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[Bug]: [Bug]: Microphone recording only starts after system audio playback when both audio sources are enabled on macOS #1322
Description
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Describe the bug
When both system audio capture and microphone capture are enabled, OpenScreen does not record microphone audio until some system audio is played.
Playing a short sound on the Mac triggers microphone recording. After system audio playback is stopped, the microphone continues recording normally for the rest of the same recording.
When system audio capture is disabled, the microphone records normally from the beginning.
The missing microphone audio affects both the editor preview and the exported video, so this does not appear to be an export-only issue.
The microphone is built into an external webcam.
Expected behavior
Microphone audio should be recorded immediately from the start of the recording, regardless of whether any system audio is playing.
Enabling system audio capture should not make microphone recording depend on system audio playback.
To Reproduce
No response
Screenshots
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OS
macOS
OS Version
26.6.2
Other OS
No response
Browser
None
Browser Version
No response
Other Browser
No response
Device Type
None
Other Device
No response
Additional context
All relevant macOS permissions have been granted.
The microphone input level meter in macOS responds to my voice.
Restarting the app and the Mac, toggling permissions, and resetting microphone and screen capture permissions did not resolve the issue.
The following comparison helped isolate the behavior:
- Microphone only: records normally from the start.
- Microphone + system audio, with no system audio playing: microphone audio is initially missing.
- Microphone + system audio, after briefly playing a sound: microphone starts recording and continues after the sound stops.
Temporary workaround:
Start recording, play a short sound on the Mac, stop playback, and then proceed with the recording. Trim the beginning afterward.
Activity
marcgabe15 commentedon Oct 18, 2026
Hi! What version of openscreen are you using and is this Mac arm or mac silicon?
amadel666 commentedon Oct 18, 2026
Openscreen version 2.1.0
Mac silicon
EtienneLescot commentedon Oct 19, 2026
Thanks for the clear report. This is the same bug as #1173, which you opened earlier, so I'm tracking it there. I'll add that it still reproduces on 2.1.0 with an external webcam microphone and system audio on.