How to Screen Record on Mac With Audio
Screen record on Mac with microphone and system audio. Compare current Screenshot options, OBS, BlackHole, and ScreenBuddy, then test your audio sources.
Quick answer
To record a Mac screen with audio, choose microphone narration, computer sound, or both, then test the saved recording. Apple’s Screenshot app includes system-audio recording from macOS 27; OBS documents desktop audio on macOS 13 or later. ScreenBuddy combines supported audio capture with a local screen-recording editor on Mac and Windows.
Best for
- Mac tutorials with narration or application sound
- Checking an audio path before a lesson or meeting capture
Not the best fit for
- Assuming microphone selection also captures system sound
- Promising every application or protected stream can be recorded
Separate microphone from system sound
Microphone audio is your voice or nearby sound. System audio is produced by applications. Decide which is necessary and disable unrelated notification sounds. Use headphones to reduce feedback and accidental re-recording of speaker audio.
Check the built-in recorder’s version-specific options
Open Shift-Command-5, select the capture mode, and inspect Options. Choose a microphone for narration. Apple documents Include System Audio on macOS 27 or later. If your machine runs an earlier version, choose another supported audio path rather than expecting the option to appear.
Use OBS for configurable Mac audio capture
OBS documents desktop or application audio through its macOS capture sources on macOS 13 or later. Select the appropriate source and confirm activity in the audio mixer. Older systems may need audio-routing software, which requires its own configuration and testing.
Check ScreenBuddy’s selected inputs
Choose microphone narration and system audio deliberately, then record a short sample in the exact application. Play it back through headphones. An enabled toggle is not proof of a captured track: audio availability depends on the platform, capture path, permissions, and device. ScreenBuddy warns when requested system audio is unavailable and can continue recording without it.
Listen to the actual sample
Trigger a representative app sound, speak at the intended level, then play back the recording. Check both sources, echo, distortion, sync, and silence during app transitions. Repeat the test after changing a headset, audio device, or operating-system permission.
Edit the explanation after capture
Trim setup and long waits, use a pen sketch to identify a control, and adjust zoom timing. The current ScreenBuddy recording flow does not include live drawing; timed drawing annotations belong in the editor.
Caption narration
ScreenBuddy can generate and edit captions locally. The bundled model is for English; the multilingual model requires a first-use download. Review names, technical terms, and cue timing. Export a subtitle sidecar when your destination accepts SRT or VTT, and check the captions again after trimming.
Export with audio intact
Export MP4 for a video with audio or GIF for a short silent loop. Open the delivered file outside the editor and check its beginning, important actions, ending, text readability, and audio. Keep the source media and editable project when the procedure may change.
Frequently asked questions
Can Screenshot record system audio?
Apple documents Include System Audio from macOS 27. Microphone recording is a separate option; available controls depend on the installed macOS version.
Does ScreenBuddy always capture both audio sources?
No universal guarantee applies. Select the intended inputs and test the file. A missing requested system-audio track can produce a warning while video recording continues.
Why should I use headphones?
They reduce app audio leaking from speakers into the microphone and help you hear distortion or echo when reviewing the sample.
Make your screen recording easier to follow.
Record, refine, and share from one app. Automatic zoom, cursor effects, and captions help make every step clear. Record, edit and export free with a watermark. Buy Lifetime once to remove it and share links.