How to Record Internal Audio on Mac (System Sound) — 2026 Guide

To record internal audio on a Mac, press Shift + Command + 5, open Options, and… you'll notice there's no "System Audio" option. That's the problem. This guide covers every method to fix it: free virtual drivers, paid routing apps, OBS, DAW integration, and all-in-one recorders — plus troubleshooting for every common failure.

Quick Answer: Record Internal Audio on Mac in 3 Steps

1. Install BlackHole — a free virtual audio driver
2. Create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup that combines BlackHole and your speakers
3. Select BlackHole as the microphone input in QuickTime or OBS, then hit Record

Full step-by-step instructions, paid alternatives, and troubleshooting are below.

How to Record System Audio on Mac (Quick Summary)

macOS doesn't have a built-in option to record system audio — the sound coming from apps, videos, games, or calls. The standard fix is to install a virtual audio driver (BlackHole is free) that creates a software audio cable between your Mac's output and your recording app's input. Once routed, any screen recorder can capture it. If you'd rather skip the setup entirely, an all-in-one app like Screen Charm handles system audio natively with no driver required.

This guide covers all five methods: BlackHole + QuickTime, BlackHole + OBS, Loopback, Audio Hijack, and Screen Charm. For the broader screen recording workflow, see our complete guide to screen recording on Mac.

Why macOS Doesn't Record System Audio by Default

macOS doesn't let its built-in tools capture system audio by default. This is a deliberate design choice, not an oversight.

Apple sandboxes applications so each one runs in isolation — an app can't tap into another app's audio stream. This prevents malicious software from silently recording your private calls, in-app audio, or system notifications. The downside for creators is that there's no "Stereo Mix" option like Windows has. Your Mac's audio output and any recording input are kept strictly separate.

This means QuickTime Player, the Screenshot toolbar (Shift + Command + 5), and iMovie all record microphone audio only. To capture the sound coming from your Mac — a game, browser video, Zoom call, or app interface sounds — you need to route that audio through a virtual device.

What a virtual audio driver actually does

A virtual audio driver creates a software-based audio device that appears alongside your real speakers in System Settings. You set your Mac's output to route through this virtual device, which then acts as a recordable input. Your recording app "hears" the system audio through this virtual cable, while a Multi-Output Device ensures you can still hear the audio through your speakers at the same time.

This is the foundation of every free and paid method below.

Choosing a Virtual Audio Driver

All free methods on this page require a virtual audio driver. Here's how the main options compare:

Driver	Cost	macOS Support	Best For
BlackHole	Free (open-source)	Actively maintained, Apple Silicon + Intel	General recording, tutorials, most users
Soundflower	Free (legacy)	Unmaintained — compatibility issues on modern macOS	Old macOS installs only
Loopback	Paid	Excellent, always up-to-date	Per-app routing, podcasting, complex setups

Verdict: Use BlackHole for free. Use Loopback if you need to isolate audio from specific apps (e.g. capture Chrome but not Slack).

---

Method 1: BlackHole + QuickTime (Free)

BlackHole is an open-source virtual audio driver from Existential Audio. It's the modern replacement for Soundflower (which launched in 2004 and racked up 500,000+ downloads before going unmaintained). BlackHole is actively maintained, works on Apple Silicon and Intel, and costs nothing.

Step 1: Install BlackHole

Download BlackHole from the official Existential Audio website — always use the official source. The BlackHole 2ch version is sufficient for most use cases. Installation is a standard .pkg file. BlackHole runs silently in the background with no dock icon.

Step 2: Create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup

This step lets you hear audio through your speakers and send it to BlackHole simultaneously.

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (find it in /Applications/Utilities/ or via Spotlight)
2. Click the + button in the bottom-left corner → Create Multi-Output Device
3. In the new device panel, check both BlackHole 2ch and your regular output (e.g. "MacBook Pro Speakers" or your headphones)
4. Set your regular speakers as the Master Device
5. Check the Drift Correction box for BlackHole — this is critical for preventing audio drift in recordings longer than a few minutes

Step 3: Set the Multi-Output Device as your system output

Go to System Settings → Sound → Output and select the Multi-Output Device you just created. Your Mac will now route all audio to both your speakers and BlackHole.

Step 4: Record with QuickTime

Open QuickTime Player → File → New Screen Recording. Click Options and select BlackHole 2ch as the microphone source. Hit Record. QuickTime will now capture your screen with all system audio included.

