As a streamer, you understand the importance of having a seamless and professional live streaming experience. One crucial aspect of this is ensuring that your audio setup is spot on, with no unwanted sounds or distractions interrupting your broadcast. However, if you’re using OBS (Open Broadcasting Software) to stream your content, you might have noticed that it tends to capture Discord audio, which can be a major nuisance. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of OBS and Discord, exploring the reasons behind this issue and providing you with a step-by-step guide on how to prevent OBS from capturing Discord audio.
Why Does OBS Capture Discord Audio in the First Place?
Before we dive into the solution, it’s essential to understand why OBS captures Discord audio in the first place. There are a few reasons for this:
OBS’s Default Audio Settings
By default, OBS is set to capture all audio inputs from your computer, including system sounds, microphone audio, and application sounds like Discord. This means that when you’re chatting with your friends or teammates on Discord, OBS picks up the audio and includes it in your stream.
Discord’s Audio Output
Discord, like many other VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) applications, uses the default audio output device on your system. This default device is usually set to your computer’s speakers or headphones, which OBS then captures as part of your stream.
Solutions to Stop OBS from Capturing Discord Audio
Now that we’ve covered the reasons behind the issue, let’s move on to the solutions. Here are a few methods to help you prevent OBS from capturing Discord audio:
Method 1: Exclude Discord from OBS’s Audio Capture
One of the simplest ways to stop OBS from capturing Discord audio is to exclude Discord from OBS’s audio capture settings. Here’s how:
- Open OBS and navigate to the “Settings” panel.
- In the “Settings” panel, click on the “Audio” tab.
- In the “Audio” tab, click on the “Microphone/Auxiliary Audio” dropdown menu.
- Select the “Advanced” option.
- In the “Advanced” settings, uncheck the box next to “Desktop Audio” or “System Audio.”
- Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.
By doing this, you’re telling OBS to ignore system audio, which includes Discord audio.
Method 2: Use a Virtual Audio Cable
Another solution is to use a virtual audio cable, which acts as a bridge between your Discord audio and OBS. Here’s how:
- Download and install a virtual audio cable software like VB-Cable or Voicemeeter Banana.
- Set the virtual audio cable as your default audio output device in Windows.
- In Discord, set the virtual audio cable as your output device.
- In OBS, set the virtual audio cable as your audio input device.
This method isolates your Discord audio from your system audio, ensuring that OBS doesn’t capture it.
Method 3: Use Discord’s Built-in Audio Settings
Discord has built-in audio settings that allow you to customize your audio output. Here’s how to use them to prevent OBS from capturing Discord audio:
- Open Discord and navigate to the “User Settings” panel.
- In the “User Settings” panel, click on the “Voice & Video” tab.
- In the “Voice & Video” tab, click on the “Audio Settings” button.
- In the “Audio Settings” panel, select the “Output Device” dropdown menu.
- Select a different output device, such as your headphones or speakers, instead of the default device.
By doing this, you’re telling Discord to use a different audio output device, which OBS won’t capture.
Method 4: Use OBS’s Audio Mixer
If you’re using OBS Studio 24.0 or later, you can use the built-in audio mixer to exclude Discord audio from your stream. Here’s how:
- Open OBS and navigate to the “Audio Mixer” panel.
- In the “Audio Mixer” panel, click on the “Settings” button.
- In the “Settings” panel, click on the “Audio” tab.
- In the “Audio” tab, uncheck the box next to “Desktop Audio” or “System Audio.”
- Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.
This method is similar to Method 1, but it uses the audio mixer instead of the settings panel.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While the methods above should help you prevent OBS from capturing Discord audio, you might still encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
Issue 1: OBS Still Captures Discord Audio
If OBS still captures Discord audio despite trying the methods above, try resetting your audio settings in OBS or reinstalling the software.
Issue 2: Discord Audio Is Not Heard by Others
If Discord audio is not heard by others in your stream or voice chat, check that your audio output device is set correctly in Discord and that your friends or teammates can hear you.
Issue 3: OBS Captures System Sounds Instead
If OBS starts capturing system sounds instead of Discord audio, try adjusting your audio settings in OBS or reinstalling the software.
