When i screen record, Why can't i also record the System Audio too ?

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."

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.

then, 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…….

Aha! Progress. I'm actually getting the audio now. Grrr. But Quicktime is getting the audio from the EXTERNAL speakers, along with the computer fans and a general rumble from the location. This is how I've got it set up (see attached images). Perhaps I'm clicking one too many things? Maybe you could take a peak and see if I'm doing something wrong?

so in your recording controls, (command-shift-5) have you selected "blackhole 2ch" as the microphone?

if not, that is why you are still picking up ambient noises.

and, are you trying to record the mac's audio as well as your voice from a mic? that is what an "aggregate device" is used for. and it is there that it can get tricky. but all the steps are laid out above. and if you do need an aggregate device, you should use headphones, and NOT the MacBook speakers.

codenameGRS Said:

"When i screen record, Why can't i also record the System Audio too ?: I want to be able to also record/ integrate the audio from youtube videos that i'm watcing or even the audio of music files that i have on my Mac, into my Screen Recording sessions.[...]"

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Audio from Screen Recordings:

Apple does not permit this. It's a matter of piracy. This is something you would have agreed to, upon opening an Apple Account. My only other thought would be to use a Virtual Machine.

sorry, I should have read your question a little closer.

while it is possible using the steps I have provided, most YouTube content is copyrighted. so recording a lot of YouTube content would be illegal. please do your homework first so you don't land in legal jeopardy. and you could face civil penalties as well.

Dear jeffreythefrog,

I think I came across your post years ago. Back when I first saw this I couldn't make it work because there was no Built-in Output option on my MacBook Pro. I assumed Apple had changed something in the MacBook Pro's and so I abandoned trying to get a decent sound. Back then it didn't matter.

I'm needing to record Zoom & Jitsi & Team meetings on a project I'm filming in 4K. I need quality. I go to follow your instructions ... and my MacBook Pro (2 computers later) still has no Built-in Output option. I haven't been able to make this work at all. Just not getting audio... unless I use the laptop speakers, which is a pain as the laptop fans are often howling as the processors do their job.

Just wondering if in fact your proposed system doesn't in fact work with later MacBook Pro's because Apple dropped the Built-in Output? Or if you've come across a new way to do it?

All ears, Ben

Ben Low wrote:

Back when I first saw this I couldn't make it work because there was no Built-in Output option on my MacBook Pro. ...

... and my MacBook Pro (2 computers later) still has no Built-in Output option.

so in your case, and with some Macs, they are called "MacBook speakers" instead of "built-in output". are you saying that you have nothing in your MIDI setup that is your macbook's output? (be it called "output" or "speakers" or whatever else?)

Just wondering if in fact your proposed system doesn't in fact work with later MacBook Pro's because Apple dropped the Built-in Output? Or if you've come across a new way to do it?

no, the method has not changed. try selecting your speakers, no matter how ever they are named, as well as blackhole in your multi output device.

Hi Jeffreythefrog,

I was thinking that the 'MacBook Pro Speakers' would mean that somehow the external laptop mic would be picking up the sound from the 'external' speakers, meaning picking up my fans and whatever else was going on in the room. But maybe that's what BlackHole is about.

I will try that right now, and report back results. Thank you j-the-frog!

Ben Low wrote:

I'm needing to record Zoom & Jitsi & Team meetings on a project I'm filming in 4K.

All ears, Ben

Both Zoom and Teams Meetings have a built in option to record the meetings. I believe the host of the meeting has to agree to this. When this is done, the recording can be downloaded as a video file with sound, after the meeting concludes. I don't know about Jitsi however.

I realize that you want to record these sessions yourself, internal to your Mac, but these meetings do have a built in option to do that and all it takes it clicking on a button.

I'll check this out steve626. I've been aware of the possibility. But I'm thinking I checked it out a couple of years ago and there was no control over the resolution or codec of the movie that Zoom et al were making. With Quicktime I can choose the resolution.

But you're right, I should check it out. Things change so quickly. I will check it out and report back.

B

Hi steve626,

I checked it out. It seems that Zoom and the others are basically lower resolution ... I'm wanting this for a 4K film I'm making, and the lower resolution HD won't cut it. With Quicktime I can record in higher resolution... if I can sort out the audio issues.

I'm going to try what jeffreythefrog is suggesting ... and will report back.

B

Thank you jeffreythefrog, I'll experiment and report back.