How to Record Discord Audio in OBS

Discord is a great platform that brings people from different communities together, offering endless communication tools. The downside is that most of the action takes place in real time. You cannot record and save Discord audio for future use. This is where OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) comes in handy.

We've created this guide to help you record audio from Discord streams. Below are instructions for recording Discord audio using OBS on different devices. Plus, we'll explain how to improve audio quality when streaming and answer some of the most common questions related to the topic.

Why is Discord ideal for streaming?

Unlike other VoIP services, such as Skype, Discord can run in your browser rather than a separate app. It lets you adjust the audio settings for each person on your stream individually. Additionally, with Discord, you can create a global server with different channels and separately manage permission levels for all users or groups.

Discord bots help keep a watchful eye on rule violations without the need for human admins or moderators. Finally, Discord can be connected to your YouTube or Twitch account to directly share content and set up subscriber-only channels.

How to record Discord audio with OBS?

Let's dive right in – find instructions on how to record Discord audio for your device below. OBS is a streaming software available only for Linux, macOS and Windows devices.

Linux

To record Discord audio on Linux computer, follow the steps below:

1. Install OBS on your computer and register.
   
2. In OBS, click the plus icon at the bottom of your screen, in the "Sources" section.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select "Audio Output Capture".
   
4. Name your audio source and click “OK”. Make sure "Make Source Visible" is enabled.
   
5. Expand the drop-down menu next to "Device" and select your audio output device, for example, headphones or speakers. Click OK. »
   
6. Click on the “Start Recording” button located in the “Controls” section in the lower right corner of your screen.
   
7. By default, audio is saved as blank video in .MKV format. To select a different format, click 'Output', then select an alternative from the menu next to 'Save Format'.
   
8. To enable or disable recording of your microphone, click on the speaker icon located in the "Audio Mixer" section.
   
9. Next to the speaker icon, you should see a blue slider. Move it to adjust the recording volume.
   
10. To find your recordings, click on "File", then on "Show recordings".
    

Mac

If you have a Mac, follow the instructions below to record Discord audio using OBS:

1. Install OBS on your computer and register.
2. In OBS, click the plus icon at the bottom of your screen, in the "Sources" section.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select "Audio Output Capture".
   
4. Name your audio source and click “OK”. Make sure "Make Source Visible" is enabled.
   
5. Expand the drop-down menu next to "Device" and select your audio output device, for example, headphones or speakers. Click OK. »
   
6. Click on the “Start Recording” button located in the “Controls” section in the lower right corner of your screen.
   
7. By default, audio is saved as blank video in .MKV format. To select a different format, click 'Output', then select an alternative from the menu next to 'Save Format'.
   
8. To enable or disable recording of your microphone, click on the speaker icon located in the "Audio Mixer" section.
   
9. Next to the speaker icon, you should see a blue slider. Move it to adjust the recording volume.
   
10. To find your recordings, click on "File", then on "Show recordings".
    

Windows 10

OBS for Windows 10 devices is no different from Mac or Linux. Follow the steps below to record Discord audio using OBS:

1. Install OBS on your computer and register.
2. In OBS, click the plus icon at the bottom of your screen, in the "Sources" section.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select "Audio Output Capture".
   
4. Name your audio source and click “OK”. Make sure "Make Source Visible" is enabled.
   
5. Expand the drop-down menu next to "Device" and select your audio output device, for example, headphones or speakers. Click OK. »
   
6. Click on the “Start Recording” button located in the “Controls” section in the lower right corner of your screen.
   
7. By default, audio is saved as blank video in .MKV format. To select a different format, click 'Output', then select an alternative from the menu next to 'Save Format'.
   
8. To enable or disable recording of your microphone, click on the speaker icon located in the "Audio Mixer" section.
   
9. Next to the speaker icon, you should see a blue slider. Move it to adjust the recording volume.
   
10. To find your recordings, click on "File", then on "Show recordings".
    

iPhone

OBS is not available for mobile devices. However, you can record Discord audio on your iPhone using the native Voice Memos app or any other voice recording tool. Here's how:

1. Open Discord on your iPhone and launch the stream you want to record.
   
2. Exit Discord to the main menu and open the Voice Memos app – a red and white sound wave icon.
   
3. Tap the red button at the bottom of your screen to start recording.
   
4. Return to Discord and play the audio. Be sure to use speakers instead of headphones.
5. Pause, resume and re-record audio as needed.
6. Once the recording is complete, open the Voice Memos app and tap "Done".
7. Name your recording and tap "Done" again.
   

Android

You cannot use OBS on Android mobile devices. To record Discord audio, you will need to use a voice recording app on your phone. As different companies make Android devices, there is no universal voice recording app and instructions vary. The necessary tool may already be installed on your device, or you may need to download it from Google Play Store.

How to improve your Discord audio?

The quality of audio input and output on Discord depends on various factors. Buying good hardware is a pretty obvious tip to improve sound quality. Other than that, you can toggle specific settings in Discord to get better results. To remove background noise from your microphone and get rid of echo, follow the steps below:

1. Open Discord and select "Voice and Video" from the left sidebar.
   
2. Scroll down until you reach the "Advanced" section.
   
3. Move the toggle next to "Noise cancellation."
   
4. Move the toggle next to "Echo cancellation".
   

To adjust your microphone sensitivity, follow the steps below:

1. Open Discord and select "Voice and Video" from the left sidebar.
   
2. Enable “Voice Activity”.
   
3. Move the slider under "Input Sensitivity".
   

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we'll answer other audio-related questions on Discord.

How can I produce OBS audio on Discord?

OBS offers a lot more audio settings than Discord. Therefore, some streamers choose to record audio using OBS and output it to Discord. Here's how:

1. Log in to OBS and go to "Audio" settings located on the left sidebar.

2. Scroll down to the "Advanced" section.

3. In the "Monitoring device" section, select your audio capture device (microphone, headphones, etc.).

4. Go back and navigate to the “Audio Mixer” section.

5. Select "Advanced Audio Properties", then expand the drop-down menu next to "Audio Monitoring".

6. Select “Monitor Only” or “Monitor and Output”.

7. Go to the main OBS page and click on the plus icon located at the bottom right of your screen to expand the general settings.

8. Select "Audio Input Capture".

9. Add Discord as a destination for one of your audio input channels (“Desktop Audio” or “Mic/Auxiliary Audio”). Click OK. »

10. To connect OBS to your Discord stream, go to "Preferences", then "Stream".

11. Paste the stream key and click "OK".

How do I record a Discord call?

You can record Discord calls using the Craig bot. Install on your Discord, then follow the steps below:

1. Log in to Discord on your device.

2. Select a server or chat.

3. Tap the “Join” option, a two-person icon located in the upper right corner of your screen.

4. Find the Craig bot in the contact list and select it. A menu will appear.

5. In the menu, select "Send message".

6. Type “:Craig:, join”. The bot will start recording instantly.

7. Make the call. Once you're done, type ":Craig:, leave" for the chat. The bot will stop recording your call.

8. You can find the recordings in your personal chat with the Craig bot.

Save and share

Now that you know how to record Discord audio, you should be able to access and share the best stream fragments at any time. OBS is one of the best streaming tools with advanced audio settings which has very few alternatives in the market. Hopefully it will also become available for mobile devices at some point.

Do you know any good OBS alternatives for mobile devices? Share your experiences in the comments section below.