How do I separate Discord audio from game audio in OBS?

Add an Application Audio Capture source pointed at Discord.exe, then in Advanced Audio Properties assign it to its own track (e.g. track 3) while game audio stays on track 1 and mic on track 2. Mute nothing — separation happens at the track level, so your stream mix stays intact while recordings keep everything isolated.

Why does my MKV only play one audio track?

Most players (and web upload tools) read only the first audio track of a multi-track MKV and ignore the rest — the tracks aren't lost, just invisible. Open the file in VLC (Audio menu) or an editor to see all tracks. Remuxing to MP4 preserves every track; players still default to track 1, but nothing is discarded.

How do I extract one audio track from an MKV recording?

List streams with 'ffmpeg -i recording.mkv' (no output), find the track index, then extract it losslessly: 'ffmpeg -i recording.mkv -map 0:a:2 -c copy discord.m4a'. Repeat per track for isolated game, mic, and Discord files — all perfectly in sync since they share timestamps.

Why can't my editor hear my mic in OBS recordings?

The mic is on track 2+ but the editor imported track 1 only — the classic multi-track surprise. In Premiere, enable the extra audio tracks in the clip's source settings; in DaVinci, check clip attributes. Record a 5-second test clap and verify every track before a real session.

What bitrate should OBS audio tracks use?

320 kbps AAC per track for masters you edit (game, mic, Discord alike) — audio is tiny next to video, so don't economize here. YouTube recompresses to ~128–165 kbps Opus/AAC anyway; starting at 320 preserves maximum quality through their pass. Three tracks at 320k cost under 150MB per hour combined.

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OBS Multi-Track Audio: Separate Game, Discord & Mic (Recording Guide)

Q: Does MP4 support multiple audio tracks?

Yes — MP4 fully supports multiple audio tracks, and OBS's auto-remux carries all of them over from MKV. The catch is player behavior, not the format: most players play track 1 only. Editors (Premiere, DaVinci, Resolve) expose every track for mixing.

One mixed track means your friend's shouting is married to your game audio forever. Three tracks means total control in editing. Setup, routing Discord separately, the MKV-upload trap, and splitting tracks afterward.

By Hadi Karaki, maker of FormatifSeptember 16, 202610 min read

The 3-track setup (5 minutes, once)

Isolate Discord: add an Application Audio Capture source pointed at Discord (OBS 28+; older setups route via Voicemeeter Banana + VB-Cables). Game/desktop audio stays on the default Desktop source, mic on its own input.
Assign tracks: Settings → Output → Recording → check tracks 1–3. Then Advanced Audio Properties (gear icon in the mixer): game → track 1, mic → track 2, Discord → track 3.
Set quality once:320 kbps AAC per track. Three tracks cost under 150MB/hour combined — negligible next to video, and YouTube's recompress will thank you.
Clap-test: record 5 seconds, clap once, open in VLC → Audio menu → verify all three tracks. Do this before every real session, not after.

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The trap: MKV multi-track breaks basic players and uploads

Your tracks are safe in the MKV — but most players read track 1 onlyand silently ignore the rest. Web upload tools and some editors do the same, which is why “my mic is missing” is the #1 multi-track complaint. Nothing is lost; the tool just never looked. Fixes, in order:

VLC → Audio menu → pick the track (proof everything recorded fine).
Remux MKV → MP4 (OBS File → Remux, or auto-remux on stop) — all tracks carry over; players still default to track 1, editors see everything.
Editors: enable all audio tracks on import (Premiere source settings, DaVinci clip attributes) — a 10-second step people skip once and regret for hours.

Full remux walkthrough with screenshots logic in our MKV to MP4 methods guide.

Splitting tracks afterward (podcast cuts, mute buttons)

Want mic-only audio for a podcast, or game-only for a montage? List streams first (ffmpeg -i recording.mkv with no output), then pull exactly the track you want — losslessly, still in sync:

Extract track 3 (Discord) losslessly

ffmpeg -i recording.mkv -map 0:a:2 -c copy discord.m4a

Track numbering starts at 0 within each type, so verify with the stream list — game/mic/Discord order depends on your assignment. For the recording-side settings behind all of this, see our OBS recording settings guide.

Multi-track questions, answered

How do I separate Discord audio in OBS?

Application Audio Capture on Discord.exe → its own track (e.g. 3). Game on 1, mic on 2. Stream mix untouched, recordings isolated.

Why does my MKV play only one audio track?

Players read track 1 and ignore the rest — tracks are safe, just invisible. Check VLC's Audio menu; remux to MP4 preserves all tracks.

Does MP4 support multiple audio tracks?

Yes — OBS auto-remux carries them all. Players default to track 1; editors expose everything.

Extract one track from MKV?

ffmpeg -i to list, then -map 0:a:N -c copy. Lossless, perfectly in sync.

Editor can't hear my mic?

Mic is on track 2+, editor imported track 1. Enable all tracks on import. Clap-test before sessions.

What audio bitrate per track?

320 kbps AAC each. Three tracks ≈ 150MB/hr — trivial vs video, and YouTube's recompress thanks you.

Keep learning

OBS recording settings

CQP, encoders, MKV + auto-remux — the settings behind these tracks.

Extract audio from video

Pull MP3/WAV/FLAC from any recording, offline with samples.

Convert MKV to MP4

Remux multi-track recordings in seconds — all tracks survive.

Every track, every file, handled.

Formatif Pro ($8.95 one-time) and Formatif AI ($12.95 one-time) handle video, image, and audio conversion offline — with batch workflows, no file size limits, and a 3-day free trial.

Download free trial Read: OBS settings guide

The setup and commands above are complete and free forever — pick whichever method fits your session count.

Written by

Hadi KarakiLinkedIn

Founder of Formatif, a local-first offline media processing suite for Windows and Linux. Hadi writes about video, image, and audio formats, compression, and privacy-first desktop workflows.