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# How to Capture Desktop Audio in OBS Studio on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide
- URL: https://macfixly.com/capture-desktop-audio-obs-mac/
- Published: 2026-10-12T23:40:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-12T23:40:00.000Z
- Description: Learn how to capture desktop audio in OBS Studio on Mac by setting up virtual audio devices and configuring OBS for seamless recording.
- Author: Macuser
- Tags: OBS Studio, Mac Audio, Desktop Audio Capture, Streaming, Recording

You’re setting up OBS Studio on your Mac to record a tutorial or stream gameplay, but you realize the desktop audio isn’t being captured. Unlike on Windows, capturing desktop audio on a Mac requires additional steps due to system limitations.

This guide explains how to capture desktop audio in OBS Studio on Mac, walking you through installing and configuring virtual audio devices, setting up OBS Studio, and troubleshooting common issues. You’ll also learn how to record both desktop sounds and your microphone simultaneously and explore the best current third-party software options and practical workarounds.

## Key takeaways

- macOS does not allow direct desktop audio capture, so you need a virtual audio device like BlackHole or Loopback.
- Configure the virtual audio device as a multi-output device in Audio MIDI Setup to hear and record sound simultaneously.
- In OBS Studio, add the virtual audio device as an Audio Input Capture source to capture desktop audio.
- To record microphone and desktop audio together, add both devices separately in OBS audio settings.
- Common issues include no sound capture or lag, often fixed by verifying device setup and OBS audio settings.

## Before you start: What you need to capture desktop audio on Mac

To capture desktop audio on your Mac using OBS Studio, you must first understand macOS's built-in restrictions. Unlike some other operating systems, macOS does not allow OBS Studio to capture system audio directly due to security and privacy controls.

You need OBS Studio installed on your Mac as the base software for recording or streaming. Next, to work around macOS limitations, you must use third-party audio routing software that creates virtual audio devices capturing desktop sound.

The most popular audio routing tools include BlackHole, Loopback, and Soundflower. These tools differ in cost, ease of use, and compatibility. BlackHole is free and open-source, providing solid compatibility but requiring some command-line familiarity. Loopback is a paid app with a user-friendly interface and advanced routing features, ideal if you want more control. Soundflower is free but less actively maintained, which might cause compatibility issues on newer macOS versions.

Basic familiarity with macOS audio settings, such as selecting audio input/output devices in System Preferences > Sound and granting microphone permissions to OBS Studio in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy, is essential before configuring audio capture.

| Tool        | Cost | Ease of Use                         | Compatibility                              |
| ----------- | ---- | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| BlackHole   | Free | Moderate (requires command line)    | Good (actively maintained)                 |
| Loopback    | Paid | High (graphical interface)          | Excellent (latest macOS versions)          |
| Soundflower | Free | Low (older interface, less support) | Variable (may have issues on latest macOS) |

1. Ensure OBS Studio is installed on your Mac. You should see the OBS icon in your Applications folder or Launchpad.
2. Choose and install a virtual audio device like BlackHole, Loopback, or Soundflower. After installation, you should find the new device listed in System Preferences > Sound.
3. Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > Microphone and confirm OBS Studio has permission to access the microphone. You should see a checkmark next to OBS Studio.
4. Familiarize yourself with System Preferences > Sound to select input and output devices, as you will route audio through these virtual devices when configuring OBS.

## Installing and configuring a virtual audio device for desktop audio capture

1. Download the BlackHole virtual audio driver from its official GitHub page or a trusted source. After downloading the installer package, open it and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
2. Open the macOS Audio MIDI Setup application, found in Applications > Utilities. This utility allows you to create aggregate or multi-output devices necessary for routing audio.
3. Click the plus (+) button in the bottom-left corner and select “Create Multi-Output Device.” A new device will appear in the list.
4. In the right panel, check both “BlackHole 16ch” (or your installed version) and your primary audio output device, such as “Built-in Output.” This setup routes audio simultaneously to your speakers and BlackHole.
5. Rename the multi-output device to something recognizable, like “OBS Audio Output.” Close Audio MIDI Setup once configured.
6. Navigate to System Preferences > Sound > Output and select the newly created multi-output device. This directs all system audio to both your speakers and the virtual device.
7. Verify the setup by playing audio; you should hear sound normally while the virtual device captures the output for OBS.

