This guide shows you how to split audio in OBS Studio so that you can choose what your live viewers hear and what ends up in your Twitch VODs.
The basic idea is:
- Use separate audio sources for each application (game, Discord, Spotify, etc.).
- Send everything you want live to Track 1.
- Send only “VOD-safe” audio to Track 2, which Twitch saves to the VOD.
1Open OBS Settings
Start OBS Studio, then at the top click the File menu and choose Settings.
2Disable Global Desktop Audio
In the Settings window:
- Select the Audio tab on the left.
- Under Global Audio Devices, set Desktop Audio and Desktop Audio 2 to Disabled.
- Click Apply.
We disable global desktop audio so only the per-app capture sources control what gets heard.
3Switch Output Mode to Advanced
Still in the Settings window:
- Click the Output tab on the left.
- Change Output Mode from Simple to Advanced.
4Configure Stream and Twitch VOD Tracks
With Output Mode set to Advanced:
- On the Streaming tab, set Audio Track to 1.
- Enable Twitch VOD Track and choose Track 2.
Click OK to close Settings when finished.
Track 1 is what viewers hear live. Track 2 is what gets saved to the Twitch VOD.
5Add an Application Audio Capture Source
Back on the main OBS window:
- Find the Sources box at the bottom.
- Click the + button to add a new source.
- Select Application Audio Capture (BETA) from the list.
6Select Application Audio Capture
7Name the New Audio Source
When prompted, create a new source and give it a clear label, such as Spotify Audio or Discord, then click OK.
Use descriptive names so it’s easy to tell which app each source belongs to.
8Select the Application to Capture
In the source’s Properties window:
- Use the Window dropdown to pick the app you want to capture (for example, Spotify or your game).
- Set Window Match Priority to Match title, otherwise find window of same executable.
- Click OK.
9Repeat for Each App You Want Split
Repeat the previous steps for each program you want on its own audio line: your game, Discord, browser, music player, etc.
Each of these should be an Application Audio Capture source in your scene.
10Open Advanced Audio Properties
At the bottom, in the Audio Mixer:
- Click the small ⚙ icon.
- Select Advanced Audio Properties.
11Assign Sources to Stream and VOD Tracks
In Advanced Audio Properties you will see each audio source with checkboxes for tracks 1–6.
Remember:
- Track 1 = Live stream audio.
- Track 2 = Twitch VOD audio.
For each source:
- Check Track 1 if you want it heard on stream.
- Check Track 2 if you want it in the VOD.
- Uncheck a track to exclude that source from that output.
Example: For DMCA-risk music, enable Track 1 and disable Track 2 so chat hears it live but it’s not in your VOD.
12Verify Track Routing While Audio is Playing
With some audio playing from each app:
- Watch the meters in the Audio Mixer to make sure levels look correct.
- Double-check that the right boxes are checked for Tracks 1 and 2 in Advanced Audio Properties.
13Hide or Toggle Sources When Needed
If you ever want to mute a source completely:
- Use the eye icon next to the source in the Sources list to hide it (removing it from both stream and VOD).
- Or set up hotkeys in Settings → Hotkeys to toggle visibility or mute specific sources.
You can map these hotkeys to a stream deck or macro pad for quick control.