How to record system audio on Mac

First, decide which sound you need

System audio means playback from your Mac, such as a browser video, a presentation or another app. Microphone audio is your voice and other sound picked up by a recording device. A tutorial with narration may need both.

Apple’s QuickTime audio instructions describe a microphone input. That is useful for voice recording, but choosing the Mac’s microphone will not directly capture an app’s digital playback.

How to record system audio step by step

In erehwon System Audio Recorder, the workflow starts with a source selection and finishes with a saved recording you can review. Check the System Audio Recorder features and Mac requirements before you begin.

1. Choose system audio

   Select System audio to capture playback from your Mac. If you also need narration, choose System + microphone and select the intended microphone. Use an application filter when you want to focus on one app’s playback.

2. Allow the relevant macOS permission

   Follow the capture permission prompt. System playback and microphone recording have separate access settings, explained below. Reopen System Audio Recorder if macOS asks you to.

3. Play a sample and check the meters

   Start a short piece of audio you are entitled to record. Select Record and check that the system-audio meter responds. If you included a microphone, speak briefly and check that input too.

4. Stop and review the saved recording

   Select Stop & save, open the recording in Library and play it back. Confirm that it contains the intended sound before starting a longer session. A timer or moving meter alone is not a substitute for checking the saved result.

5. Prepare a copy to share

   Review the waveform, trim the selection if needed and export a WAV or M4A copy. Keep the original so you can return to it if you need a different edit.

Where to check recording permissions on Mac

Open Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording. Find the recorder and review its access. Apple explains that permission may cover screen and audio together, or audio alone. Wording and available controls can vary with macOS and the app.

Adding your voice also requires microphone access. Check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone for the same app. Microphone permission and system-audio permission serve different purposes; granting one does not replace the other.

Only enable access for an app you intend to use. You can turn it off again in these settings. If an app does not appear, start its capture workflow so it can request the relevant access. Follow any quit-and-reopen instruction before testing again.

Apple provides separate guidance for screen and system-audio access and microphone access.

If you only need your voice, use QuickTime Player

For a spoken note or voice recording, start with the app already on your Mac. In QuickTime Player, choose File > New Audio Recording. Open the recording options, choose your microphone and quality, then record.

Stop when you are finished and choose File > Save to name the file and select a location. Apple notes that maximum-quality recording uses more storage. This microphone method is separate from directly capturing app playback.

Why your recording is silent, doubled or distorted

You can hear playback, but the recording is silent

Check the selected source first. A microphone source is not a substitute for system capture. If you selected a single application, confirm it is the one producing the audio. Then check permissions and mute controls, make another short sample and inspect the saved result.

Some protected media may remain silent even when other audio records normally. Try material you created yourself to distinguish a capture problem from a content restriction. Do not attempt to bypass protection.

Your voice is missing

Check the microphone selection and its separate permission. Speak while watching the input meter, then test the saved file. A visible timer alone cannot tell you whether the intended input contains a useful signal.

You hear an echo or doubled sound

Look for the same sound being captured twice, such as two active desktop sources or your microphone picking up the speakers. Try headphones when recording narration alongside playback. Change one setting at a time and compare another sample.

The audio sounds harsh or broken up

If a meter repeatedly reaches its upper limit, reduce the relevant input or mix level and retest. For a longer recording, check available storage and the save location beforehand. Keep the original recording while you prepare an edited or converted copy.

Before recording something important

Choose the source deliberately and check a saved sample, rather than relying on the recording timer. Once that sample contains the sound you need, use the same settings for the full session and review the result before sharing it.