This configuration allows OBS Studio to capture desktop audio by receiving the routed sound through BlackHole, while you still hear audio through your regular speakers.

*Screenshot 1:* Audio MIDI Setup showing the multi-output device with BlackHole and Built-in Output checked.  
*Screenshot 2:* System Sound preferences displaying the multi-output device selected as output.

## Setting up OBS Studio to capture desktop audio on Mac

1. Open OBS Studio and go to the "Sources" panel, then click the "+" button and select "Audio Input Capture." You should see a dialog to create or select a source.
2. Name the source (e.g., "Desktop Audio") and click "OK." In the dropdown menu labeled "Device," select the virtual audio device you installed earlier, such as "BlackHole 2ch." When selected, OBS will start receiving audio from your Mac's system sounds.
3. Go to "Edit" > "Advanced Audio Properties." Locate the new audio source and set "Audio Monitoring" to "Monitor and Output" if you want to hear the audio during recording or streaming. This plays audio through your headphones or speakers while capturing it.
4. If you notice audio lag or echo, adjust the "Sync Offset (ms)" value next to your virtual audio device source. Start with small values like 50 or 100 ms and test until audio aligns with video.
5. Open "Settings" > "Output" > "Recording" or "Streaming." Under "Audio Bitrate," choose 160 kbps or higher for clear sound without excessive file size. For streaming, 160–192 kbps balances quality and bandwidth.
6. Check "Settings" > "Audio" to ensure your sample rate matches the virtual device’s sample rate (commonly 44.1 or 48 kHz). Mismatched rates can cause audio glitches.

Following these steps lets OBS capture desktop audio cleanly on Mac, balancing performance and quality while preventing common sync issues.

![Setting up OBS Studio to capture desktop audio on Mac – how to capture desktop audio in OBS Studio on Mac](https://macfixly.com/content/images/2026/10/capture-desktop-audio-obs-mac-2.webp)

## Capturing both desktop audio and microphone input simultaneously

1. In OBS Studio, click the 2B20button under the 22Sources22 panel and select 22Audio Input Capture.22 *You should see a new source appear, allowing you to select your microphone device.*
2. Choose your microphone from the device dropdown and click 22OK.22 *The microphone audio will now appear in the mixer alongside desktop audio.*
3. Open the 22Audio Mixer22 panel and locate both desktop audio (via the virtual device) and microphone sources. *Adjust the volume sliders to balance levels; typically, set desktop audio around 60-70% and microphone around 80-90% to avoid overpowering one another.*
4. Click the gear icon next to your microphone source and select 22Filters.22 *Add a 22Noise Suppression22 filter (using RNNoise or speex) to reduce background noise and a 22Compressor22 filter with a threshold of approximately -18 dB and ratio around 4:1 to even out volume peaks.*
5. To prevent audio feedback loops, navigate to 22Advanced Audio Properties22 (gear icon in the mixer) and set the microphone's 22Audio Monitoring22 to 22Monitor Off.22 *This ensures you don't hear your own mic through speakers, which can cause echo.*
6. If you want to monitor your microphone privately, use headphones and set 22Audio Monitoring22 to 22Monitor Only (mute output).22 *This allows you to hear yourself without the sound being sent to the stream or recording twice.*

## Troubleshooting common issues with desktop audio capture in OBS on Mac

If you find no audio captured or the audio source not appearing in OBS, first verify that your virtual audio device (e.g., BlackHole) is correctly installed and selected as the Audio Input Capture source. Check System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Microphone to ensure OBS has permission to access audio input.

![Troubleshooting common issues with desktop audio capture in OBS on Mac – how to capture desktop audio in OBS Studio on Mac](https://macfixly.com/content/images/2026/10/capture-desktop-audio-obs-mac-3.webp)

For audio delay or sync issues, open OBS’s Audio settings and adjust the "Sync Offset" (measured in milliseconds) for your desktop audio source. A positive value delays audio; a negative value advances it. Test by recording a short clip while clapping and watching the video.

