By Nathan E. Malpass, Last updated: August 27, 2019
GarageBand is a fully equipped music creation studio right inside your Mac — with a complete sound library that includes instruments, presets for guitar and voice, and an incredible selection of session drummers and percussionists. Being a professional Mac music recording software program, Leawo Music Recorder for Mac could help you easily record audio of any source and get music for free on Mac. How to Record Audio on Mac - External and Internal Sound Recording: Mac Computer is well known for its Macintosh Operating System. Most people choose MacBook or Mac PC because of its flawless performance. Mac OS offers some amazing features that are not available with any other operating system. QuickTime Player. You may or may not know that Mac’s built-in QuickTime Player can do screen.
Do you want to know how to record audio on Mac device? Well, you’re in luck. We will be giving you a comprehensive guide on it. In this article, we will teach you how to record both external and internal audio using your Mac computer. Read on.
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Pre-Tutorial Tips
Recording audio on your Mac device won’t be as fun if your computer crashes all the time. That’s why we recommend that you use FoneDog PowerMyMac software to optimize your computer first. With this software, you can detect all unnecessary files within your system. Plus, you can also delete these detected junk with only a few clicks.
FoneDog PowerMyMac tool has an uninstaller kit that helps you remove unwanted apps from your system. Uninstallation is completed by removing residual components of the unwanted software. It helps you monitor the performance of your Mac computer too. This all-in-one tool prides itself in being a comprehensive solution for Mac users.
How To Record External Audio On Mac
1. How To Record Audio On Mac Using QuickTime
QuickTime is an application that comes with the macOS. This is the first method we will teach as it doesn’t require any third-party applications. Most users think QuickTime is only for watching movies. However, it has screen, audio, and video recording capabilities making it a really powerful tool for Mac users.
QuickTime can be used to capture audio from your microphone. After which, it saves it as an m4a file. This software is perfect for capturing quick conversations, recording voice notes, making small-sized ringtones. Whatever the reason may be, QuickTime is the first option for lightweight users.
Although, your Mac device must have a built-in mic if you wish to use it. You can opt to buy an external mic also if you wish. Here’s how to record audio in your macOS using QuickTime Player:
Step 01: Launch QuickTime player. This can be located in the /Applications/ folder.
Step 02: Click the File menu and then press New Audio Recording.
Step 03: Click the Record button (colored red) to start capturing audio.
Step 04: Once you are done, click the same Record button. This will stop the recording.
Step 05: Go towards the File menu once again. Press Save.
Step 06: Create a name for the file and choose a desired location.
The saved file will be in the m4a format. This format is popular among various platforms and is highly-compressed. It can be played on most devices including Mac computers, iPhones, Windows PC, and Android mobile gadgets.
There are no limitations to the number of audio files you want to record with QuickTime. However, if you wish to record a huge amount of audio files, remember that you need to have an adequate amount of space within your Mac.
QuickTime doesn’t support advanced features. However, if you just need to record audio files occasionally, then this is the platform to use. If you want more features for audio editing, you can use GarageBand. The said application can be complicated for most users. However, it is geared towards those who take music making seriously. GarageBand comes free on some Mac devices. However, for some, it comes as a paid software. Thus, QuickTime is a quick and easy option for those who don’t need heavy-duty software and for those who just casually needs sound recording.
2. How To Record Audio On Mac Using GarageBand
GarageBand is an amazing application that can be found pre-installed in a lot of Mac devices. However, if you don’t see it in your Mac computer, you can acquire it through the Mac App Store. This application is great for editing, recording, and playing audio. It has more features compared to other free Mac audio recording apps.
Recording audio with GarageBand gives you the ability to add background sound effects. For instance, you can add Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, and other effects if you wish. Plus, you can adjust the volume level of the audio recording to get the perfect rhythm with other sound effects.
Before we delve into the details of using GarageBand, we first have to select the voice input source. Here are the steps on how to do it.
Step 01: Go to GarageBand and visit Preferences. After this, select Audio and then Devices.
Step 02: Select your chosen audio input source.
- If you wish to use your Mac’s built-in mic, then choose your audio input source as Built-In Microphone.
- If you are using a microphone connected to your Mac using a USB port, then select USB Microphone.
