Does Screen Recording Capture Audio on Mac

Yes, you can absolutely record audio with a screen recording on a Mac, but it’s not always as straightforward as just hitting the record button. While your Mac's built-in tools are great at picking up your voice, capturing your computer’s internal sounds—like an app notification or audio from a video—requires a little extra know-how.

The Simple Answer to Recording Audio on Your Mac

We’ve all been there. You hit record, walk through a brilliant tutorial on your Mac, and play it back only to be met with complete silence. It's a common and incredibly frustrating moment.

The problem comes down to how macOS handles two very different types of audio: your voice (microphone audio) and the sounds your computer makes (system audio).

By default, the native screen recorder you pull up with Shift + Command + 5 is set up to capture your microphone. It’s a simple setting change. But for security and privacy reasons, macOS intentionally blocks the recording of internal system audio right out of the box. This is a good thing—it stops sneaky apps from listening in on other programs without your permission.

Take a look at the macOS screen recording toolbar. The "Options" menu is where you tell it what to listen to.

You can easily select your Mac's built-in microphone or an external one you've plugged in. But notice what's missing? There’s no default option for "System Audio."

Don't worry, though. Capturing those internal sounds is completely doable with a bit of extra setup. Understanding this distinction between microphone and system audio is the key to finally recording exactly what you want on your Mac, every time.

Mac Audio Recording Capabilities at a Glance

To make this crystal clear, here’s a quick breakdown of what you can and can't do with Apple's built-in tools compared to when you add a free third-party tool like BlackHole (which we'll discuss later).

As you can see, a simple, free addition completely changes the game, giving you the power to capture both your voice and your computer's audio simultaneously on a Mac.

Understanding Microphone vs. System Audio

Before you can really get a handle on screen recording, you need to understand that your Mac deals with two totally different kinds of audio. It's helpful to think of it like making a movie. You have the narrator's voice, and then you have all the sounds happening inside the movie itself.

Your Mac sees these as separate things, and for a good reason.

Your Voice: The Director's Commentary

The most straightforward type of audio is microphone audio. This is simply whatever sound is picked up by your Mac's built-in mic or an external one you've plugged in. In our movie analogy, this is your voiceover—the director's commentary explaining what's happening on screen.

If you're recording a software tutorial on your Mac, your voice guiding the viewer is microphone audio. It’s an external sound you're intentionally adding to the recording. This is the easy part; macOS is built to let you record your own voice without any fuss.

Key Takeaway: Microphone audio comes from an outside source (like your voice) and is captured by a physical microphone. It's the "narration" you add on top of your Mac screen recording.

Your Mac's Sound: The Movie Soundtrack

The other type, which can be a bit trickier, is system audio. These are the internal sounds generated by your Mac itself. Think of app alerts, notification chimes, the audio from a YouTube video you're playing, or the sound effects in a game.

Back to our movie analogy, system audio is the film's actual soundtrack. It’s the dialogue, music, and sound effects that are part of the on-screen action.

Now, here's the catch. For your privacy and security, macOS is designed to make it difficult for apps to just grab this internal audio. It’s a safeguard to stop sneaky software from listening in on other applications without your express permission. This is precisely why a standard screen recording with QuickTime Player won't capture the sound from a video you’re watching.

Getting this distinction is the first real step to mastering how to record exactly what you want on your Mac, every time.

How to Record Your Voice with a Mac Screen Recording

Want to make a tutorial or presentation feel more personal and engaging? Adding your own voice is the easiest way to do it. The great news is that macOS has this feature built right in, so you don't need to hunt for any special software.

Everything you need is tucked away in the Screenshot toolbar, a handy little control panel you can summon with a quick keyboard shortcut.

Accessing Your Mac’s Recording Controls

Just press Shift + Command + 5. That’s the magic combination. This command pops up a control bar on your screen, giving you options to either snap a picture or record a video of your screen. Think of it as your command center for screen captures on macOS.

From here, you can choose to record your entire screen or drag a box to select just one part of it. But before you hit that record button, you need to tell your Mac which microphone to use. That’s where the "Options" menu comes in.

Key Takeaway: The Shift + Command + 5 shortcut is your direct line to recording both your screen and your voice in macOS. It’s the simplest way to add clear, direct narration to any video you create.

Selecting Your Microphone

On the control bar, click on Options. A menu will drop down, and you’ll see a "Microphone" section. This list shows every audio input your Mac can find, including the Built-in Microphone and any external mics you might have plugged in via USB or connected through Bluetooth.

All you have to do is click on the microphone you want to use for your voiceover. A little checkmark will appear next to it, letting you know it's selected and ready to go.

This infographic breaks down the simple three-step process for getting your microphone active for a screen recording on your Mac.

As you can see, turning on your mic is just a quick setting change you make right before you start. Once you’ve picked your microphone and chosen your recording area, just click “Record” to start capturing your screen and your voice simultaneously. If you're curious about other tools, check out our guide on finding the best screen recorder with voice options available for Mac.

How to Capture Your Mac's System Audio

Okay, so you've got your microphone narration down, but what about all the other sounds? Capturing the audio coming from your Mac—like a video clip playing or an app notification—is often the biggest headache for new creators.

This isn't a bug; it's a feature. For privacy reasons, macOS intentionally prevents most apps, including its own QuickTime Player, from recording internal computer audio. This stops applications from secretly listening in on each other.

Luckily, there’s a fantastic workaround that’s free, trusted, and open-source: BlackHole. It’s a clever little utility that acts like a digital patch cable, letting you route your system audio right into your recording software.