When you're done recording, go back to System Settings → Sound and switch your output back to your regular speakers.

The most common mistake: Setting your system output directly to BlackHole instead of the Multi-Output Device. If you do that, audio goes to the virtual driver but never reaches your speakers — you'll be recording blind with no monitoring.

Drift Correction: why it matters

When you combine two audio devices in a Multi-Output Device, each runs on its own internal clock. Over time — especially in recordings longer than 5–10 minutes — tiny clock mismatches accumulate and cause audio to slowly fall out of sync with video. Enabling Drift Correction in Audio MIDI Setup forces BlackHole to synchronize its clock with the master device, eliminating this drift entirely.

Method 2: BlackHole + OBS (Free, More Control)

If you're recording gameplay, streaming, or need more control over audio mixing, OBS Studio works well with BlackHole.

1. Install BlackHole and create the Multi-Output Device as above
2. Download OBS Studio (free, open source)
3. In OBS, go to Settings → Audio and set Desktop Audio to BlackHole 2ch
4. Add a Display Capture or Window Capture source
5. You now have separate audio faders for system audio and your microphone, with real-time level monitoring

OBS also allows you to set per-scene audio mixing, add noise suppression filters, and record in multiple formats — advantages the QuickTime method doesn't offer.

Method 3: Loopback — Visual Audio Routing (Paid)

Loopback by Rogue Amoeba replaces the manual Audio MIDI Setup workflow with a drag-and-drop visual interface. Where BlackHole is a manual transmission, Loopback is a luxury automatic.

You create virtual audio devices by literally drawing connections between audio sources. For example: drag Chrome, drag Zoom, drag your microphone — combine them into a single virtual device. That device then appears as an input in any recording app.

Why creators choose Loopback over BlackHole:

• No Audio MIDI Setup configuration required
• Per-application audio routing (record only Chrome, ignoring Slack notifications)
• Multiple virtual devices for different recording configurations
• Visual level meters and routing preview
• Stays working reliably across macOS updates

Cost: One-time purchase from Rogue Amoeba.

Method 4: Audio Hijack — Per-App Recording (Paid)

Audio Hijack (also by Rogue Amoeba) goes further than routing — it actively captures and saves audio using a visual block-based pipeline.

Use case example: recording a podcast interview. You drag in your microphone as one source, Zoom as another. Each goes to a separate track. You can apply live effects (noise gate, EQ, compression) to each source independently before the recording saves. The result is a multi-track file you can edit in Logic Pro or GarageBand without any bleed between tracks.

When to use Audio Hijack over Loopback:

• You need to record each audio source to its own separate file
• You need live effects processing during recording
• You're producing podcasts, interviews, or any multi-source content

Method 5: Screen Charm — No Setup Required

All of the methods above require installing and configuring third-party audio software before you can record. Unlike BlackHole or Loopback, Screen Charm captures system audio natively — no driver installation, no Audio MIDI Setup configuration, no manual routing.

Open Screen Charm, enable System Audio, and record. The app captures your screen, webcam, microphone, and system audio in a single synchronized session. Auto-zoom and cursor tracking are handled automatically. If you want to compare all Mac screen recording options, our best screen recording software for Mac guide covers the full landscape. For recording with a webcam overlay alongside your screen, see our screen recorder with facecam guide.

When this approach makes sense:

• You're creating tutorials, demos, or product walkthroughs
• You want to skip the setup entirely
• You're recording regularly and the manual setup is friction in your workflow
• You need the audio and video in one polished, pre-edited output

How to Record Microphone and System Audio Together

Recording both your voice and system audio simultaneously requires routing both streams into a single device your recording app can see.

With BlackHole (free):

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup
2. Click + → Create Aggregate Device
3. Check both BlackHole 2ch and your microphone (e.g. Built-in Microphone or your USB mic)
4. Check Drift Correction for BlackHole
5. In your recording app, select this Aggregate Device as the input

Your recording app will now receive both your voice and the system audio as a single combined input.

With Loopback (paid): Create a virtual device, add your mic and BlackHole (or a specific app) as sources. Simpler.

With Screen Charm: Both mic and system audio are captured automatically in the same session without any configuration.

How to Record Internal Audio with GarageBand or Logic Pro

If you're working in a DAW, the same virtual driver principle applies.

1. Install BlackHole and set up the Multi-Output Device as above
2. Open GarageBand (free, pre-installed on every Mac) or Logic Pro
3. Create a new track → choose Audio → set the input to BlackHole 2ch
4. Press record

This gives you multi-track recording: system audio on one track, your microphone on another. You can adjust levels, add effects, and export individual stems — a much more powerful workflow than QuickTime for audio-heavy projects.

