Recording PC Audio: What You Need to Know

Recording sound from your PC means capturing audio that plays through your speakers or headphones—whether that's music, a video, a game, or a voice call. Your PC has built-in tools to do this, but they work differently depending on whether you want to record what you hear, what a microphone picks up, or both at the same time.

The simplest method uses Stereo Mix, a Windows feature that lets you record anything your PC outputs. If Stereo Mix isn't available on your device, you can use free recording software like Audacity or OBS Studio instead. Both work on Windows and Mac, and both let you choose exactly what sound source to record from.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows has a built-in feature called Stereo Mix that records all sound your PC plays, but it must be enabled in Sound Settings first.
  • Audacity is free software that records PC audio and microphone input separately or together, and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
  • OBS Studio is designed for streaming and recording video with audio, and lets you choose which audio sources to include.
  • Recording copyrighted music or video without permission is illegal; recording your own voice, gameplay, or royalty-free audio is not.
  • Audio quality depends on your recording software's settings, not your PC's power—even older computers can record high-quality sound.

Enable Stereo Mix on Windows

Stereo Mix is a Windows feature that records everything your PC plays through its speakers. It is built in but often disabled by default. To turn it on, open Sound Settings by right-clicking the speaker icon in your system tray and selecting "Open Sound settings." Scroll down to "Advanced" and click "Volume mixer."

In Volume mixer, scroll down to "Advanced" again and look for "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear" (the name varies by sound card). If you see it, right-click and select "Enable." If it does not appear at all, your sound card does not support Stereo Mix—move to the Audacity method instead. Once enabled, Stereo Mix shows up as a recording device in any audio software.

After enabling Stereo Mix, open the app you want to record with (such as Audacity or OBS Studio), go to the recording input settings, and select Stereo Mix as your source. Test it by playing a sound and checking that the recording software detects audio coming in.

Record PC Audio With Audacity

Audacity is free recording software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. read it from audacityteam.org. Once installed, open Audacity and look at the top toolbar. You will see a dropdown menu that says "Microphone" or "Line In"—click it and select your audio source. If Stereo Mix is enabled, it will appear here. If not, you can still record a microphone or use Audacity's loopback recording feature.

To record, click the red circle button in the transport controls at the top. Play the audio you want to capture—music, a video, a game—and Audacity will record it. The waveform appears on screen as it records. Click the pause button (two vertical lines) to stop, or the square button to stop and finish the recording.

Once recorded, you can trim, cut, or adjust the volume using Audacity's editing tools. To save your recording, go to File > Export and choose your format: MP3, WAV, or FLAC are common choices. WAV is uncompressed and highest quality; MP3 is smaller and works everywhere. Audacity will ask you to set the quality (bitrate) before saving.

Record PC Audio and Video With OBS Studio

OBS Studio is free software designed for streaming and recording video with audio. read it from obsproject.com. It is more complex than Audacity but gives you precise control over what gets recorded. Open OBS and you will see a blank canvas called the "Scene." This is where you add sources—windows, browser tabs, your entire screen, or just audio.

To record PC audio, click the plus sign under "Sources" and add what you want to capture: "Display Capture" for your whole screen, "Window Capture" for one app, or "Browser Source" for a website. Then add an audio source by clicking the plus sign again and selecting "Audio Input Capture" (for a microphone) or "Audio Output Capture" (for PC sounds). Choose Stereo Mix or your sound card's loopback option from the dropdown.

Once your sources are set up, click "Start Recording" in the bottom right. OBS saves the file to a folder you choose in Settings > Output. When you are done, click "Stop Recording." OBS records in MP4 or MKV format by default. The file is ready to use when ready—no export step needed like Audacity.

Choosing Between Stereo Mix, Audacity, and OBS

Use Stereo Mix if you only need to record PC audio and your sound card supports it. It requires no software installation and works with any recording app. The downside is that Stereo Mix does not work on all PCs—some laptops and budget sound cards do not have it.

