Guides / Recording lectures, podcasts and interviews
How to record a podcast on a Mac
Tested on macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe), Apple M3 Max, 3 Sept 2026. Updated 2026-09-03.
You can record a podcast on a Mac with free software. Solo, QuickTime Player's Maximum quality gives 24-bit AIFF-C from any USB mic. Two people in one room need an audio interface and separate tracks, which GarageBand or Audio Hijack handle. A remote guest should record locally on their end. A 45-minute episode is 743 MB at 24-bit 48 kHz and 108 MB as MP3 320.
What software and mic do I need to record a podcast on a Mac?
The microphone matters more than the software. The built-in mic on a MacBook records the room, the fan and the keyboard; it is fine for a test, not for an episode. A USB mic plugs in and shows up as a Core Audio input in every recorder. An XLR mic needs an audio interface such as a Focusrite Scarlett, which also lets you plug in two or more mics for an in-person show.
Software depends on how many people are in the room:
- Solo: QuickTime Player, Voice Memos, GarageBand or AirCheck. All record a single mic.
- Two or more mics in one room: GarageBand (one track per input), Audio Hijack ($69, mixes and records multiple inputs) or Logic Pro.
- Remote co-host or guest: a double-ender service such as Riverside or Zencastr, so each side records locally. See recording a remote podcast guest.
Bluetooth headsets are the one thing to avoid. when a Bluetooth headset's mic is in use, macOS switches it to the hands-free profile and the recording sounds like a phone call. Use a wired headset or a USB mic; see why Bluetooth headphones make Mac recordings sound bad.
How do I record a solo podcast on my Mac?
QuickTime Player is enough for a one-mic show and it is already installed. Steps, tested on macOS 26.4.1:
- Plug in the USB mic and give the app Microphone permission when asked.
- Choose File > New Audio Recording.
- Click the arrow next to the record button. Pick the mic. Set quality to Maximum, which Apple documents as "44100 Hz, uncompressed Linear PCM 24-bit AIFF-C audio".
- Speak at normal level and watch the meter. If it hits the right end, turn the mic gain down; a clipped take cannot be repaired.
- Record, stop, then File > Save. Import the AIFF into GarageBand or Audacity for editing.
AirCheck does the same job with two differences: it records at the device's own sample rate (48 kHz on most USB mics) instead of QuickTime's fixed 44.1 kHz, and it exports WAV 16-bit, WAV 24-bit or MP3 320 when the take stops. A 45-minute solo episode is 743 MB at 24-bit 48 kHz or 495 MB at 16-bit 48 kHz, from the measured 16.5 and 11.0 MB per minute. Record at 24-bit if you will compress, normalize or de-noise afterwards; the headroom is worth the space.
How do I record two people in the same room on a Mac?
Two mics into one Mac means an audio interface with two inputs. Each mic lands on its own channel and each channel should end up on its own track, so you can fix one person's level without touching the other.
- Connect the interface. It appears under System Settings > Sound > Input and in Audio MIDI Setup.
- Set the interface sample rate once in Audio MIDI Setup (48 kHz is the common choice) and leave it.
- In GarageBand, create two audio tracks, assign Input 1 to one and Input 2 to the other, arm both, record.
A recorder that takes a channel pair (AirCheck does this with its channel-pair picker, for example Ch 1-2 of a Scarlett) gives you one stereo file with mic one on the left and mic two on the right. That is a valid workflow: split the stereo file into two mono tracks in the editor. It is not a mix, and there is no live monitoring mix, so if you need to hear a blend in your headphones during the take, use the interface's direct monitor or GarageBand. Anything beyond two mics, or a phone call or music added into the same take, needs a routing tool such as Audio Hijack's block canvas; AirCheck records one source per take.
What do I do after recording a podcast on a Mac?
Editing and export are the same whatever you recorded with.
- Edit: GarageBand (free) trims, adds music, and exports. Audacity (free) handles noise reduction and loudness normalization. Both open WAV and AIFF directly.
- Loudness: most podcast platforms expect speech around a consistent level. Normalize in the editor rather than raising the mic gain during the take.
- Export: MP3 is the delivery format. A 45-minute episode at 320 kbps is 108 MB; at 128 kbps it is far smaller and still fine for speech. Keep the 24-bit master in case you re-edit. Conversion steps are in converting AIFF or WAV to MP3 on a Mac.
- Transcript: a transcript makes show notes and chapter markers quick. MacWhisper's free tier transcribes MP3, WAV and M4A locally; see how to transcribe audio on a Mac.
Keep every raw take. Disk is cheap compared with re-recording a guest.
Maximum: 44100 Hz, uncompressed Linear PCM 24-bit AIFF-C audio
Apple, QuickTime Player User Guide, Record audio
Podcast recording tools on a Mac by setup
| Tool | 24-bit | Separate track per mic | Mixes mic with a call or music | Sample rate | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickTime Player | yes (Maximum) | no | no | 44.1 kHz fixed | free |
| GarageBand | yes | yes | yes (multi-track) | project setting | free |
| Audio Hijack | yes | yes | yes (live block routing) | configurable | $69 |
| Riverside / Zencastr (remote) | varies by plan | yes (per participant) | no | 44.1 or 48 kHz by plan | free tier available |
| AirCheck | yes | stereo pair only (split in editor) | no (one source per take) | device rate, 44.1 or 48 kHz | $39 |
Prices as of September 2026 from the vendor pages linked below; check before buying.
Where AirCheck fits
AirCheck ($39, macOS 14 or newer) fits the solo podcaster who wants a one-click 24-bit recorder that keeps the mic's native 48 kHz, survives a USB mic being unplugged and re-plugged mid take, and exports MP3 320 or WAV when you stop. It also records a channel pair from an interface such as a Scarlett 8i6 for a two-mic conversation you will split later. It does not mix, monitor or record several sources into one file.
When you do not need it: AirCheck records one source per take; a two-host show with live mixing, or a call added into the same take, is a different category of tool (GarageBand, Audio Hijack). A solo test episode needs nothing beyond QuickTime.
AirCheck records what your Mac plays, or any input, to one file. $39 once.
macOS 14 or newer. One-off payment. Fourteen-day refund, no questions asked.
Questions people ask
Can you record a podcast on a MacBook Air?
Yes. A MacBook Air runs QuickTime, GarageBand and third-party recorders, and a USB mic or a bus-powered interface such as a Scarlett draws its power from the USB-C port. Only the built-in mic is a weak point, so plug in a proper microphone.
How to record a podcast on GarageBand on a MacBook?
Create an empty project, add an audio track, choose the mic or interface input in the track's settings, arm the track, and press record. Add a second track for a second mic. Export with Share > Export Song to Disk.
How to record a video podcast on Mac?
QuickTime's File > New Movie Recording records camera and mic together. For remote video podcasts a double-ender service records each participant in up to 4K locally. For audio quality, still record the mic separately at 24-bit if you can.
What is the best free software to record a podcast on a Mac?
GarageBand, because it records multiple tracks, edits and exports MP3 in one place, and it is already on the Mac. QuickTime is quicker for a solo take but has no editing beyond trimming, and Voice Memos keeps files inside its own library.
Sources
- Apple: Record audio in QuickTime Player on Mac
- Riverside pricing (free plan and Pro)
- Zencastr pricing
- MacWhisper
Related guides
- How to record a remote podcast guest on a Mac
- How to record an interview on a Mac
- How to record yourself on a Mac
- How to record your voice in GarageBand on a Mac
- How to record a lecture on a Mac
- How to record an online course or training on a Mac
- Recording lectures, podcasts and interviews: all guides
- Every guide, by topic