Once the source is created, a properties window will appear. Configure the settings to target your isolated Chrome tab:

  1. Mode: Set this to Capture specific window.
  2. Window: Click the drop-down menu and select the Chrome window that matches the title of your isolated tab (it will end with - Google Chrome).
  3. Window Match Priority: Set this to Match title, otherwise find window of same type. This ensures OBS continues to target that specific tab even if you open other Chrome windows later.
  4. Click OK to save the settings.

Step 4: Test and Adjust the Audio

To ensure the setup is working correctly:

  1. Play audio or video in the isolated Chrome tab.
  2. Look at the Audio Mixer dock in OBS Studio. You should see the volume meter moving for your newly created “Chrome Tab Audio” source.
  3. Test your system by playing audio from another source (like Spotify or a different Chrome window). The meter for your tab audio in OBS should not react to these other sounds, confirming that the audio is successfully isolated.