Guides

Mac audio recording guides

Updated 2026-09-03. 99 guides in 11 topics.

Every question we have been asked about recording audio on a Mac, answered with tested steps, measured numbers and honest limits. Written by the developer of AirCheck, a $39 one-off Mac audio recorder.

Screen recording with audio

Why Mac screen recordings come out silent, how to capture internal audio, and how to get an audio-only file.

1. Why does my Mac screen recording have no sound?
2. How to screen record with internal audio on a Mac
3. How to screen record on a Mac with computer sound and your microphone at the same time
4. Does QuickTime Player record system audio on a Mac?
5. How to record audio only on a Mac, without making a screen recording
6. How to extract the audio from a Mac screen recording
7. What can the built-in Mac screen recorder (Shift-Command-5) record, and what can it not?
8. Why is my Mac screen recording black or silent on Netflix, Apple TV+ and Disney+?
9. Where do Mac screen recordings save, and how do you stop a recording?

Recording internal and system audio

Capturing what your Mac plays: the native path since macOS 13, per-app capture, browser tabs, mic plus system, length and size limits.

1. Can a Mac record internal audio natively?
2. How to record audio from a browser tab on a Mac
3. How to record audio from one app only on a Mac
4. How to record computer audio and microphone at the same time on a Mac
5. What is ScreenCaptureKit audio capture on a Mac?
6. How to record Mac system audio from the Terminal
7. How to record audio on a Mac mini without a microphone
8. Does Mac system audio recording work with headphones or AirPods?
9. How long can you record audio on a Mac?

Recording calls and meetings

FaceTime, Google Meet, Teams, phone calls through your Mac, Discord, webinars, both sides of a call, and the consent rules.

1. How to record a FaceTime call on a Mac
2. How to record a Google Meet on a Mac without being the host
3. How to record a Teams meeting on a Mac
4. How to record a phone call on a Mac
5. How to record a Discord call on a Mac
6. How to record both sides of a call on a Mac
7. Is it legal to record a call on a Mac?
8. How to record a webinar on a Mac
9. Where do Zoom recordings go on a Mac?

Recording streams, music and video sound

YouTube, Spotify, internet radio, game audio, SoundCloud, Twitch, Apple Music, and DRM limits, with the legal caveats stated plainly.

1. How to record YouTube audio on a Mac
2. How to record Spotify on a Mac
3. How to record internet radio on a Mac
4. How to record game audio on a Mac
5. Can you record Netflix or Apple TV+ audio on a Mac?
6. How to record SoundCloud or Mixcloud audio on a Mac
7. How to record a Twitch or live stream's audio on a Mac
8. How to record Apple Music on a Mac
9. How to extract audio from a video file on a Mac

Virtual audio drivers and Audio MIDI Setup

BlackHole, Soundflower, Loopback, aggregate and multi-output devices: what they are, when you need one, and how to get rid of them.

1. What is Audio MIDI Setup on a Mac?
2. How to create an aggregate device on a Mac
3. How to create a Multi-Output Device on a Mac (and keep hearing your audio)
4. Is BlackHole safe for a Mac?
5. Is Soundflower safe, and does it still work on a Mac?
6. How to uninstall BlackHole or Soundflower on a Mac
7. BlackHole not showing up in Audio MIDI Setup: how to fix it
8. What is a virtual audio driver, and when do you need one on a Mac?
9. Loopback vs BlackHole vs no driver for recording Mac audio

Recording with QuickTime, OBS, Audacity and GarageBand

What each free tool can and cannot capture on a Mac, with the exact settings, and where they run out.

1. How to record audio with QuickTime Player on a Mac
2. Can Audacity record system audio on a Mac?
3. How to capture desktop audio in OBS on a Mac
4. OBS desktop audio not working on a Mac: fixes in order
5. How to record system audio in GarageBand on a Mac
6. How to record computer audio into Ableton Live on a Mac
7. How to record your voice in GarageBand on a Mac
8. Can Voice Memos on a Mac record system audio?
9. QuickTime vs OBS vs Audacity for recording audio on a Mac

Recording DJ sets, vinyl and instruments

From controllers, mixers, turntables and interfaces into a Mac: channel pairs, levels, formats, and what broke on macOS Tahoe.

1. How to record a DJ mix on a Mac with an audio interface
2. How to record rekordbox on a Mac, and where the recordings go
3. How to record Serato DJ Pro on a Mac
4. How to record a Traktor mix on a Mac
5. How to record vinyl to a Mac
6. How to record a Pioneer DDJ controller on a Mac
7. How to record a band rehearsal on a Mac
8. How to record a DJ livestream on a Mac while you stream
9. What audio interface do you need to record a DJ set on a Mac?

Recording lectures, podcasts and interviews

Capturing talks, courses, interviews and your own voice on a Mac, and turning the file into notes or text.

1. How to record a lecture on a Mac
2. How to record a podcast on a Mac
3. How to record an interview on a Mac
4. How to record an online course or training on a Mac
5. How to transcribe audio on a Mac for free
6. How to record audio for AI meeting notes on a Mac
7. How to record a language lesson on a Mac
8. How to record yourself on a Mac
9. How to record a remote podcast guest on a Mac

Audio formats, quality and file size

Measured file sizes per minute, WAV vs AIFF vs MP3, 16 vs 24 bit, 44.1 vs 48 kHz, conversion commands, and why recordings clip or drop out.

1. How big is an audio recording per minute on a Mac?
2. WAV vs AIFF vs MP3: which format should you keep on a Mac?
3. 16-bit vs 24-bit audio recording: which should you choose?
4. 44.1 kHz vs 48 kHz: which sample rate should you record at?
5. How to convert AIFF or WAV to MP3 on a Mac
6. How to convert a Mac recording to M4A or AAC
7. Why does my recording sound distorted or clipped on a Mac?
8. Why is there a gap or dropout in my Mac recording?
9. What sample rate does Mac system audio use?

Fixing Mac audio recording problems

Permissions that never appear, silent recordings, missing interfaces, mono captures, Bluetooth trouble, sleep, and what macOS Tahoe changed.

1. Why is my app missing from Screen & System Audio Recording on my Mac?
2. Why is the microphone permission not working for my app on Mac?
3. Why is my Mac not recording sound?
4. Why is my USB audio interface not showing up on my Mac?
5. Why does my Mac recording only capture one channel?
6. Why do my Bluetooth headphones make Mac recordings sound bad?
7. How do I see which app is using my Mac microphone?
8. Why does my Mac recording stop when the display sleeps?
9. What did macOS 26 Tahoe change for audio recording?

Choosing a Mac audio recorder

Honest comparisons, prices, what is free, what DJs use, and the built-in options, updated for 2026.

1. What is the best audio recording software for Mac in 2026?
2. Free vs paid Mac audio recorders: what does free actually cover?
3. Audio Hijack vs Piezo vs AirCheck: which one-off Mac recorder should you buy?
4. How much does a Mac audio recorder cost in 2026?
5. Which Mac audio recorders have no subscription?
6. Does Mac have a built-in audio recorder?
7. What do DJs use to record their sets?
8. What is the best way to record audio on a Mac?
9. Can you record audio on a Mac for free?

The first six guides

1. How to record system audio on a Mac
2. Record Mac audio without BlackHole
3. Record streaming audio on a Mac
4. Record Zoom meeting audio on a Mac
5. Record a DJ set on a Mac
6. Audio Hijack alternative