Last updated: 2026-01-15

If you want fast, reliable screen recordings with clean background music, the simplest path is to record in StreamYard using its built‑in Background Music plus optional tab/system audio. For heavier local or playlist‑style workflows, you can layer music in OBS or capture system audio in Loom when your use case really calls for it.

Summary

• StreamYard lets you add music directly inside the browser studio using built‑in Background Music or by sharing a music tab with audio. (StreamYard Help Center)
• OBS can embed audio files and playlists into scenes using Media Source or VLC Video Source for advanced routing. (OBS Project)
• Loom can capture system audio so music from your computer is included in the recording, especially when using the desktop app. (Loom Help)
• For most US creators on typical laptops, StreamYard’s browser‑based studio hits the sweet spot of easy setup, clear presenter‑led screen recordings, and reusable local tracks.

Why start with background music in StreamYard?

When people say “screen recording with music,” they usually want three things: a clean screen share, clear voice, and gentle music that doesn’t overpower the narration. That is exactly the workflow StreamYard is built to make simple.

Instead of juggling separate audio apps, you open a StreamYard studio in your browser, share your screen, and add music right inside the same interface. StreamYard includes Background Music in the studio so you can add ambience without leaving your browser. (StreamYard Help Center)

Compared to installed tools like OBS, this keeps setup light: no drivers, no audio loopback hacks, and no need to constantly re‑route devices every time you record. And unlike Loom’s per‑user billing, StreamYard uses workspace‑level pricing, which usually works out better for teams that want multiple presenters recording from the same shared studio. (Loom Pricing)

How do you add background music in a StreamYard recording?

Here’s a straightforward, repeatable workflow you can use for tutorials, walkthroughs, and product demos.

1. Open a StreamYard studio
   Create a new recording session and choose your camera and microphone. You don’t have to go live; you can use StreamYard as a pure recorder.

2. Share your screen
   Use the screen‑share button to pick a window, browser tab, or full screen. You stay on camera in the layout while your viewers see both you and the screen.

3. Open the Background Music panel
   Inside the studio, use the Background Music option to choose a track. StreamYard’s Background Music is available across plans so you can add music without extra plugins. (StreamYard blog)

4. Adjust levels
   Turn the music down so it sits under your voice, not on top of it. One of the advantages of recording inside StreamYard is independent control of your mic and the background track while you record.

5. Record and save
   Start recording. When you’re done, you can download the file from your StreamYard dashboard for editing, repurposing, or direct upload to your platform of choice.

Because StreamYard supports local multi‑track recordings for participants, your voice and your on‑screen collaborators can be captured on separate tracks for more precise mixing later, while the audience still hears a single, polished mix in real time. (StreamYard Support)

What if you want to upload your own music files to StreamYard?

Sometimes you already have licensed music—an intro theme, brand stinger, or looping ambient track—and you want that specific audio in your recording.

In StreamYard, you can upload your own music files into the Background Music area. Most common audio file types are supported, including .mp3, .ogg, .m4a, .aac, .wma, and .wav, so you can usually bring in whatever your editor or composer gave you. (StreamYard Help Center)

On self‑serve plans, each uploaded music file can be up to 30 MB, and on Business plans the limit increases to 50 MB, which is plenty for typical intro themes and looping background tracks. (StreamYard Help Center)

For most creators, this is a good balance: you get easy reuse of your branded music inside a browser studio, without managing large media libraries or complex routing.

How do you add music from a browser tab or app into StreamYard?

If you prefer to stream from Spotify, YouTube, or a royalty‑free site, you can route that audio into StreamYard as well. This works well for live‑style demos or casual office hours.

Using a music browser tab

1. Open your music service in Chrome.
2. In StreamYard, choose Share screen → Chrome tab.
3. Select the tab with your music player, and check Share audio before you confirm.
4. Control volume from the music site and from StreamYard’s audio sliders.

This “share tab with audio” approach is officially documented as a way to bring program audio into your StreamYard studio. (StreamYard Help Center)

You can use the same idea for desktop apps by sharing your screen or a specific window instead of a tab, again with audio enabled. Just be mindful of notifications and sensitive information on that display.

When does OBS make more sense for music in recordings?

There are times when you care less about “simple and reliable” and more about “total control.” That’s where OBS comes in.

OBS is a free, open‑source desktop application for recording and streaming that lets you build scenes with multiple sources and detailed audio routing. (OBS Studio)

For music specifically:

• Media Source: You can add an audio file (like an MP3) directly to a scene so it always plays when that scene is active. Supported audio types include .mp3, .aac, .ogg, and .wav. (OBS Project)
• VLC Video Source: If you install VLC on your system, OBS can use a VLC source to play a playlist of audio or video files, including looping background tracks. (OBS Project)

This gives you very granular control—different music per scene, hotkeys for muting, complex routing—but it also means more setup and a stronger laptop or desktop. For many US users who just want clean screen recordings with music and minimal tech overhead, StreamYard’s browser studio is faster to get right.

A practical rule of thumb: use OBS when you’re already comfortable with encoder settings and scene management, or you need very specific routing like “music in the live stream but not in the isolated audio track.” Otherwise, start in StreamYard and keep your focus on content, not configuration.

How do you include music in Loom screen recordings?

Loom is often used for quick async walkthroughs and feedback clips. If you’re already in Loom and just want your background music to be part of the capture, here’s what matters.

Loom can record system audio so sounds from your computer—music players, browser tabs, notification pings—end up in the video. The Loom Chrome extension can only record internal audio from a single tab, while the Loom desktop app can capture system audio from any application when you enable that option. (Loom Help)

The basic workflow:

1. Open your music player and start your track.
2. In Loom’s desktop recorder, turn on Use system audio in the settings.
3. Record your screen and narration as usual; your music becomes part of the captured audio.

Loom’s focus is quick sharing and async communication rather than multi‑participant productions or branded studio layouts. So while it can include music, it doesn’t give you the same presentable layouts, overlays, or multi‑guest flows that you get with a StreamYard studio.

How should you choose the right tool for music + screen recordings?

Here’s how to think about it in practice:

• You want clean, presenter‑led recordings with minimal setup
  Use StreamYard. You get a browser studio, built‑in Background Music, upload support for common audio formats, and clear control over mic vs music.

• You need fine‑grained routing and playlists on a powerful machine
  Use OBS. Build scenes, add Media Sources or VLC playlists, and tune everything to your hardware.

• You’re sending quick feedback clips and don’t care about layouts
  Use Loom. Turn on system audio, press record, and share the link.

For teams that care about both live events and reusable recordings, StreamYard’s combination of layout control, multi‑participant support, and local multi‑track files will usually cover day‑to‑day needs without the overhead of managing heavy desktop software.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard for most screen‑plus‑music recordings; it balances ease of use, layout control, and high‑quality output in a browser studio.
• Use uploaded background tracks or the built‑in music library for consistent, on‑brand sound across your videos.
• Bring in browser tab or app audio only when you truly need live‑controlled music sources.
• Reach for OBS or Loom when you have very specific technical needs those tools are optimized for, but keep StreamYard as your default recording workspace.