The simplest way to record audio on a Mac

The fastest way to record audio on a Mac is to use the Voice Memos app, which comes built in. Open Voice Memos from your Applications folder or Spotlight search, tap the red record button, and your Mac begins capturing sound from the microphone. When you finish, tap stop, and the file saves automatically. Voice Memos works for quick recordings — a voice note, a phone conversation you want to remember, a lecture — but it saves files in a compressed format that some other programs won't read.

If you need more control or a format that works everywhere, QuickTime Player (also built in) records audio with better quality. Open QuickTime, go to File > New Audio Recording, and click the red circle to start. The file saves as an M4A file, which most devices and programs recognize. QuickTime gives you a volume meter so you can see whether the microphone is picking up sound at the right level before you record.

Both apps record from your Mac's built-in microphone by default. If you have an external microphone plugged in, your Mac automatically switches to it. You can check which microphone is active by opening System Settings > Sound and looking at the "Input" section.

Key Takeaways

  • Voice Memos is the fastest option for quick recordings and saves files automatically, but the compressed format may not work in all programs.
  • QuickTime Player gives you a volume meter and saves in M4A format, which works with almost every device and program.
  • Both apps use your Mac's built-in microphone unless you plug in an external one, which your Mac detects automatically.
  • For podcast or music recording, third-party apps like Audacity (free) or Adobe Audition (paid) offer more editing tools and format choices.
  • Audio files take up much less storage than video, so recording long conversations or lectures is practical even on a Mac with limited space.

Recording from specific apps or websites

If you want to record audio from another program — a Zoom call, a YouTube video, a Spotify song — your Mac's built-in microphone won't capture it. Instead, you need software that records the audio your Mac is already playing internally. Audacity, a free program, can do this. read it from audacityteam.org, install it, and go to Transport > Transport Options > Software Playthrough to enable recording from your system audio. Then open the app you want to record from, press record in Audacity, and play the audio.

Some programs block this kind of recording for copyright reasons. Spotify, for example, prevents Audacity from capturing its audio. If you run into a block, you may need a paid app like Capo or ScreenFlow, which record both what you see and what you hear. These cost money but work around most restrictions.

For Zoom calls specifically, Zoom has a built-in record button. During a call, click Record in the controls at the bottom, and Zoom saves the audio (and video, if you want) to your Mac automatically. The file appears in a folder called Zoom on your desktop after the call ends.

Choosing a file format and where to save

When you record audio on a Mac, the app chooses a format automatically. Voice Memos uses M4A, QuickTime uses M4A, and Audacity defaults to WAV. These formats matter if you plan to edit the file later or share it with someone using a different device.

M4A is compressed, meaning the file is smaller and takes up less space, but some older programs or devices won't open it. WAV is uncompressed and larger, but every computer and phone recognizes it. MP3 is compressed like M4A but even more widely supported. If you record in Audacity and want to save as MP3, go to File > Export > Export as MP3, and Audacity converts the file for you.

By default, Voice Memos saves to the Voice Memos app itself, QuickTime saves to your Downloads folder, and Audacity saves wherever you tell it to. If you record something important, move it to a folder you check regularly or back it up to cloud storage like iCloud Drive or Google Drive. Audio files are small — a one-hour recording is usually 50 to 100 megabytes — so storage is rarely a problem.

Improving recording quality

The quality of your recording depends on three things: the microphone, the environment, and the app settings. Your Mac's built-in microphone is adequate for voice notes and phone calls but picks up background noise easily. If you record in a quiet room with the microphone pointed toward your mouth, the quality improves noticeably.

An external microphone makes the biggest difference. A USB microphone like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica AT2020USB costs between $50 and $150 and plugs directly into your Mac. When you plug it in, your Mac recognizes it automatically, and you can select it in System Settings > Sound > Input. Wireless earbuds with a built-in microphone also work and are cheaper, though the sound quality is lower.

