Audio Hijack Obs
How to stream DAW audio on your Mac to use in OBS / Streamlabs OBS for live streaming and recording. This method requires two pieces of Mac software (one fre. A tutorial for how to set up a livestream for your podcast or music dj using Audio Hijack and Shoutcheap. If you've ever wanted to be able to stream your pod.
Brief - For our final year university project, we had to create two 28 minute films. Originally we had planned to shoot a drama and a documentary which were both unfortunately cancelled as filming began just as the coronavirus pandemic started. In response to this, we decided to create a short documentary series exploring the impacts of the pandemic on the TV industry. This was all created remotely using Skype to carry out interviews with industry professionals. One of the limitations of this project is the use of copyright material. We decided this because we were left with little time and funds to gather enough licensed material.
Role - Editor/Interviewer/Graphics/Researcher
Outcomes/challenges - I found this project to be highly rewarding and challenging. I’ve always had a keen interest in exploring archive footage enabled by creating this documentary.
Our main challenge was working out a good way of recording interviews. We settled on using software called OBS in combination with Skype and audio recording software called Audio Hijack. We directed our contributors to wear headphones and use a microphone where possible to improve the audio quality. Overall the content of the interviews was of great quality as the contributors provided excellent interviews. Simple steps could have improved the quality of sound and video with extra resource enabling us to send out mics.
Another challenge for the group was collecting archive footage, especially the sourcing of content that showed productions. As this is sensitive material, it was hard to find. Through our contributors, we were able to access more BTS footage that was essential for the series.
As an editor working remotely, I had to deal with the challenge of sharing my edits with the rest of the group for collaboration. To overcome this, I utilised Vimeo review enabling the group to leave feedback and keep the project progressing smoothly.
Creatively I found the edit very engaging as it allowed me to explore new ways of storytelling. My goal was to be experimental, with this achieved in the style of documentary.
Overall the experience was invaluable to developing my ability to be responsive, agile and adaptable in creating an innovative documentary series with a short turnaround.
Password - Televirus
For capturing any audio on your Mac, recording, processing and routing it. Use it with Loopback (also Rogue Amoeba) or an app like Soundflower which is necessary for routing the audio, acting like a virtual microphone.
'Record any application's audio, including VoIP calls from Skype, web streams from Safari, and much more. Save audio from hardware devices like microphones and mixers as well. You can even record all the audio heard on your Mac at once! If you can hear it, Audio Hijack can record it.'
Features
This is a really versatile app which allows you to choose any configuration of audio sources, to route them as you need, apply simple processing such as 10-band EQ, volume boosting, low pass filter and panning. It doesn't come with an onboard limiter or compressor, which seems like something Rogue Amobea could easily fix. However, you can use your any of you own downloaded audio effects including limiters/compressors.
It's pretty straightforward to use – when starting a new blank session you drag and drop your input and output sources from a menu on the right, adding in any effects you want to use in real-time as you record. You can clearly see the routing of each stage of the process as a line will appear between each element.
It's useful to drag in a Peak/RMS meter from the Meters tab on the right so you can check that your levels are good. Should you need to boost the overall volume of what you're recording there's also a handy Volume control you can slot in right after your source. This allows you to boost the recorded level by 2x,3x or 4x but you need to be careful of clipping if you boost too high.
I have Soundflower installed on my Mac so that just runs in the background and enables me to route the recorded audio; if I'm recording into OBS then I can choose Soundflower as the input to complete the routing. I believe that Loopback works in a similar way but has many more controls. For my purposes (recording video demos into OBS) Soundflower does the job fine in conjunction with Audio Hijack.
The app also allows you to broadcast and live stream as well as recording.
Once you have it all set up just hit the big record button at bottom left and away you go.
Value For Money
At USD71 this isn't a cheap option but if you are serious about wanting to record high quality audio with lots of options on processing and different applications this is a piece of kit you are going to use a lot.
Conclusion
- Pros
Loads of choice, easy to set up, suits lots of different applications - Cons
Slightly pricey
Audio Hijack Free
What Do You Think ?
Find all the details of Audio Hijack along with tips and tutorials over at https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/.
Audio Hijack With Obs
If you are not ready to buy this yet grab the demo and see what you think and then let us know in the comments section.
Audio Hijack Pro
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