Record Screen with Separate System & Mic Audio – 7 Steps
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Want crystal‑clear SaaS demos without muffled voice‑over? In the next few minutes you’ll learn how to record screen with separate system and mic audio so each track can be edited independently. Follow the exact 7‑step workflow below and never fight with mixed‑up sound again.
The common mistake: relying on a single audio track
When you first click “record screen” most tools mix system audio and microphone audio into one track. The result is a shaky balance—notifications drown out your narration, and background music drowns out UI clicks.
Most built‑in screen recorders capture only a single combined stream, and the “separate audio” option is often just a misleading label. Ignoring the recording settings (sample rate, track separation) compounds the problem, leaving you with unusable demos.
A 7‑step workflow to capture clean, independent tracks
1. Choose a recorder that supports multi‑track output
OBS Studio (free, open‑source) lets you assign each audio source to its own track. If you need something lighter, ShareX also offers separate device recording, but OBS provides the most reliable control.
2. Add two distinct audio inputs
- Desktop Audio – captures everything the computer plays (notifications, UI sounds, music).
- Mic/Auxiliary Audio – records your voice from a headset or USB mic.
Both sources should be unmuted and visible in the mixer so you can adjust levels in real time.
3. Tweak the best settings for audio separation
- Sample Rate: set both sources to 48 kHz for clearer voice and consistent video standards.
- Channels: keep stereo; you can down‑mix to mono later if desired.
- Audio Monitoring: turn off unless you need live monitoring, to avoid echo artifacts.
4. Enable separate track recording
Right‑click the mixer, open Advanced Audio Properties, and check the track boxes:
- Track 1 → Desktop Audio only
- Track 2 → Mic/Auxiliary Audio only
OBS will now write two independent audio tracks (or a video file with two audio streams), giving you the exact record screen with separate system and mic audio setup you need.
5. Capture the screen
Add a Display Capture source, set resolution to 1080p and frame rate to 30 fps (standard for SaaS walkthroughs). Hit Start Recording, speak naturally, and let OBS handle the two audio tracks automatically.
6. Quick post‑production tip
Import the video into a free editor such as Shotcut or DaVinci Resolve. Drag the video onto the timeline, then add the two audio tracks. Now you can adjust each track’s volume independently, apply noise reduction to the mic, or boost system sounds without affecting your voice. Export a single file with both tracks baked in, or keep them separate for maximum flexibility.
7. Test before the live demo
Run a 30‑second test recording, play it back, and confirm that UI clicks are audible and your voice isn’t drowned out. If anything sounds off, tweak the OBS mixer sliders and re‑record. A quick test saves you from awkward “Can you hear me?” moments during a live presentation.
Wrap‑up
Treating system sound and your voice as two distinct tracks from the start eliminates the guesswork and post‑production headaches that plague most demo creators. With OBS (or any comparable recorder) you can set the best settings for screen recording audio separation, capture each source on its own track, and fine‑tune them later with ease.
If this guide helped you, share it with a teammate who struggles with demo audio. For more bite‑size recording and editing tips, subscribe to the ScreenSavvy newsletter. Happy recording!