Distorted or low-quality audio often results from incorrect sample rates or bitrate settings. Confirm that OBS’s audio sample rate (found in Settings > Audio) matches the sample rate of your virtual audio device in Audio MIDI Setup, typically 44,100 Hz or 48,000 Hz. Set the audio bitrate to 160 kbps or higher for clearer sound.

Conflicts between multiple audio devices or apps can cause unpredictable results. Close other apps that use audio routing or disable unused audio devices in Audio MIDI Setup. Ensure only one virtual device is routing audio to OBS at a time.

1. Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Microphone and confirm OBS is checked. If not, check it and restart OBS. You should now see the audio source in OBS.
2. In OBS, select the desktop audio source, go to Properties, and adjust "Sync Offset" while testing with a recorded clip. Sync should visually align with video.
3. Open Audio MIDI Setup, select your virtual audio device, and confirm the format is 44,100 Hz or 48,000 Hz. Match this rate in OBS Settings > Audio. Record a test to ensure clear, undistorted sound.
4. Close other audio-intensive applications and disable extra audio devices in Audio MIDI Setup. Restart OBS and verify stable audio capture without conflicts.

## Alternatives and limitations of desktop audio capture on Mac

Beyond BlackHole and similar free tools, **Loopback** offers advanced audio routing capabilities with a user-friendly interface and greater flexibility. It is a paid option that allows you to create virtual audio devices combining multiple sources and applying real-time audio effects, which can simplify complex setups but comes at a cost.

Free tools like **Soundflower** and BlackHole effectively enable desktop audio capture but have limitations such as occasional compatibility issues with the latest macOS versions, limited support, and less intuitive configuration compared to paid software.

Native macOS restrictions prevent direct desktop audio capture without third-party software; no system setting bypasses this limitation, making virtual audio devices or hardware solutions necessary.

For professional or low-latency needs, consider **external hardware solutions** such as audio interfaces or mixers that capture system sound through physical outputs. These avoid software conflicts but require additional equipment and setup.

Choosing between free and paid options depends on your priorities: free tools offer no cost but may require more troubleshooting, while paid software like Loopback delivers ease of use and advanced features but involves a financial investment.

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## Frequently asked questions

### Can I capture desktop audio on Mac without third-party software?

macOS does not natively allow OBS Studio to capture desktop audio directly due to system restrictions. Without third-party software like virtual audio devices, you cannot capture system sounds within OBS. The built-in microphone input captures only external audio, not desktop audio.

### Which virtual audio device is best for beginners?

BlackHole is widely recommended for beginners because it is free, open-source, and relatively easy to install. It creates a virtual audio device that routes system sound into OBS without complex setup. Loopback offers more advanced features but requires a paid license, which might be excessive for simple usage.

### How do I fix audio delay in OBS Studio on Mac?

Audio delay often occurs due to buffering or sync issues between video and audio sources. In OBS, go to the "Advanced Audio Properties" and adjust the "Sync Offset" for the audio source by a few milliseconds until it aligns properly. Also, ensure your virtual audio device and OBS are both set to the same sample rate, commonly 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.

### Is it possible to capture audio from specific apps only?

Capturing audio from individual apps requires virtual audio software that supports app-specific routing, such as Loopback. These tools let you select which apps output to a virtual device that OBS can capture. BlackHole does not support app-specific capture natively and will capture all system audio combined.

## What this guide does not cover

This guide does not cover capturing audio from DRM-protected content or apps that restrict audio routing due to licensing or security measures. If you need to record audio from services like Netflix, Apple Music, or other protected platforms, these methods may not work due to their encryption and restrictions.

Additionally, this guide focuses on desktop audio capture using OBS Studio combined with virtual audio devices compatible with Mac. If your needs include professional multi-channel audio recording or require hardware audio interfaces, consider dedicated audio recording software or hardware solutions designed for professional use.

The single most useful next step is to install and configure a trusted virtual audio device such as BlackHole or Loopback, as these tools are essential for routing desktop audio into OBS Studio on Mac. Ensure you carefully follow the setup instructions for the chosen software, including setting it as the system output and adding it as an audio input source in OBS. This foundational step enables most desktop audio capture scenarios and often resolves initial challenges.