Mac is a powerful operating system used by millions of people all around the world. One of the fundamental things that make Mac stands out is the ability to record videos and save them in various formats. If you are an avid Mac user, then you might have already used the Screen Recording feature that is available in the QuickTime Player. However, one of the biggest challenges that users face when recording videos is how to include sound on the screen recording. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best methods to include sound on the screen recording in Mac.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of How to Include Sound on Screen Recording Mac
Recording videos on a Mac is not a difficult task, and the in-built QuickTime Player does a great job in that. However, the biggest challenge that most users face is how to include sound on the screen recording. When you record a video with the QuickTime Player, it only records the visuals of the screen, unless the microphone is turned on. Therefore, if you want to include background music or sound from the websites or apps you are using during the recording, you need to follow some specific steps and use some third-party software to do so.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before you start recording a video with sound on Mac, there are a few things that you need to prepare. Firstly, you need to ensure that your Mac has a microphone, which is turned on, and enabled in the input settings. You can check this by going to System Preferences > Sound > Input. Secondly, you need to prepare the external audio source that needs to be recorded alongside the video. This could be background music or sound from a website or app that you want to record.
Method 1: QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player is a built-in feature in Mac that can be used to record videos. Using this method, you can easily record a video with sound and in a few steps.
Here is how to record a video with sound using QuickTime Player:
Step 1: Open QuickTime Player. You can find this application by searching QuickTime Player in the spotlight or from the applications folder.
Step 2: Once you open QuickTime Player, click on File > New Screen Recording.
Step 3: This will open the screen recording window, where you can customize the recording settings.
Step 4: To record audio, click on the small arrow on the right side of the Record button, and select the microphone you would like to use. You can select either internal microphone or external microphone as per your requirement.
Step 5: Once you have selected the audio source, click on the Record button.
Step 6: Now, start recording your video along with the external audio source you had prepared earlier.
Step 7: To stop recording, click on the Stop button in the menu bar.
Pros:
-Quick and easy method
-Fully integrated with Apple’s ecosystem
Cons:
-Cannot record sound generated by the system (system audio)
Method 2: Soundflower
Soundflower is a third-party application that can be used to record system audio. With this method, you can easily record videos that have sound from the system and other audio sources.
Here is how to record videos with sound using Soundflower:
Step 1: Go to https://github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower/releases to download and install Soundflower.
Step 2: Once you have installed Soundflower, open your sound settings by going to System Preferences > Sound > Input.
Step 3: In the Input tab, select Soundflower (2ch) as the input device.
Step 4: Open QuickTime Player and start a new recording by clicking on File > New Screen Recording.
Step 5: Click on the small arrow on the right side of the Record button, and select Soundflower (2ch) as the microphone input.
Step 6: Now, start recording your video with system audio.
Step 7: To stop recording, click on the Stop button in the menu bar.
Pros:
-Can record both system audio and external audio sources
-Available for download for free
Cons:
-Users may have challenges installing the application
Method 3: Audacity
Audacity is a popular third-party audio editing software that can also be used to record audio. With this method, you can record audio from your Mac’s internal or external microphone and then add it to the video later.
Here is how to record audio using Audacity:
Step 1: Download and install Audacity on your Mac.
Step 2: Once you have installed Audacity, open the application and click on File > New.
Step 3: In the new project dialog box, select the audio input device by clicking on the drop-down menu under Device.
Step 4: Click on the Record button to start recording audio.
Step 5: Once you have finished recording audio, click on the Stop button to stop the recording.
Step 6: Save the file in the desired format and location.
Step 7: Finally, open QuickTime Player and start a new screen recording by clicking on File > New Screen Recording.
Step 8: After you start recording, make sure to play back the sound you recorded on Audacity, and continue to record your video with sound.
Step 9: To stop recording, click on the Stop button in the menu bar.
Pros:
-Allows video and audio to be recorded separately
-Available for download for free
Cons:
-Adds an extra step to the recording process
Method 4: iShowU Audio Capture
iShowU Audio Capture is a third-party application that can be used to record system audio on a Mac. This method is easy to use and records the system audio without the use of any complicated settings.
Here is how to record videos with sound using iShowU Audio Capture:
Step 1: Go to https://shinywhitebox.com/ishowuaudio.php to download and install iShowU Audio Capture.
Step 2: Once installed, open Audio MIDI Setup, which can be located in the Utilities folder under Applications, or by using spotlight.
Step 3: Click on the plus sign in the bottom left corner and select Create Multi-Output Device or Create Aggregate Device.
Step 4: Check the checkbox next to Built-in Output and iShowU Audio Capture.
Step 5: Open QuickTime Player and start a new screen recording by clicking on File > New Screen Recording.
Step 6: Click on the small arrow on the right side of the Record button, and select Multi-Output Device or Aggregate Device as the microphone input.
Step 7: Now, start recording your video with system audio.
Step 8: To stop recording, click on the Stop button in the menu bar.
Pros:
-Easy to use application
-Can record system audio
Cons:
-Limited functionality
Why Can’t I Hear Sound on My Screen Recording Mac?
1. The microphone on your Mac is turned off
Fix: Check your sound settings and ensure that the microphone is turned on.
2. The microphone selected is wrong
Fix: Check your input settings and select the right microphone.
3. The audio source is not playing
Fix: Ensure that the audio source is playing when you start recording.
Additional Tips
1. Use a good quality microphone to get the best sound quality in your recordings.
2. Close all unnecessary applications and windows while recording to minimize background noise.
3. Use headphones to monitor the sound quality during the recording process.
5 FAQs about How to Include Sound on Screen Recording Mac
Q1: Can I record sound while recording the screen on Mac?
A: Yes, you can record sound while recording the screen on Mac using QuickTime Player or third-party software like Soundflower.
Q2: How to fix the audio delay issue on my screen recording?
A: You can fix the audio delay issue by adjusting the audio offset setting in your video editing software by moving the audio track to match the video.
Q3: Can I use external speakers instead of a microphone?
A: No, external speakers cannot be used instead of a microphone. You need to connect a microphone to capture sound.
Q4: Will the quality of the sound be impacted if I record it while recording the screen?
A: The quality of the sound depends on the quality of the microphone you use and the environment you are recording in.
Q5: Can I record multiple audio sources at once?
A: Yes, you can record multiple audio sources at once using third-party software like iShowU Audio Capture.
In Conclusion
Recording a video with sound on Mac can seem like a daunting task, but it is not impossible. There are multiple methods that you can use to include sound in your recording. QuickTime Player is the built-in application that will work for most users. However, if you want to record system audio, then you need to use third-party applications like Soundflower and iShowU Audio Capture. With these methods, you can easily add sound to your screen recording and create high-quality videos.