Route Application Audio on Mac with OBS Studio

This guide explains how to route audio from specific applications directly into OBS Studio on macOS without using third-party virtual audio cables. By leveraging native features introduced in OBS Studio 28 and later, Mac users can easily capture independent audio from sources like Discord, web browsers, or music players, allowing for precise control over stream and recording audio levels.

System Requirements

To use native application audio capture, you must meet the following system requirements: * macOS 13 Ventura or newer. * OBS Studio version 28.0 or newer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Native Audio Routing

Follow these steps to capture and route audio from a single application:

1. Add the Application Audio Capture Source

  1. Launch OBS Studio on your Mac.
  2. Navigate to the Sources dock at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Click the + (Add) button.
  4. Select Application Audio Capture from the list.
  5. Give the source a clear name (e.g., “Spotify Audio” or “Discord Sound”) and click OK.

2. Configure the Source Settings

  1. In the properties window that appears, locate the Application dropdown menu.
  2. Select the specific application you want to capture. The application must currently be running to appear in this list.
  3. Keep the Match window priority set to the default option unless you have specific window-matching needs.
  4. Click OK to save the settings.

3. Manage the Audio in the Mixer

  1. Look at the Audio Mixer dock in OBS. You will now see a dedicated volume slider for the application you just added.
  2. You can now adjust the volume, mute, or apply audio filters (such as Noise Suppression or Limiter) to this specific application without affecting your microphone or general system audio.

Disabling Global Desktop Audio

To avoid capturing duplicate audio (once from your specific application source and once from your overall system audio), you should disable the global desktop audio:

  1. Open OBS Settings (Command + ,).
  2. Click on the Audio tab.
  3. Under the Global Audio Devices section, set Desktop Audio to Disabled.
  4. Click Apply and then OK.

You can repeat the “Application Audio Capture” process for as many individual applications as your stream requires, giving you a completely customized and clean audio mix natively on macOS.