- If you want to use a mic that’s connected to your Mac through an audio input port, select “Built-In Input.” This is the case if your mic is connected to your Mac device through a 3.55m jack.
After you have set up the correct input source, you can now start recording audio on your Mac device using GarageBand. If you wish to connect a musical instrument for recording, you can do so. After this, you can simply select an old track or add a new one for recording.
Setting the volume level is the next step after that. Next, you should set the resolution for audio recording. It is recommended that you use 24 Bits. Now, before you delve into the steps below, ensure that your mic and musical instrument(s) are connected properly. Make sure nothing is damaged and everything is working perfectly.
Step 01: Launch GarageBand on your Mac.
Step 02: Create a new project or open a previous project you have created.
Step 03: Press the Red button to begin recording.
Step 04: By now, the audio is recording so make sure you are in tune with the background music.
Step 05: Press the Red button again one done.
Step 06: Save the file to the desired location.
Step 07: Listen to the audio you have just recorded. You can also edit it with GarageBand if you wish.
3. How To Record Audio On Mac Using The Third-Party App Audacity
There are a lot of third-party applications you can use to record audio on your Mac device. These apps have their own set of features that makes recording more exciting. The recommended tool to use is Audacity. This is a free, open-source application used for recording and editing audio. Its powerful features allow you to customize your recorded audio. Plus, it has a variety of plugins making it a powerful tool for advanced users.
To download the application, you simply go to their website here. After which, simply install it on your Mac device and restart the computer. Once the app is installed within your Mac, you can now record audio on your device using Audacity.
Below are the steps you should follow on how to record audio on Mac using Audacity:
Step 01: Open Audacity on your Mac computer.
Step 02: Make sure your mic is ready to be used as a voice input tool.
Step 03: Adjust the features for audio recording. Make sure you set it in a way that you want.
Step 04: Press the Red button for recording to begin.
Step 05: Now, you can start recording your voice as long as you wish.
Step 06: Press the button that appears like a brown square to stop recording your voice.
Step 07: Click File and click on the option that says Export.
Step 08: Save the audio file to your desired location.
Listening to your recorded audio can be done using Audacity or other media player apps. Audacity also offers you ways to trim, delete, and edit the recorded audio. If you have an audio file that has a long duration, this app is the best software to use. There are other apps available on the Mac App Store, although Audacity is still a free platform that is packed with features.
How To Record Internal Audio On Your Mac Device
External audio refers to sound that is captured through your microphone. Internal audio refers to the audio made by the Mac device itself. If you want to record audio played on your Mac device, you can do so. However, there are no built-in applications within Mac to do this.
Thus, you need to use a third-party application to record internal audio on your Mac. We have taken the liberty of testing out Soundflower and Audacity. Let’s check out how to use these apps below.
- 1 -
First, Install And Set Up Soundflower On Your Mac Device
Soundflower Extension, is, as its name implies, an extension for Mac operating systems. It is not an audio recorder in itself. The extension allows you to create a virtual audio output device that works as an input as well. The audio is routed to another location enabling you to record your Mac device’ internal sound. Before you use the extension, you have to download it first. Here are the steps on how to download and install SoundFlower using your Mac computer:
Step 01: Launch your web browser and go to Soundflower’s website.
Step 02: Open the link to its Github page.
Step 03: Download the extension and install it within your Mac computer.
- 2-
Once Soundflower is installed in your Mac, you have to change the computer’s Sound Output Settings. Here’s how to do it:
Step 01: Visit Preferences and then go to Sound.
Step 02: Now, choose Output.
Step 03: Choose “Soundflower (2ch)” as your desired sound output device.
Once you have changed these settings, your Mac device won’t emit off any sound. This is because the output has been changed to Soundflower’s platform. Now, you can use QuickTime or Audacity, for recording the internal audio on your Mac device.
To prevent disturbances during recording, you should Turn Off Sound Effects. You can do this by going to Preferences then Sound. After this, visit Sound Effects. Then, you can deactivate sound effects from there.
- 3-
Lastly, Record Internal Audio Through QuickTime Player Or Audacity
Now, let’s move on to recording your internal audio via QuickTime Player or Audacity. We will show the steps for using QuickTime Player first.
