In Summary

While Quick Time Player on macOS can record contents of the screen, it cannot record internal audio of your Mac during screen recording. The default options that you get is to either record no audio or to record audio using the external mic. In this guide, we will tell you how to record internal audio on Mac. For all things related to Apple and macOS, you can visit our dedicated macOS hub.

We will tell you how to add the third option – To record internal audio of your Mac.

1. How to screen record on Mac with internal audio: Native method

The steps are pretty much straightforward, and all you need is a third-party plug-in and some modifications in sound settings, and you’re good to go. Let’s begin.

Download Soundflower from this link and install it just like any third-party app. Head over to “Audio MIDI setup” on your Mac by looking for it on spotlight search and hit the “+” sign to create an “Aggregate Device” and rename it to “Internal Input”.

Tick the checkboxes on the left for “soundflower 2ch” and “built-in microphone”.

Click the “+” sign again to create a “Multi-Output Device” and rename it to “Internal audio rec”.

Tick checkboxes on the left of “built-in output” and “soundflower 2ch”. Close the window and click on the volume icon on the status bar and select “Internal audio rec”. (Switch back to “headphones” or “speakers” once the screen recording is done) Open Quick Time Player and before you record your screen, select sound source as “Internal input” and start the recording.

Note that this method will also record audio from the external mic along with the internal audio. Once you’re done recording, click on the volume icon and change the output source back to “Internal Speakers” or “Headphones” based on what you use. You can now record the internal audio on your Mac without the need for third-party screen recording software.

2. Screen Record Mac with Internal Audio using BlackHole

There is a good alternative for Soundflower, which helps you record internal audio on Mac while recording the screen. It’s called Blackhole. It is being actively updated and works with macOS Mojave. The procedure to install and use BlackHole is pretty much the same as Soundflower that we have described above. Download BlackHole from this link. You’d need to register before you get the download link. Follow the steps mentioned above to complete the installation. After creating a Multi-Output Device, you will see “BlackHole 2ch” under the Audio Device options. Check the “Use” and “Drift Correction” boxes next to it. Start a new recording in QuickTime Player. Select “BlackHole 2ch” as your microphone device to record internal audio from your Mac.

3. Record MacBook screen with internal audio using Screenflick

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty by using the native method and instead want to have a third-party app do the heavy lifting for you, then you can consider using Screenflick.

Screenflick is easily one of the best apps to record screen on Mac with internal audio.

To start with, download Screenflick from this link. Then, provide appropriate permissions it asks for and install the app. Open Screenflick and select “Record System Audio”. Next, Screenflick will ask you to install the Screenflick Loopback Plugin. Press Install to proceed. Immediately after installing Screenflick, the Mac system will need to be restarted. Make sure all your work is saved before restarting your Mac.

4. Use Chrome Extension to Screen Record with Internal Audio on Mac

If you are someone who needs to screen record within a web browser, you don’t have to worry about any of the above methods and instead use a simple Chrome extension to screen record with internal audio. While there are many Chrome extensions for this, the one we recommend is Screen Recorder.

It has been around for a long time and is extremely popular and, more importantly, free to use with unlimited recording. Of course, it records internal audio when you record your Mac screen but be aware that it exports the video file in ‘.webm’ format only. So you might have to convert it to mp4 or other popular video codecs if you plan to edit the video on FCPX or other video editors.

Screen Record Mac with Internal Audio: Conclusion

We recommend using either Sunflower or BlackHole extension if you are comfortable with macOS since QuickTime is quite good for screen recording. However, if you are looking for something simpler, then you can use Screenflick to record internal audio on Mac.

Using Soundflower for QuickTime Using BlackHole for QuickTime Using Screenflick app Using Sound Recorder Chrome extension.

  • Make sure that your microphone is turned on and that it is set as the default input device.
  • Check the sound levels in your System Preferences and make sure that the recording level is not set to zero.
  • Make sure that you are not recording in stereo mode. Try recording in mono mode instead.