How to Record System Audio on Old Macs Using OBS & BlackHole

How to Record System Audio on Old Macs Using OBS and BlackHole

By Banieverything | Tech Tutorials from East Africa

🎧 Why This Matters

Older Macs don’t allow direct system audio capture in OBS. But with a free tool called BlackHole, you can route internal audio into OBS for clean recordings or livestreams.

🛠️ What You’ll Need

• OBS Studio (latest version)
• BlackHole (2ch or 16ch)
• macOS 10.13 or later

📥 Step 1: Install BlackHole

Download BlackHole from existential.audio. Choose the 2-channel version unless you need multitrack routing.

🎚️ Step 2: Create a Multi-Output Device

Open Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac:

• Click the + button → Create Multi-Output Device
• Check both BlackHole and your built-in output (or headphones)
• Right-click and select Use This Device for Sound Output

🎥 Step 3: Configure OBS

• Open OBS Studio
• Go to Settings → Audio
• Set one of the Mic/Aux inputs to BlackHole 2ch
• Click OK and test your levels

✅ Step 4: Record or Stream

Now when you play audio on your Mac, it will be routed into OBS through BlackHole. You can record tutorials, livestreams, or Zoom calls with full system sound.

🧠 Pro Tips

• Use headphones to avoid echo or feedback
• Label your audio sources in OBS for clarity
• Test with a short recording before going live

🎉 That’s It!

With OBS and BlackHole, even older Macs can record system audio like a pro. For more tutorials, subscribe to Banieverything and explore our tech tips from Mwanza to the world.