Use Audacity if you want to record PC audio, a microphone, or both, and you want to edit the recording afterward. Audacity is lightweight, free, and works on any PC. It is the best choice for recording podcasts, voice-overs, or music mixes. The learning curve is gentle—most people figure out the basics in five minutes.

Use OBS Studio if you are recording video alongside audio, or if you want to stream to a platform like Twitch or YouTube. OBS is heavier on system resources than Audacity but gives you more control over what appears in your recording. It is the standard tool for gaming streamers and content creators.

Audio Quality and File Size

The quality of your recording depends on the bitrate you choose when saving, not on your PC's power. Bitrate is measured in kilobits per second (kbps). For voice or speech, 128 kbps is clear enough. For music or high-fidelity audio, 192 kbps or higher is better. WAV files at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz are the highest quality but create large files—a one-hour recording can be 500 MB or more.

MP3 at 192 kbps is a good middle ground: it sounds nearly as good as WAV but is about one-tenth the file size. If you are recording for a video, podcast, or social media, MP3 is the standard. If you are recording music you plan to edit or remix later, use WAV or FLAC to preserve all the detail.

In Audacity, set bitrate in the Export dialog. In OBS, go to Settings > Output > Recording and set the bitrate under "Encoder." A higher bitrate means better sound but larger files and slightly more CPU use—on modern PCs, even 320 kbps MP3 uses almost no resources.

Troubleshooting Common Recording Problems

If your recording software detects no audio, first check that the correct input device is selected. In Audacity or OBS, open the input dropdown and make sure you have chosen Stereo Mix, your microphone, or your sound card's loopback option—not "Microphone" if you want PC audio. If Stereo Mix does not appear, it is not enabled; go back to Sound Settings and enable it.

If you hear audio playing but the recording is silent, the volume may be muted or turned down. Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray, open Volume mixer, and check that Stereo Mix is not muted and its volume slider is not at zero. Some sound cards require you to unmute Stereo Mix separately from the main volume control.

If your recording is distorted or crackling, lower the input volume in your recording software. In Audacity, use the slider next to the input device name. In OBS, right-click the audio source and adjust the volume slider. Distortion usually means the input is too loud for the software to handle cleanly.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Recording copyrighted music, movies, or TV shows without permission is illegal in most places, even if you record it from your own PC. Recording your own voice, gameplay from games you own, or royalty-free audio is not. If you plan to share your recording online, make sure you have the right to use any music or video in it.

Many websites and apps have terms of service that forbid recording. Recording a video call or meeting without telling the other people involved may be illegal depending on where you live. Some states and countries require all parties to consent to recording; others require only one party to know. Check your local laws before recording conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record PC audio without Stereo Mix?

Yes. Audacity and OBS both have loopback recording features that work without Stereo Mix. In Audacity, you can use "Software Playthrough" to monitor what you are recording. In OBS, add "Audio Output Capture" as a source. Both methods record PC audio even if your sound card does not support Stereo Mix.

What is the difference between recording PC audio and recording a microphone?

PC audio is what plays through your speakers—music, videos, game sounds. A microphone records sound from the air around you—your voice, room noise, other people talking. Most recording software lets you choose one or both. To record a podcast, you typically record your microphone. To record a video tutorial, you record both your screen audio and your voice.

Why is my recording much quieter than the original audio?

The input volume is probably set too low. In Audacity, look for the volume slider next to your input device name and drag it to the right. In OBS, right-click the audio source and increase the volume slider. Start at 50% and test; if it is still quiet, raise it more. Avoid going above 100% or the audio will distort.

Can I record audio from a specific app only, not my whole PC?

On Windows, this is difficult without third-party software. Stereo Mix records everything. Some apps like Discord or Zoom have built-in recording features that capture only that app's audio. On Mac, you can use Soundflower or similar tools to route one app's audio to a recording app. OBS can record a specific window's audio if the app supports it.

What file format should I use for my recording?

Use MP3 if you are sharing the file online or do not plan to edit it further. Use WAV if you are recording music or voice you plan to edit in another program. Use FLAC if you want lossless compression—smaller than WAV but higher quality than MP3. For video, MP3 or AAC audio inside an MP4 video file is standard.