Trying to record system audio

I have followed these instructions and an unable to record both system sound and a microphone input at the same time:

• Made Multi-Output Device. Included MacBook Pro Speakers, BlackHole 2ch, and mic.
• Chose BlackHole 2ch as recording device in software.
• System audio records loud and clear, but my input device is not captured.

I've tried:

• With my simple mic on my iPhone headphones plugged in, or my mixer with podcast mic.
• On Hindenberg, Audacity, and Quicktime.
• Restarting my computer, uninstalling BlackHole 2ch, trying BlackHole 16ch, and re-installing BlackHole 2ch.

Any ideas?

to record the mac's internal sound with quicktime you need additional software. i use the free BlackHole Virtual Audio Driver. then you can choose "BlackHole 2ch" in the recording options instead of "Built-in Microphone."

or for an audio recording, choose "BlackHole 2ch" in the audio recording controls.

you will also need to set up a multi-output device in your audio MIDI setup utility to be able to both hear and record the internal audio at the same time.

to set up a multi-output device:

Open Audio MIDI Setup: (found in /Applications/Utilities)

hit the '+' button in the bottom left corner and select "Create Multi Output Device"

then in the panel that appears on the right, in the Multi-Output Device tab, select "Built-in Output" AND "BlackHole 2ch". (and, if you want, any of your other connected devices.)

once you do that, (and BEFORE recording) you can choose "BlackHole 2ch" or "Multi-Output Device" in your menubar "sound options". 

to both hear the speakers and record the audio at the same time, choose "Multi-Output Device". before choosing multi-out, set the internal speakers' volume to a comfortable level first. you cannot control the volume once you are in multi-out mode.

I didn't originally include that as the OP didn't ask for that.

recording your mic involves the above steps to record the internal audio as well as additional steps to record the mic.

if you want to record the internal audio as well as your microphone, it's slightly different. you need to set up an “Aggregate Device”

to set up an Aggregate Device:

Open Audio MIDI Setup: (found in /Applications/Utilities)

hit the '+' button in the bottom left corner and select “Create Aggregate Device”

then in the panel that appears on the right, in the Aggregate Device tab, select “BlackHole 2ch” AND “Built-in Microphone”

then when you choose the recording options, select “Aggregate Device”.

once you do that, (and BEFORE recording) choose “Multi-Output Device" in your menubar "sound options".

*** you will also need to adjust your MIDI settings depending on which input / output methods (microphone / sound output) that you want to use.

*** for best results when using the aggregate device, you should use headphones to hear the mac's audio. if you use your speakers to hear the audio, then depending on the speed of your Mac and the volume of your speakers, the mic will capture the sound from the speakers a fraction of  a second later. then you will hear that from your speakers a fraction of a second later, which the microphone will capture it a fraction of a second later, which you will hear from your speakers…….

Thank you for the quick reply. When you mentioned the Aggregate Device, I thought that would be the solution, but it turned out not to be so.

I've created an Aggregate Device. To reduce factors I disconnected my mic and mixer, selecting only BlackHole 2ch and MacBook Pro Speakers.

I choose Aggregate Device from my sound menu.

And on QuickTime when setting up to record a screencast.

I ended up with no audio at all in my recording – neither from my system sound nor my internal microphone.

Did I miss something?

vangolfer wrote:

I've created an Aggregate Device. To reduce factors I disconnected my mic and mixer, selecting only BlackHole 2ch and MacBook Pro Speakers.

the issue there is that the aggregate device is an INPUT device. you need to remove "built in speakers" and only include BH 2ch AND your specific mic.

I choose Aggregate Device from my sound menu.

you need to select your "multi output device" in the menubar sound options.

and I didn't see "multi out" in your options. have you removed it for trouble shooting or something?

And on QuickTime when setting up to record a screencast.

you should not choose "QTP" as your save to location.

I ended up with no audio at all in my recording – neither from my system sound nor my internal microphone.

that is because you didn't choose "multi-out" in your menubar sound options. in your above images, you had "aggregate device" selected.

Christopher Davis2 wrote:

Thank you so so very much for the detailed reply.

you're very welcome. :)

I have done all that now except one part I don't have on my machine, the "Built-In Output" checkbox. Is that critical? Why don't I have it?

actually you do have it. but in your case it's called "MacBook Pro Speakers" instead of "Built-in Output". those two "different" things are actually one in the same.

Okay, thank you again! I had deleted the Multi-Output Device because I had though the Aggregate Device was to be used in place of it. I don't have a clear mental model of what I'm doing here, but I got it to work. Looks like with my two-channel mixer any software I use has to support four channels for it to work. But it works. Thanks!

you're welcome.

you're welcome. :)