Record desktop audio and your microphone, mixed or on separate tracks
If you will edit the recording, keep your voice and the game on separate tracks. If you will just share it, mix them.
LAAGU··2 min readTimeline
The two sources
- Desktop audio: everything you hear on the computer. Off means the recording has no desktop sound at all. It is on by default.
- Microphone: your voice. Off means no microphone track. It is off by default, so turn it on if you want to talk over the recording.
Each has its own volume slider, from 0 to 200%, so you can lower a loud game or lift a quiet microphone. For the microphone you also pick the Input device; the default is your system's default microphone.
Try it in Timeline
Free for Windows 10 and 11. One installer, nothing else to set up.
Mixed or separate tracks
When both sources are on, the Tracks setting decides how they are saved.
| Setting | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed | One audio track with desktop sound and microphone together | Sharing straight away: it plays in every player |
| Separate | The desktop sound and the microphone on their own tracks | Editing: lower the game or clean up your voice without touching the other |
With separate tracks, Timeline can also save each track as its own audio file. The Save audio files in a folder switch keeps the video and its audio files together in one folder; turn it off and they go in the main recordings folder.
Note. Many editors show every track of a file. Some video sites and simple players only play the first track, which is why Mixed is the safe choice when you will not edit.
Audio quality
The Audio quality list sets the audio bitrate; the default is 160 kbps. Higher sounds cleaner and makes a slightly bigger file.
Sound from one program
If you capture a single window, you can record that program's sound only, and keep it on its own track, apart from the microphone.
Check it before the big moment
- Make a ten-second test recording with AltF11 and AltF12.
- Open it from the pop-up and listen: is the microphone loud enough, is the game too loud?
- Adjust the two volume sliders and test again.
Tip. Desktop capture records what the PC plays, including notification sounds. If you do not want one in the recording, mute the app that makes it before you start.
Questions
Can I record my microphone and game sound together?
Yes. Turn on Desktop audio and Microphone in the Audio tab. With Tracks set to Mixed they share one track; with Separate they get their own.
What is the difference between Mixed and Separate?
Mixed puts everything on one track that plays everywhere. Separate keeps desktop sound and microphone apart so you can edit them separately.
How loud can I make the microphone?
The microphone and desktop volume sliders go from 0 to 200%.