How to Record Discord Audio with Audacity

Discord has rapidly become a go-to platform for gamers, communities, and professionals alike. Whether you’re hosting an interview, a podcast episode, or just looking to save a memorable conversation, sometimes you might want to record audio from Discord. While there are several tools available for this purpose, Audacity stands out as a powerful, free, and open-source option. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of recording Discord audio using Audacity.


Preparation: Before diving into the process, ensure you’ve installed both Discord and Audacity on your computer.

  1. Download and Install Discord: If you haven’t already, head over to the official Discord website and download the application.
  2. Download and Install Audacity: Visit the official Audacity website and download the latest version suitable for your operating system.

Step-by-Step Guide to Record Discord Audio with Audacity:

1. Configure Audacity for Recording:

  • Open Audacity.
  • Navigate to the toolbar and click on the dropdown menu next to the microphone icon.
  • Choose “Windows WASAPI” as the audio host.
  • In the dropdown menu beside the microphone icon again, select the appropriate loopback device, typically labeled something like “Speakers (loopback)” or “Headphones (loopback)”. This allows Audacity to record the audio being played through your speakers or headphones.

2. Configure Discord Settings:

  • Open Discord and join a voice channel or start a voice chat.
  • Click on the gear icon at the bottom left to open User Settings.
  • Under the “App Settings” section, select “Voice & Video.”
  • Ensure that your input and output devices match what you typically use, whether it’s headphones, speakers, etc.

3. Start Recording:

  • Go back to Audacity.
  • Click the red “Record” button.
  • Switch to Discord and start your conversation or audio that you want to record.
  • Remember: Always inform participants if you’re recording them. It’s not only courteous, but in many places, it’s also the law.

4. Stop and Save the Recording:

  • Once done, switch back to Audacity.
  • Press the “Stop” button (square icon).
  • To save the audio, go to File > Export and choose your preferred format (e.g., WAV, MP3).
  • Follow the prompts to save the file.

Tips for Better Audio Quality:

  • Use Headphones: This reduces the chance of feedback loops, where the audio from the speakers gets picked up by the microphone.
  • Adjust Discord’s Audio Settings: Under “Voice & Video” settings in Discord, consider adjusting the input sensitivity or switching to Push to Talk if there’s too much background noise.

Conclusion:

Audacity provides an efficient and free solution to record Discord audio. Whether you’re a content creator, a journalist, or just someone looking to retain memories, this method is straightforward and accessible. Always remember to respect privacy and make sure to inform all participants before recording.

Happy recording!