How to Capture Per-Application Audio on Linux with OBS

Per-application audio capture in OBS is currently in beta and only available on Windows. However, you can get an OBS plugin that allows you to individually capture an application's audio on Linux. This is useful for adjusting the volume of each application, separating applications into separate tracks, or just isolating the audio you want to capture so only the application you want is captured.

Here is a video tutorial if you find video instructions easier to follow. You may alternatively watch with ads on YouTube. The written instructions can be found below.

Here's how to set it up:

1. Download the plugin from GitHub: https://github.com/dimtpap/obs-pipewire-audio-capture/releases
2. In OBS, find the plugins folder by clicking File > Settings folder. In that folder, find or create a folder called plugins.
3. Extract the plugin you downloaded a moment ago and move the folder into the plugins folder.

You may need to install WirePlumber.

Using APT

This is for distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, ZorinOS, PopOS, and derivatives.

sudo apt install wireplumber && systemctl --user --now enable wireplumber.service

Using DNF

This is for distributions like Fedora and derivatives.

sudo dnf install wireplumber && systemctl --user --now enable wireplumber.service

Regardless, you should restart your computer or log out and back in.

In OBS, you should find three new sources, one of which called Application Audio. This is the one you want to add to capture audio from a specific application. The executable name is used, not the window or application name, so you may need to test the available options to find the correct one. In some cases, the application may need to be actively playing audio to appear in the select menu.

You can also capture audio from all applications except a specified one, if you wish.