Comparison: All Methods Side by Side

Here's what each method can and can't do, so you can pick the right one for your situation:

Method	Cost	Ease of Setup	Per-App Isolation	Screen + Audio Together	Mac Updates Safe
BlackHole + QuickTime	Free	Moderate	✗ All-system only	✓	Usually
BlackHole + OBS	Free	Moderate	✗ All-system only	✓	Usually
Loopback	Paid	Easy	✓	✓	✓
Audio Hijack	Paid	Easy	✓	✓	✓
Screen Charm	Paid	Zero setup	✗ All-system only	✓	✓

Troubleshooting: Common Internal Audio Problems

Silent recording — no audio captured at all

The most common cause: your system output is set to BlackHole directly instead of the Multi-Output Device. Go to System Settings → Sound → Output and make sure the Multi-Output Device is selected. Also verify that BlackHole is selected as the microphone input in your recording app.

If it's still silent, restart your Mac after installing BlackHole. macOS sometimes needs a full reboot to register a new kernel extension or audio driver. For a full checklist of audio-related recording failures, see our Mac screen recording no sound troubleshooting guide.

I can't hear audio while recording

You're monitoring through BlackHole only. Go back to Audio MIDI Setup, open your Multi-Output Device, and make sure both your speakers/headphones and BlackHole are checked. Your speakers need to be in the device for you to hear anything.

Audio drifts out of sync with video

Drift Correction isn't enabled. Open Audio MIDI Setup → Multi-Output Device and check the Drift Correction box for BlackHole. This syncs BlackHole's clock to your master output device. Without it, recordings longer than a few minutes will gradually desync.

Crackly, distorted, or clicking audio

This is usually a sample rate mismatch. Open Audio MIDI Setup and make sure every device in your Multi-Output Device is set to the same sample rate — 48000 Hz for most use cases, or 44100 Hz for music. If one device is at 44.1 kHz and another at 48 kHz, you'll get audible distortion.

BlackHole stopped working after a macOS update

macOS updates occasionally reset security permissions for kernel extensions. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → General — if you see a blocked system extension from Existential Audio, click Allow. Then restart. In rare cases you may need to reinstall BlackHole.

Recording a Zoom call but capturing everyone's audio

Zoom's audio output goes through your system like any other app when you use a virtual driver. By default, BlackHole captures everything including notification sounds. To isolate only Zoom audio, use Loopback or Audio Hijack to create a device with only Zoom as its source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does QuickTime record system audio on its own?

No. QuickTime's audio input only accepts microphones — internal or external. It has no native option for system audio. You must pair it with a virtual driver like BlackHole for QuickTime to capture internal sound.

Is recording internal audio on Mac legal?

The tools themselves are legal. What matters is what you record. Capturing system audio for your own tutorials, demos, or personal recordings is fine. Recording and distributing copyrighted music, movies, or private calls without consent is not. The same rules that apply to any recording apply here.

Will BlackHole slow down my Mac?

No. BlackHole is a lightweight audio routing driver — it passes audio between software components without processing it. The performance impact is negligible on any modern Mac.

Can I record audio from just one app, not the whole system?

Not with BlackHole — it routes all system audio as a single stream. For per-app recording you need Loopback or Audio Hijack, which let you select specific applications as audio sources.

Why does my Mac system output sound different after installing BlackHole?

Probably because your output was changed to the Multi-Output Device or directly to BlackHole during setup, which may use different sample rates or volume curves than your speakers. Go to System Settings → Sound → Output, switch back to your normal output, and adjust as needed.

Do I need to reinstall BlackHole after every macOS update?

Not usually. BlackHole generally survives macOS updates. However, major version upgrades (e.g. Ventura → Sonoma) occasionally reset driver permissions. Check System Settings → Privacy & Security and re-approve if needed.

Can I record microphone and system audio on separate tracks?

Yes, but not with QuickTime alone. Use Audio Hijack (which supports multi-track output natively), OBS (separate audio sources per scene), a DAW like GarageBand or Logic Pro (separate input tracks), or Screen Charm (which syncs mic and system audio in one session, though not to separate stems).

---

Ready to skip the driver setup entirely? Screen Charm captures your screen, system audio, microphone, and webcam in one click — no Audio MIDI Setup required. Start recording with system audio today.