Related topics: how to record audio on a Mac, how to record system audio on Mac, how to record computer audio on Mac, how to record with audio on Mac
If you only need to record your own voice on a Mac, the built-in apps are usually enough. If you also want to capture audio from a video, a browser tab, or another app, you will need one extra step because macOS does not treat system sound as a standard recording source. This guide covers both cases, so you can choose the simplest method for what you actually need.
Quick comparison: which app should you use?
| App | Best for | Install | System audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice Memos | Fast voice notes and casual recordings | Built-in | No |
| QuickTime Player | Simple microphone recording with a little more control | Built-in | No (yes with a virtual input) |
| GarageBand | Podcasts, music, and multi-track projects | Built-in | No (requires extra routing) |
| BlackHole + recording app | Capturing audio played by your Mac | Extra install | Yes |
The easiest ways to record audio on Mac
The best method depends on what you are trying to capture. For spoken notes, meetings, or rough voice-over takes, start with the built-in tools. For internal audio, such as music or video playback, you will need a virtual audio device.
Record your voice quickly with Voice Memos
Voice Memos is the fastest option if you want to record speech without adjusting many settings. It opens quickly, saves automatically, and works well for short notes, interviews, and basic drafts.
How to use Voice Memos:
- Open Applications and launch Voice Memos.
- Click the red Record button.
- Speak into your Mac’s built-in microphone or an external mic.
- Click Stop when you are finished.
- Rename the recording if needed.
If speed matters more than advanced controls, this is the most convenient built-in recorder on Mac.
Optional shortcut from Terminal:
open -a "Voice Memos"
Use QuickTime Player for simple, clean recordings
QuickTime Player is a better choice when you want a straightforward audio file and the ability to pick a microphone manually. It is still simple, but gives you a bit more control than Voice Memos.
How to record audio in QuickTime:
- Open QuickTime Player.
- Choose File → New Audio Recording.
- Click the arrow next to the record button to choose your microphone.
- Click Record to start.
- Click Stop when you are done.
- Save the file to your preferred location.
QuickTime is a good middle ground for users who want something cleaner than Voice Memos without moving into a full editing app.
open -a "QuickTime Player"
How to record system audio on Mac
If you want to record sound coming from your Mac itself, such as a YouTube video, a meeting playback, or in-app audio, the built-in tools alone are not enough. macOS does not expose system audio as a default recording input.
To capture internal audio, most users install a virtual audio device such as BlackHole or Soundflower. Once installed, that virtual device appears as an available input inside apps like QuickTime, OBS, or other recording software.
Basic workflow:
- Install a virtual audio driver such as BlackHole.
- Open Audio MIDI Setup.
- Configure your output and monitoring as needed.
- Select the virtual device as the input in your recording app.
- Play the audio you want to capture and start recording.
If you need to hear the sound while recording it, you will usually create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup so the audio can go to both your speakers or headphones and the virtual input.
If you use Homebrew, you can check what BlackHole package names are currently available:
brew search blackhole
brew update
# brew info blackhole-2ch
# brew install blackhole-2ch
open -a "Audio MIDI Setup"
When to use GarageBand
GarageBand makes sense when you need more than a one-click recording tool. It is better suited to podcasts, music demos, layered voice work, and any project where you may want to trim, mix, or arrange multiple tracks.
How to record in GarageBand:
- Open GarageBand and start a new project.
- Create or select an audio track.
- Choose the correct input source.
- Click Record.
- Edit, trim, or mix the track after recording.
- Export the final file when ready.
For quick one-off voice notes, GarageBand is more than you need. For repeat content production, it is often worth the extra setup.
open -a "GarageBand"
Tips for better recording quality
Even the right app will not fix a noisy room or a poor mic position. A few small adjustments can improve clarity right away.
Good starting input levels
| Source | Suggested peak level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking voice | −12 dBFS to −6 dBFS | Leaves headroom for louder moments |
| Acoustic instrument | −18 dBFS to −12 dBFS | Move the mic before over-boosting gain |
| System or app audio | Match the app output carefully | Watch for clipping if multiple sources are combined |
Quick quality tips:
- Record in a quiet room whenever possible.
- Use an external microphone if you want cleaner voice recordings.
- Keep input gain high enough for clarity, but low enough to avoid distortion.
- Make a short test recording before anything important.
- Use headphones if you need to monitor sound without speaker bleed.
If you want to inspect audio devices from the Terminal, macOS includes a simple system report:
system_profiler SPAudioDataType | head -n 80
system_profiler SPAudioDataType | rg -i "microphone|input|blackhole" || true
Common reasons people record audio on Mac
- Saving voice notes or spoken ideas
- Recording podcasts or voice-overs
- Capturing online lessons or meeting playback where permitted
- Saving app or browser audio for editing or review
- Creating short audio clips for content publishing
Conclusion
For most Mac users, Voice Memos and QuickTime Player are the easiest ways to record voice audio. If you need to record internal sound, add a virtual audio device such as BlackHole and route it through your recording app. Once you know which tool matches your use case, recording audio on a Mac becomes much simpler.