How to record Windows computer audio into Descript

If you're looking to host a remote interview using a third-party meeting platform, here are some instructions on how you can use VBAudio's VoiceMeeter application to record your system audio and even your own microphone as separate tracks into Descript, all at the same time.

Download and Install VoiceMeeter

First, you'll want to download the VoiceMeeter software by visiting VBAudio's download page at this link. Scroll down on the page and click the "Install" button to download the setup application. 

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Once the file has downloaded, click the VoicemeeterSetup .exe file at the bottom of your browser to launch the application installation:

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Follow the prompts to complete installation. Once complete, you will be prompted to Restart your computer.

Set Sound Output to Voicemeeter

Once you've restarted your computer, open your Windows Sound settings by clicking on the Start menu and clicking on the Settings icon Gear_Icon2.pngin the left sidebar. Next, click on System, and then SoundUnder "Choose your output device," you should see an option for "VoiceMeeter Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter)." Select this as your output device.

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Configure Voicemeeter Output

Open the "VoiceMeeter" application. On the "Virtual Input" channel, you should see the level meter responding to any system audio that is playing. You can test this while playing audio from a web browser, if it's working, the Virtual Input channel level should light up.

Set the "Hardware Out" channel to the output device of your choosing for monitoring audio on your computer. In this screenshot, we chose the built-in laptop speakers.

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Configure Voicemeeter Input for Recording your Microphone (Optional)

If you would like to record your own microphone as a separate audio track, select the microphone from the "Hardware Input" dropdown.

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Make sure to pan your Virtual Input completely to the right channel to keep it isolated since the microphone is panned fully to the left.

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Configure Descript to use Voicemeeter Input

Open a composition in Descript. Click the microphone icon in the Transport to open the Recording menu, and then click the gear icon to open Recording Settings. Select the dropdown menu under "Microphone input" and you should see an option for "VoiceMeeter Output (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter)." Select this as your Microphone input. 

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If you are only recording system audio you can Label your track and record. If you have chosen to record your computer microphone as well as the system audio, create an additional track in Descript by clicking the plus button "+", rename your tracks and choose input 1 for your local microphone, and input 2 for system audio.

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You should now be capturing system audio from VoiceMeeter as your Descript microphone input! You can click the Record button to begin recording.