Setting Up Your Virtual Audio Cable

The best way to think of BlackHole is as an invisible audio cable. You're essentially "plugging" one end into your Mac's speaker output and the other into its microphone input, all done virtually. It intercepts the sound before it ever hits your physical speakers.

Getting it set up just takes a few minutes.

Here’s how to do it, step by step:

1. Download and Install BlackHole: First, grab the installer from the official developer’s website. Run through the installation process—you’ll probably need to give it permission in your System Settings along the way.

2. Open Audio MIDI Setup: This app is already on your Mac. Just use Spotlight Search (Cmd + Space) to find it. Once it's open, click the “+” icon in the bottom-left corner and choose Create Multi-Output Device.

3. Combine Your Outputs: A new panel will appear. Here, you need to check two boxes: your regular audio output (like MacBook Pro Speakers or your headphones) and BlackHole. This is the magic trick. It tells your Mac to send audio to both your ears and the virtual BlackHole device at the same time.

4. Set Your New System Output: In the list on the left, find the Multi-Output Device you just created, right-click it, and select Use This Device For Sound Output. Now, all your Mac’s audio is being channeled through this new setup.

Key Takeaway: The Multi-Output Device is the secret ingredient. It splits the audio signal, so you can still hear everything normally while a clean copy is sent to BlackHole for your recording software to pick up.

With that done, you're ready to record! It's amazing how far screen recording has come. Early methods often involved clunky hardware, but as multimedia became more central, software evolved to handle these complex tasks internally. If you want to dive deeper into this topic, check out our dedicated guide on how to capture system audio on a Mac.

The next time you open QuickTime Player for a new screen recording, just click the Options menu next to the record button. Under "Microphone," you’ll now see BlackHole as an option. Select it, hit record, and every sound your Mac makes will be captured perfectly.

Skip the Hassle with a Dedicated Mac Recording App

Let's be honest, while macOS gives you some great built-in tools, fiddling with virtual audio drivers isn't for everyone. Sometimes you just need something that works out of the box. This is where third-party apps come in, offering a much smoother path for anyone who needs to capture screen and audio recordings on their Mac without a headache.

These tools are built from the ground up for macOS. They bundle screen capture, audio recording, and even video editing into one clean package. All the tricky audio routing happens automatically behind the scenes, so you can spend your time creating great content, not messing with settings. Just a few clicks, and you're recording your screen, your voice, and your Mac's internal sounds all at once.

Why You Might Want a Dedicated App for Your Mac

The number one reason? Convenience. These apps completely remove the need to install and manage separate tools like BlackHole. But beyond that, they’re often packed with features designed to give your recordings a professional touch, which explains why this software market is booming.

The global market for screen capture software hit about $9.58 billion in 2024 and is expected to climb to $10.92 billion by 2025. This surge is all about the growing need for high-quality digital content. You can find more details on this trend over at giiresearch.com.

Here are a few things you’ll often find built right in:

• Integrated Video Editors: Quickly trim out mistakes, add notes and callouts, or zoom in on key details without exporting to another program.

• Easy Sharing Options: Send your finished video straight to platforms like YouTube or save it as a GIF in seconds.

• Polished Visuals: Many apps include features to hide your messy desktop icons or use a custom background for a cleaner, more professional look.

For anyone looking to create professional video training, getting crisp audio and video is essential, and these tools make that goal much easier to achieve.

If you care about a fast workflow and want access to more powerful features, investing in a dedicated app is a smart move. To explore the best options available, take a look at our guide to the top Mac screen recording software. You’ll be sure to find the perfect one for your projects.

Common Questions About Mac Screen Recording

Even with the best tools, a few things can trip you up when you first start recording your Mac's screen. Let's walk through a few of the most common questions people have.

Why Can't I Record System Audio Directly on my Mac?

This is probably the biggest headache for new Mac users. The short answer? Privacy.

By default, macOS puts up a digital wall to prevent apps from secretly listening in on other apps. It's a solid security feature, but it means you can't just hit "record" and capture the audio from a video or a game.

When you install a virtual audio driver, you’re creating a safe, authorized bridge over that wall. You're telling your Mac, "Hey, it's okay to send the sound from my speakers into this specific recording input."

Can I Record My Voice and Mac's System Audio Together?

You sure can, but it takes a little extra setup. Your Mac has a hidden gem for this called the Audio MIDI Setup utility.

Inside this tool, you can create what’s called an Aggregate Device. Think of it as a virtual mixer that combines two or more audio sources into one. You just bundle your microphone and your virtual audio driver (like BlackHole) together.

Once that's done, you can select this new combined device in QuickTime. Now you'll capture both your voiceover and your computer's audio in a single, clean recording.

Is Using a Virtual Audio Driver Safe for my Mac?

Absolutely, as long as you stick with the well-known, reputable options. The good ones are open-source and work by creating a virtual "device" on your Mac, not by messing with critical system files.

The golden rule is to always download the software directly from the official developer’s website or their official GitHub page. This is the best way to avoid sketchy, modified versions that could cause problems on your Mac.

This kind of setup isn't just for content creators, either. In professional environments like call centers, capturing both screen activity and audio is essential for training, quality, and compliance. It gives a complete picture of every interaction. You can learn more about how this is used for synchronized audio and screen capture at Observe.AI.

For a recording experience that handles all this automatically, try Screen Charm. It's built for macOS to help you create polished product demos and tutorials with zero hassle. https://screencharm.com