Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most people in the U.S., the easiest way to record audio separately while screen recording is to use StreamYard’s local and individual-audio features, which give you clean per-person files without complex setup. If you’re on a single computer and want per-source tracks (like game + mic) in one file, OBS can work well once you configure multitrack recording.

Summary

• Use StreamYard when you want clear presenter-led screen recordings and separate audio for each person, all from a browser studio.
• Use OBS when you need deep control over multiple audio tracks on one machine and you’re comfortable tuning settings.
• Use Loom when you just need a quick screen share and don’t care about separate tracks (it primarily mixes audio together).
• Separate audio is mainly about cleaner editing: one track per voice or source, so you can mute, level, and repair without affecting everything else.

Why record audio separately when you’re screen recording?

If you’ve ever tried to fix one loud cough or a barking dog in the middle of a great demo, you already know the answer.

Recording separate audio lets you:

• Mute or reduce background noise from one person without touching others.
• Apply EQ or compression differently to your mic vs. system audio.
• Replace or re-record one speaker’s track without redoing the entire take.

In practice, there are two main flavors of “separate audio”:

1. Per-person files – one audio file per participant (ideal for remote interviews, podcasts, and panel demos).
2. Per-source tracks – multiple audio tracks in a single video container (for example, track 1 = mic, track 2 = game/system audio).

StreamYard is especially strong at the first style, giving you a separate audio file for each person in the studio using local recordings. (StreamYard Help Center)

How do you record your screen and get separate audio in StreamYard?

Here’s the practical workflow if you want a clean, presenter-led screen recording with separate audio for each person.

1. Create a recording studio instead of going live.

   • In StreamYard, start a recording session (you don’t have to broadcast anywhere).
   • This opens the same studio you’d use for live streaming but focused on capture.

2. Share your screen with full layout control.

   • You can bring in your screen, webcam, and guests, then choose layouts that put your content front and center.
   • Because layouts are controllable in real time, you’re essentially “editing live,” which reduces how much you need to fix later.

3. Enable local recordings for separate audio per person.

   • With local recordings on, each participant’s video and audio is captured on their own device and uploaded, giving you separate files to download later. (StreamYard Help Center)
   • You’ll see individual audio files (for example, WAV) per participant, which is perfect for podcast-style post-production.

4. Control mic vs. screen audio independently.

   • In the studio, you can adjust or mute your microphone separately from any shared-screen audio.
   • That means you can, for example, lower the volume of a demo video while keeping your voice loud and clear.

5. Download and edit each track in your editor.

   • After the session, download the composite video plus the separate local audio files.
   • Drop them into tools like Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or DaVinci Resolve and mix to taste.

On the free plan, local recording is limited to a modest number of hours per month; on paid plans, local recordings are effectively unlimited, which is more sustainable for regular creators. (StreamYard Help Center)

How do you handle system audio vs. mic in StreamYard on one computer?

Many U.S.-based creators want one extra level of control: they want their mic on one track and their system audio (app sounds, YouTube, game audio) on another.

In StreamYard, there are two common patterns:

• Simple path (good enough for most):

  • Use StreamYard’s built-in controls to balance your mic and the audio coming from your shared screen.
  • Record with local recordings enabled so your voice is preserved in a high-quality track, even if your internet or the live composite fluctuates.

• Advanced path (for Mac & Windows power users):

  • Use a virtual audio router (like Loopback on Mac or Voicemeeter on Windows) to send system audio into StreamYard as a separate source. (StreamYard Help Center)
  • In StreamYard, treat that routed system audio like another “guest” you can mute, solo, or adjust while you record.

This setup preserves StreamYard’s advantages—browser-based studio, layouts, branding overlays, presenter notes visible only to you—while giving you finer control over how system audio is captured and mixed.

When should you use OBS for separate audio tracks while screen recording?

OBS is a powerful desktop app that lets you build complex scenes and record multiple audio tracks in one file. (OBS Studio)

If your main need is: “I’m on one machine, I don’t need guests, but I want my mic and system audio on different tracks for editing,” OBS can be a good fit.

Basic OBS multitrack workflow:

1. Set up audio sources.

   • Add separate audio sources in OBS, such as your microphone and desktop/system audio.

2. Enable Advanced Output and multitrack recording.

   • In Settings → Output, switch to Advanced mode and enable multiple audio tracks (up to six). (OBS Project KB)
   • Assign your mic to, say, Track 1 and your system audio to Track 2.

3. Use a compatible recording format (container).

   • OBS recommends MKV for multitrack recordings, since not all formats support multiple audio tracks. (OBS Project KB)

4. Record and then edit.

   • Your recorded MKV will contain multiple audio tracks.
   • Many video editors can read these tracks separately; some simple media players will only play one track at a time, so don’t be surprised if you don’t “hear” everything by default. (OBS Project KB)

Compared with StreamYard, OBS gives you more per-source control on a single machine but requires more setup, a capable computer, and manual management of large local files.

Does Loom record separate audio tracks when screen recording?

Loom is built for quick async updates rather than detailed audio post-production.

A few key points from Loom’s own guidance:

• The Chrome extension records internal audio from a single browser tab—not full system audio. (Loom Support)
• The desktop app can record broader system audio from applications on your device, but it still mixes mic and system sound into one combined track in the final video. (Loom Support)

If your question is strictly, “How do I record audio separately?” Loom is usually not the right primary tool; it’s more of a quick share option you might use alongside StreamYard or OBS.

How do costs and setup compare for teams in the U.S.?

For solo creators, free tiers and one-off installs often feel attractive. For teams, the math changes.

• StreamYard

  • Free plan is free, with enough features to test screen recording and local audio on smaller projects.
  • Paid plans in the U.S. start around the cost of a couple of lunches per month, and pricing is per workspace, not per individual user, which often keeps team costs lower than tools that charge per seat. (StreamYard Pricing)
  • You also get cloud recording, local multi-track recordings, branded overlays, and both landscape and portrait outputs from the same session.

• OBS

  • 100% free software with no subscription, but you “pay” with setup time, hardware requirements, and local file management. (OBS Studio)

• Loom

  • Has a free tier with strict caps on recording length and total videos, and paid plans are priced per user, which can add up for larger teams. (Loom Pricing)

For most teams that want repeatable, branded screen recordings with separate audio for multiple people, StreamYard tends to hit the best balance of cost, simplicity, and flexibility.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your default if you record demos, trainings, or podcasts with guests and want separate, high-quality audio for each person without wrestling with complex software.
• Layer in virtual audio routing with StreamYard when you specifically need separate system audio control on one machine.
• Use OBS on a well-equipped computer if your priority is per-source multitrack recording (like game + mic) and you’re comfortable tweaking technical settings.
• Keep Loom for quick one-off async videos when separate audio tracks don’t matter; treat it as a complement, not your primary multi-track recording studio.