How To Record Internal Audio On Your Mac Device Using QuickTime Player + SoundFlower Extension
Step 01: Open QuickTime Player within your Mac device.
Step 02: Press File Menu and press the option that says New Audio Recording.
Step 03: The window for audio recording will open on your screen.
Step 04: Press the down arrow (▼) symbol to launch options for audio recording.
Step 05: Choose the input or mic as Soundflower (2ch)
Step 06: Play the audio or video you want to get the sound from.
Step 07: Press the red record button to begin recording.
Step 08: Press the red record button again once done.
How To Record Internal Audio On Your Mac Device Using Audacity App + SoundFlower Extension
Step 01: Open Audacity within your Mac device.
Step 02: Visit Audacity Preferences. Then, go to the tab labeled Devices.
Step 03: Go to Recording and then select the option labeled Device again.
Step 04: Select Soundflower (2ch) as your desired recording device.
Step 05: Go back to Audacity’s main page. Activate the option labeled Turn On Monitoring. This is located at the top-right part of the interface.
Step 06: Microphone’s volume level should be decreased to zero. This is done by dragging it towards the left-most side.
Step 07: Play the audio or video you want to get the sound from.
Step 08: Press the red record button to begin recording.
Step 09: Press the brown square button once done.
Once you have recorded the internal audio through Audacity or QuickTime Player, you can simply modify the Sound Output Settings back to its original state. Now, you can listen to your recorded internal audio. After which, you can edit it through Audacity to complete your project.
In Conclusion
Don’t know how to record audio on Mac? Well, this guide has just told you how to record both external and internal audio on your favorite Apple computer. Simply follow the steps above to record audio on your Mac. You’ll find that you have a variety of options to choose from and you won’t get bogged down by the instructions even if you are a newbie. Happy recording!
>Tricks >How To Record Audio On Mac: A Guide For Both External And Internal Audio Recording
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How to Record Audio on Mac – External and Internal Sound Recording:
Mac Computer is well known for its Macintosh Operating System. Most people choose MacBook or Mac PC because of its flawless performance. Mac OS offers some amazing features that are not available with any other operating system. But when you want to record an audio on Mac, you may not know how to do it.
Mac OS is easy to use for experienced users and not for everyone. First time Mac users have to learn everything by watching Mac OS Tutorials. Our team has worked on various methods to record audio on Mac. So you don’t need to worry as we will provide complete guidance for you. Here you will learn about 3 easiest ways to record audio on Mac.
Contents
- 1 How to Record Audio on Mac
- 2 3 Easiest Ways to Record Audio on Mac – [External Audio Recording]
Types of Audio Recording
General meaning of Audio Recording is simple i.e. the device (Mac) records whatever is heard from its microphone. But there are two basic types of audio recording i.e. record external voice and record internal voice. Let us understand both the types of recording in brief.
[I] External Audio Recording on Mac:
When you record an audio of your voice or other instruments in room, it is called external audio recording. In external audio recording, Mac System records audio of anything comes from microphone. It includes news reading, singing a song or practicing an interview or a conference speech by recording it on Mac.
[II] Internal Audio Recording on Mac:
This option is required when you want to record audio of something playing on the computer screen. Internal Audio Recording will record and save the audio of everything being played on your Mac. This audio includes recording of a song or speech on YouTube, iTunes Music and on a website.
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How to Record Audio on Mac
We have seen the meaning and types of audio recording. Now let’s move towards our main task i.e. how to record audio on Mac. We have found various methods to record external and internal audio on Mac. Firstly we will explain some simplest ways to record external audio on Mac and then discuss about how to record internal audio on Mac.
Input Device for External Audio Recording on Mac
When you want to record your voice on Mac, you need to think about the input device. All Mac computers have default microphone for voice input except Mac Pro and Mac Mini. Kindly note that default microphone of Mac provides decent audio recording, but it is not the best. Therefore the default microphone may not meet your expectation in voice quality.
If you are using the latest MacBook then you may not have voice input source other then its default microphone. Older Mac Systems have 3.5mm jack to connect a headphone or mic for voice input and listening music. We recommend you to use an external microphone for best quality audio recording on your Mac System. If your Mac has only USB connectivity then you should use the USB Microphone to record audio on Mac.
