How do I record my system audio without it echoing?

[Kirk Giandelone]

I am creating Loom videos for work. If I do not select "Also share system audio", my videos do not capture the sounds playing on my laptop. If I do select "Also share system audio", the sounds playing on my laptop have an echo during recording and playback. Everything was working correctly, and then it all of a sudden started having the audio issue. I tried Chrome and Edge browsers, turned off audio enhancements, cleared my cache, and restarted my laptop.

[Kris Klima _K15t_ · Accepted solution]

Hi @Kirk Giandelone and welcome to the community.

I don't know the exact routing of your audio signals but in general terms, the echo effect is caused by your microphone picking up the sound that's coming out from the speakers.

So what's coming out from your speakers is everything that your microphone picks up - with a slight delay (echo).

You're creating an audio loop - its most extreme manifestation is feedback (that horrible high pitch noise you often hear at concerts.

The most common solution is using headphones for all audio-out signals.

You can also use a cardiod microphone placed close to your mouth - presuming the speakers fire towards you, microphone will only pick up what you say.

The following image shows how various microphones pick up the sound. By playing with this (many mics support pattern switching) and speaker placing, you can get away without using headphones.

[Kirk Giandelone]

Thank you for responding, Kris.  Much appreciated.