Conclusion
In conclusion, stopping OBS from capturing Discord audio is a relatively simple process that requires some adjustments to your audio settings in OBS and Discord. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can ensure a seamless and professional live streaming experience, free from unwanted audio distractions. Remember to troubleshoot any common issues that may arise and experiment with different methods to find the one that works best for you. Happy streaming!
Why is OBS capturing Discord audio in the first place?
OBS is designed to capture all audio signals from your system, including Discord audio, by default. This is because OBS is a live streaming and recording software that aims to capture all audio and video signals from your system, including system sounds, microphone audio, and any other audio sources. Discord, on the other hand, is a voice chat application that outputs audio signals to your system.
However, in many cases, you may not want OBS to capture Discord audio, especially if you’re trying to keep your voice chat conversations private or if you’re using Discord for communication during a live stream or recording. Fortunately, there are ways to silence the noise and prevent OBS from capturing Discord audio, which we’ll discuss in this article.
How do I know if OBS is capturing Discord audio?
If OBS is capturing Discord audio, you’ll likely hear the audio from your Discord voice chat conversations playing back in your stream or recording. You may also notice that the audio levels in OBS are peaking or clipping due to the additional audio signal from Discord. Another way to check is to open the OBS settings and look for the “Audio” section, where you can see a list of all audio devices and sources that OBS is currently capturing.
If you see Discord listed as one of the audio sources, then OBS is likely capturing its audio. You can also try muting the Discord audio source in OBS to see if the audio disappears from your stream or recording. If it does, then you know that OBS was capturing Discord audio and you’ll need to take steps to silence it.
Will silencing Discord audio in OBS affect my stream or recording quality?
Silencing Discord audio in OBS will not affect the overall quality of your stream or recording. The audio quality will remain the same, and you’ll still be able to capture high-quality audio from your microphone or other audio sources. The only difference is that the Discord audio will be excluded from the capture.
In fact, silencing Discord audio can actually improve the quality of your stream or recording by reducing echo, feedback, and other audio artifacts that can occur when multiple audio sources are being captured simultaneously. By isolating the audio sources and excluding unwanted audio signals, you can achieve a cleaner and more professional-sounding audio mix.
Can I use the “Push-to-Talk” feature in Discord to prevent OBS from capturing audio?
While the “Push-to-Talk” feature in Discord can help reduce the amount of unwanted audio that’s captured by OBS, it’s not a foolproof solution. The “Push-to-Talk” feature requires you to press a hotkey to activate your microphone, but it doesn’t actually prevent OBS from capturing Discord audio.
Moreover, if you’re using a third-party microphone or audio interface, the audio signal from Discord may still be routed to your microphone or audio interface, even when you’re not actively using the “Push-to-Talk” feature. To completely silence Discord audio in OBS, you’ll need to use a more comprehensive solution, such as setting Discord to output audio to a virtual audio device.
Do I need to use a virtual audio device to silence Discord audio in OBS?
Using a virtual audio device is one way to silence Discord audio in OBS, but it’s not the only solution. Virtual audio devices allow you to create a separate audio output for Discord, which can be excluded from the OBS capture. However, this method may require some technical setup and configuration, and may not be suitable for all users.
Alternatively, you can use the “Audio Output” settings in Discord to output audio to a specific device, such as your speakers or headphones, rather than to the default system device. This can help prevent OBS from capturing Discord audio, without the need for a virtual audio device.
Will silencing Discord audio in OBS affect my ability to communicate with my team or community?
Silencing Discord audio in OBS will not affect your ability to communicate with your team or community. You’ll still be able to hear and respond to voice chat conversations in Discord, and you’ll be able to communicate with your team or community as usual.
The only difference is that the audio from your Discord conversations will not be captured by OBS and broadcast to your stream or recording. This can help you maintain privacy and confidentiality in your voice chat conversations, while still allowing you to communicate with your team or community.
Can I silence Discord audio in OBS for only certain streams or recordings?
Yes, you can silence Discord audio in OBS for only certain streams or recordings. In OBS, you can create multiple profiles or scenes, each with their own settings and configurations. This allows you to customize your audio settings for specific streams or recordings, and exclude Discord audio only when needed.
For example, you can create a separate profile or scene for your voice chat conversations, and set the audio output to exclude Discord audio. This way, you can easily switch between different audio settings and configurations, depending on your needs.