3 Easiest Ways to Record Audio on Mac – [External Audio Recording]
In order to record an audio, you must have an app with sound recording feature. Many Cellphones have built-in Sound Recorder App that offers audio recording in AMR, MP3, AAC and M4A formats. The same way iOS and Mac OS also have audio recording app. Here we will discuss about how to record audio on Mac with built-in app and also with third party apps.
01. Use QuickTime Player to Record Audio on Mac
QuickTime Player is a default application on all Mac Systems. Whether you have an old Mac PC or the latest MacBook, you will see that QuickTime Player App is pre-installed on your Mac. However, the Audio Recording Feature is freely available from Mac OS X 10.6 and later. If your device has earlier Mac OS then QuickTime Player App will offer ‘audio recording’ as a paid feature.
Every Mac User knows very well about QuickTime Player. Because they watch videos and movies in QuickTime Player. But not all users know that QuickTime Player App has video, screen and audio recording features. If your QuickTime Player or Mac OS are older versions then update them to the latest version to record audio on Mac using QuickTime.
Steps to Record Audio on Mac with QuickTime Player:
Here we provide some simple instructions on how to record audio on Mac using QuickTime Player App.
1. Open Applications Folder on your Mac and Select QuickTime Player to launch the app.
2. As the QuickTime Player appears on screen, select File Menu.
3. Then click on “New Audio Recording” option to open audio recording window.
4. You can see the Microphone (Built-in Microphone) and Quality (High Quality) options beside the red recording button.
5. Choose the Microphone you want to use as input device for audio recording.
6. Press the Red button to start audio recording on Mac.
7. Record the Audio as long as you want and again press Red button to stop.
8. Go to File Menu and save the recording.
9. Export your audio recording to your desired folder on Mac and Close the QuickTime Player.
After completion of audio recording and saving the file, you can check your selected folder. You will see that your recorded audio file is right there. Open the Audio File if you want to listen to it. You can also edit your recorded audio files using QuickTime Player.
02. Use GarageBand to Record Audio on Mac
GarageBand is a wonderful app that comes as pre-installed in most Mac computers. If it is not available on your MacBook then you can get it from Mac App Store. GarageBand is an app for playing, recording and editing audio at free of cost. This app has some more features than other simple audio recording apps on Mac.
When you record an audio using GarageBand App, you can add some sound effects in background. The GarageBand allows you to add Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar & Bass and other sound effects. In addition, you can adjust audio recording volume level to get the best musical effects and voice with perfect rhythm in recording.
Steps to Select Voice Input and Record Audio on Mac using GarageBand App:
In order to select Voice Input Source for Audio Recording on Mac, you need to go to following menu options:
GarageBand>Preferences>Audio>Devices
- If you are using built-in microphone of your Mac then choose “Built-in Microphone” as the Audio Input Source.
- If you are using a Microphone connected with Audio Input Port then choose “Built-in Input” as the Input Source. (For example: mic/headphone with mic connected to 3.5mm jack on Mac.)
- If you are using a USB Microphone via USB Port then choose “USB Microphone” as the Input Source.
After setting the correct audio input source, you can proceed to record audio on Mac with GarageBand App. Here you need to connect a musical instrument if you want to use it in recording. Thereafter, you should select a track or add a track for recording and set volume level. Finally set the audio recording resolution (24 Bits are recommended). Before you start recording audio on Mac, you should check if the instruments & microphone are connected and working well.
1. Open GarageBand App on your Mac System.
2. Select the Red button to start recording the audio track.
3. Give your voice input as per background music and rhythm of the song.
4. Hit the Red Recording button again when audio recording is complete.
5. Save the recorded audio to your desired folder.
6. Listen to your recorded audio track and edit it (if required) with GarageBand.
03. Use Third Party App to Record Audio on Mac
You can record audio on Mac using QuickTime and GarageBand. But there are some third party apps which are free to use and provide more features. Audacity App is a free and open source application for audio recording and editing. It has lots of features to customize the audio recording on Mac. You can also add various plugins to Audacity to get additional features.
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Download and Install Audacity App on Mac
Audacity App is available to download for free on its website. You need to visit the Audacity Website and download the app on your Mac. Thereafter, install the Audacity App on your Mac System and Restart your Computer. After the app is successfully installed, you are ready to record an audio on Mac using Audacity App.
