Guides / Recording lectures, podcasts and interviews
How to record an interview on a Mac
Tested on macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe), Apple M3 Max, 3 Sept 2026. Updated 2026-09-03.
An interview on a Mac is a microphone job in person or a call capture remotely. AirCheck ($39) covers both in one app: any mic or interface channel pair at 24-bit, and the guest's side of a call as clean system audio, no host permission, no driver. System audio never contains your own mic, so record it as a second take. A one-hour interview is 144 MB as MP3 320 or 660 MB as 16-bit WAV.
How do I record an in-person interview on a Mac?
An in-person interview is a microphone job. The decision is how many mics and where they sit.
- One mic between two people: a USB mic on the table works if the room is quiet and both people stay within arm's reach. You get one file with both voices at similar level.
- One mic per person: two mics into a two-input interface such as a Focusrite Scarlett. This is what to do when levels differ, for example a soft-spoken guest, because you can adjust each voice separately afterwards.
- The MacBook's built-in mic: a fallback only. It sits next to the keyboard and fan and it is omnidirectional, so it records the room as much as the voices.
Tested steps with QuickTime Player on macOS 26.4.1: File > New Audio Recording, click the arrow next to the record button, choose the mic, choose Maximum quality, record, then File > Save. Quality Maximum is 24-bit AIFF-C at 44.1 kHz. AirCheck does the same with a channel-pair picker for an interface, so two mics on Ch 1-2 become left and right of one stereo WAV that you split in the editor. Do a 10-second test and play it back before the real questions start; a clipped or silent take is the most common interview failure and it is not repairable.
How do I record a remote interview on a Mac and get both sides?
A remote interview over Zoom, Meet, Teams or a phone call is where most people lose one side. Understand what each method captures:
- The call app's own recorder (Zoom local recording, Teams recording) records both participants in one file, but it needs host rights or the host's permission prompt. See recording Zoom audio on a Mac.
- System audio capture (AirCheck, OBS, or BlackHole plus a recorder) records everything the Mac plays. That is the guest's voice, clean and without the host permission dialog. It does not contain your own microphone, because your voice never plays through the speakers.
- A mic recording (QuickTime, Voice Memos, AirCheck with the mic source) captures you and, through your speakers, a muffled echo of the guest. With headphones on, it captures only you.
The dependable way with a system audio recorder is two takes: one app recording system audio and a second recorder on the mic, started within a second of each other, then aligned in the editor on a clap or the first word. AirCheck records one source per take, so run QuickTime for the mic alongside it. The full set of options is in how to record both sides of a call on a Mac. Whichever method you use, wear headphones, so the guest's voice does not leak into your mic track.
Do I have to tell the interviewee I am recording?
Yes, and say it on the recording. This page is not legal advice; consent rules for recording conversations differ by country and, in the United States, by state. Journalistic practice is simpler than the law: state at the start that the interview is being recorded and for what purpose, and get a spoken "yes" on the file. That protects you and it removes any argument later about what was agreed.
A few practical points that follow from consent:
- Recording tools that hide the recording from the other party are not an advantage. The italki lesson recorder, for example, requires that "BOTH the teacher AND the student must agree to allow recording", and that is the norm for platforms that build recording in.
- For a call, the meeting software's own recorder usually announces itself to everyone. A system audio recorder does not, so the announcement is your job.
- Keep the raw file. If a quote is disputed, the audio settles it.
The legal overview for calls is in is it legal to record a call on a Mac.
How do I transcribe the interview afterwards?
Transcription is where the format choice from the start pays off. Every current option accepts WAV, MP3 and M4A.
- Voice Memos transcribes its own recordings on macOS 15 or later with Apple silicon. Apple notes that "Audio transcription isn't available in all countries or regions". It does not transcribe a file from another app.
- MacWhisper (free tier, Pro is 64 euros one-off) transcribes MP3, WAV, M4A, MOV and MP4 locally, with speaker recognition, so a two-voice interview comes back labelled. Nothing leaves the Mac, which matters for a confidential source.
- Otter.ai imports files up to 5 GB, but the Basic free plan caps each transcription at 30 minutes and allows three imports per account in total. A one-hour interview needs a paid plan.
File size for a one-hour interview: 144 MB as MP3 320 kbps, 660 MB as 16-bit 48 kHz WAV, 990 MB at 24-bit 48 kHz. For transcription, MP3 320 is the right export; keep the 24-bit master only if the interview will be published as audio. Step-by-step options are in how to transcribe audio on a Mac.
For the recording to be made, BOTH the teacher AND the student must agree to allow recording.
italki Help and Support, How do I record my lesson in the italki Classroom?
Interview recording methods on a Mac: who ends up in the file
| Method | Captures you | Captures the other person | Separate tracks | Needs host permission | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mic recording, in person (QuickTime, Voice Memos) | yes | yes (same mic) | no | no | free |
| Two mics into an interface (GarageBand) | yes | yes | yes | no | free plus interface |
| Call app recorder (Zoom local, Teams) | yes | yes | depends on the app's settings | yes | included in the call app |
| System audio capture (AirCheck, OBS) | no | yes | no | no | AirCheck $39, OBS free |
| Two takes: system audio plus mic recorder | yes | yes | yes (two files) | no | AirCheck $39 plus QuickTime free |
Zoom and Teams recording options depend on the account and version; check the vendor's documentation.
Where AirCheck fits
AirCheck ($39, macOS 14 or newer, Apple silicon and Intel) is the right buy because it covers both halves of the job with one app and one button: in person it records any mic or interface channel pair at 24-bit, and remotely it records the guest's side of a call as clean system audio through ScreenCaptureKit, without host permission and without a virtual driver. There is no length limit, a stalled input restarts into the same file, and export is WAV or MP3 320, ready for MacWhisper. The limit is plain: one source per take, so your own mic needs a second recorder running alongside. 14-day refund.
When you do not need it: AirCheck records one source per take. If you host the call, the call app's own recorder captures both sides in one file; for a single USB mic in the room, the free QuickTime Player also does the job.
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
How to record a video interview on Mac?
In person, QuickTime's File > New Movie Recording records camera and mic into a .mov. Remotely, use the call app's recorder or a double-ender service such as Riverside, which records each participant's video locally. Record the audio separately at 24-bit if it will be published as a podcast.
Why is only my voice in the recording of the call?
You recorded the microphone. The other person's voice only exists as playback inside the Mac, which a mic recorder cannot hear unless it leaks from the speakers. Record system audio for their side, or use the call app's own recorder for both.
What format should I record an interview in?
For speech that will be transcribed, MP3 320 kbps at 2.4 MB per minute. If the interview will be published as audio, record 24-bit WAV and convert later. Keep the MP3 at 320 kbps rather than a lower bitrate; the space saved is small and the master is then good enough to publish.
Can I record an interview on my Mac while using AirPods?
You can, but the AirPods microphone is a Bluetooth voice codec and sounds like a phone. Use wired headphones or a USB mic for your own voice and keep the AirPods for listening only.
Sources
- Apple: Record audio in QuickTime Player on Mac
- Apple: View a transcription of a recording in Voice Memos on Mac
- MacWhisper
- Otter.ai: Conversation, import, and app limits on the Basic free plan
- Otter.ai: Import an audio or video file
- italki: How do I record my lesson in the italki Classroom?
Related guides
- How to record a podcast on a Mac
- How to record a remote podcast guest on a Mac
- How to transcribe audio on a Mac for free
- How to record both sides of a call 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