In Audacity, you can improve quality after recording by removing background noise. Go to Effect > Noise Reduction, select a section of the recording that contains only background noise (no voice), and click Get Noise Profile. Then select the whole recording and click Reduce Noise. This removes constant hum or hiss but won't eliminate sudden sounds like traffic or keyboard typing.

Recording multiple sources at once

If you want to record both your voice and another person's voice during a call, or record a microphone and a musical instrument at the same time, you need an app that handles multiple audio inputs. Audacity can do this if you have multiple microphones or audio devices plugged in. Open Audacity, go to Tracks > New > Stereo Track, and set each track to record from a different input device.

For podcasts with a guest calling in, Riverside.fm or SquadCast are online tools that record each person's audio separately, so you can edit them independently later. These services cost money but are designed specifically for podcast recording and make editing much easier than mixing everything together in Audacity.

If you're recording music, GarageBand (free, comes with your Mac) lets you record multiple instruments or vocal tracks one at a time or simultaneously if you have multiple microphones. Open GarageBand, create a new project, and add a new track for each instrument or voice you want to record.

Troubleshooting common recording problems

If your Mac isn't picking up sound, check System Settings > Sound > Input and make sure the correct microphone is selected. If you plugged in an external microphone and it's not showing up, unplug it, wait five seconds, and plug it back in. Your Mac should detect it automatically. If it still doesn't appear, restart your Mac.

If the recording is too quiet, open the app you're using and look for a volume or input level slider. In QuickTime, you can see the volume meter before you record and adjust the microphone level. In Audacity, go to Transport > Transport Options and look for Microphone Volume. Raise it before you record. If the recording is too loud and distorted, lower the microphone volume in the same places.

If Audacity won't record system audio (audio from another app), go to Audacity > Preferences > Devices and check that "Software Playthrough" is enabled. On newer Macs running Monterey or later, you may need to install a plugin called BlackHole to route system audio into Audacity. BlackHole is free and available at github.com/ExistentialAudio/BlackHole.

Free and paid apps for different recording needs

For straightforward voice notes, Voice Memos is all you need and costs nothing. For better quality and more control, QuickTime is also free. If you want to edit audio — trim sections, adjust volume, remove background noise — Audacity is free and works well for basic editing. It has a learning curve, but tutorials are available on YouTube.

If you record podcasts or music regularly, paid apps offer faster workflows. Adobe Audition ($22.49 per month) is professional-grade and handles complex projects. Logic Pro ($199 one-time purchase) is Apple's music production software and comes with thousands of sounds and instruments. Descript ($12 to $24 per month) records audio and automatically transcribes it, so you can edit by reading and deleting text instead of moving audio waveforms around.

For recording calls or meetings, Otter.ai ($10 to $30 per month) records and transcribes automatically. Riverside.fm ($15 to $99 per month depending on features) records high-quality audio from multiple people on a call and stores each person's audio separately, which is useful for podcasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a phone call on my Mac?

If the call is through an app like Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype, yes — use Audacity or the app's built-in record button. If it's a traditional phone call through your phone carrier, you cannot record it on your Mac because the audio doesn't pass through your computer. You would need to record on your phone instead.

What's the difference between M4A and MP3?

Both are compressed formats that take up less space than WAV. M4A is Apple's format and works on all Apple devices and most others. MP3 is older and works on every device and program ever made. For sharing with others, MP3 is safer. For keeping files on your Mac or iPhone, M4A is fine.

How much storage does a one-hour audio recording use?

A one-hour recording in M4A or MP3 format uses roughly 50 to 100 megabytes, depending on the quality. WAV files are larger — about 600 megabytes per hour. Unless you record dozens of hours, storage won't be a problem on a modern Mac.

Do I need permission to record someone?

Laws vary by location. In some places, you need permission from everyone in the conversation. In others, you only need permission from yourself. Before recording a call or conversation with another person, check the laws in your state or country, or ask the other person first.

Why does my recording sound muffled?

The microphone is too far from the sound source, or something is blocking it. Move closer to the microphone or remove any objects between you and it. If you're using an external microphone, make sure it's plugged in firmly and selected in System Settings > Sound > Input.