Steps to Record Audio on Mac using Audacity App
1. Launch Audacity App on your Mac PC or MacBook.
2. Keep your Microphone ready for Voice Input.
3. Adjust other audio recording features and set it the way you want.
4. Click on Red Recording button to start recording.
5. Give your Voice Input as long as you wish to record the audio.
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6. Click on Brown Square button to Stop recording when you are done.
7. Open File Menu and click on Export option, save the file on your Mac Storage.
You can listen to your recorded audio using the Audacity App or other audio player app. The Audacity App also allows you to edit, trim and delete the recorded audio. Long duration audios require more editing and Audacity is the best app to edit such recording files.
There are some more apps which are also good in audio recording on Mac. Such apps names include Movavi, n-Track Studio, WavTap and many more. You can also try them (if you want) to record an audio on your Mac System.
How to Record Internal Audio on Mac
Internal Audio is different than external audio that is captured by microphone. To record audio of any song or video playing on computer is called internal audio recording. For example: You want to record audio of an online video playing on your Mac PC. Kindly note that your Mac does not have built-in app to record internal audio directly.
As the Mac doesn’t have a feature of direct recording internal audio, you have to get help of a third party app. We have done audio recording experiment on Mac using two different apps with Soundflower Extension. Therefore this method to record internal audio is divided into two parts.
Part I – Install Soundflower Extension on Mac
Soundflower Extension is not an audio recorder. It is an extension for Mac OS. Soundflower is designed to create a virtual audio output device that can also work as an input. It changes the route of audio and that helps to record internal audio on Mac. You need to download and install the Soundflower Extension before we move towards the process of recording the internal audio.
Steps to Download and Install Soundflower on Mac:
- Open a Web Browser on your Mac and go to Soundflower Website.
- Find out Soundflower and select it to open its info page.
- Select the given link to go to Github page.
- Download Soundflower Extension and Install the same on your Mac.
After the Soundflower Extension is installed, you need to change the Sound Output Settings on Mac. Go to Preferences>Sound>Output. Now select “Soundflower (2ch)” as Sound Output Device. Please note that you cannot listen to any song playing on Mac after changing the sound output settings. Your Mac Speakers will not create any sound as the sound output device is changed.
Part II – Use QuickTime Player or Audacity App to Record Internal Audio on Mac
After you have changed the Sound Output Settings, you are ready for internal audio recording on Mac. It is advisable to “Turn Off Sound Effects” to avoid any disturbance in audio recording. You can do it from Preferences>Sound>Sound Effects. You can do internal audio recording with QuickTime Player or Audacity as you like.
QuickTime Player is a built-in app on Mac and Audacity is a free open source app you need to download. You should download and install the app you want to record an audio with and follow the steps given below:
Steps to Record Internal Audio on Mac with QuickTime Player:
- Launch QuickTime Player App on your Mac.
- Select File Menu and click on the tab “New Audio Recording” to begin.
- Now the Audio Recording Window will open on your screen.
- Select the ▼ symbol to open audio recording options.
- Choose “Soundflower (2ch)” as Microphone i.e. Input.
- Now play the video or audio sound on Mac and hit the Red Record button to start recording.
- Press the same red button when the recording is complete.
Steps to Record Internal Audio on Mac with Audacity App:
- Launch Audacity App on your Mac.
- Now go to “Audacity Preferences” and select “Devices” tab.
- Navigate to Recording and again select Device option.
- Choose “Soundflower (2ch)” as the Recording Device.
- Return to Main Page of Audacity and ‘Turn On Monitoring’ option given at top right.
- Decrease the Microphone Level to Zero by moving it left side.
- Now play the video or audio sound on Mac and click on Red Record button to start recording.
- Finally click on Brown Square button when the recording is done.
After recording internal audio, you need to change the Sound Output Settings as well as in QuickTime Player or Audacity. Thereafter, you can listen to the internal audio recorded and edit it to make it better.
Final Words:
All the information given above about How to Record Audio on Mac is true and fair. The methods provided for recording audio on Mac are tested by our expert team. In case you have more queries regarding External and Internal Audio Recording on Mac, kindly contact Apple Helpline at 1-800-MY-APPLE (800-692-7753) or visit Apple Support Website at support.apple.com.