What screen capture with audio actually means

Screen capture with audio means recording both what happens on your screen and the sound that goes with it — your voice, system sounds, music, or video audio — all in one file. Most screen recording tools can do this, but you have to turn the audio recording on before you start, and you need to tell the tool which sound source to capture.

The confusion usually comes from the fact that audio recording is a separate choice from video recording. You can record your screen without any sound, or you can record sound without recording your screen. When you want both, you are making two separate decisions at the same time.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen recording tools have audio turned off by default, so you must manually enable it before you start recording.
  • You need to choose which audio source to record — your microphone, system audio (what your computer is playing), or both.
  • Windows and Mac both have built-in screen recording tools that include audio, so you may not need to read anything.
  • Test your audio levels and microphone before you record anything important, because fixing bad audio after the fact is much harder than getting it right the first time.

Recording screen and microphone audio on Windows

Windows 10 and later have a built-in tool called Xbox Game Bar that records both screen and microphone. Open the app or game you want to record, then press Windows key + G together. A small menu appears in the corner of your screen.

Look for the microphone icon in that menu — it should show whether your microphone is on or off. Click it to turn your microphone on. Then click the red record button (or press Windows key + Alt + R) to start recording. Everything you say and everything on your screen will be captured. Press the same key combination again to stop.

The file saves automatically to your Videos folder in a subfolder called Captures. If you do not see the Game Bar menu, your system audio settings may be blocking it — check that your microphone is not muted in your system volume settings first.

Recording screen and microphone audio on Mac

Mac has a built-in tool called Screenshot that also records video and audio. Press Shift + Command + 5 together. A menu bar appears at the bottom of your screen with several options.

Click the button that looks like a camera with a dot inside it — that is the video recording option. Before you record, look at the Options menu that appears. You will see a dropdown for "Microphone" — click it and choose your microphone from the list. Then click Record, and your screen and voice will be captured together.

When you are done, click the Stop button in the menu bar (or press Control + Command + Escape). A thumbnail appears in the corner of your screen — click it to save the file, or it will delete automatically after a few seconds.

Choosing between microphone and system audio

Most screen recording situations need one or the other, not both. Microphone audio is what you are saying — use this when you are narrating a tutorial, recording a presentation, or explaining something. System audio is what your computer is playing — use this when you are recording a video, a song, a game, or anything else that makes sound on its own.

Some tools let you record both at once, but that usually creates a mess — your voice and the background sound compete with each other, and you cannot adjust them separately after recording. If you need both, record them separately and combine them later using free tools like Audacity or DaVinci Resolve.

Check your recording tool's settings before you start. Windows Game Bar records microphone by default and system audio only if you change the setting. Mac Screenshot records microphone by default. If you need system audio on Mac, you will need a third-party tool like ScreenFlow or OBS (both free).

Testing audio before you record

Bad audio ruins a recording much faster than bad video does. Before you record anything that matters, do a short test. Record 10 seconds of yourself speaking or of the sound you want to capture. Play it back and listen for these problems: Is your voice too quiet? Is there a hum or buzz in the background? Can you hear keyboard clicks or mouse movement?

If your voice is too quiet, move your microphone closer or check your microphone volume in your system settings. If there is background noise, move away from fans, air conditioning, or open windows. If you hear keyboard clicks, you may need to record in a quieter moment or accept that some background sound is normal.

Most people record their first take, listen to it, and realize the audio is unusable. A 10-second test takes 30 seconds and saves you from recording 10 minutes of garbage.

Common audio problems and how to fix them

If your recording has no sound at all, the most common cause is that you forgot to turn audio on before you started. Check your tool's settings — some tools have audio disabled by default. If audio is turned on but you still hear nothing, check that your microphone or speaker is not muted in your system volume settings.

If the audio is very quiet, your microphone volume is too low. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and choose "Open Volume mixer" — find your microphone and drag its slider up. On Mac, go to System Settings, then Sound, then Input, and drag the input volume slider to the right. Test again before you record.

If you hear a loud hum or buzz, you are probably picking up electrical interference. Move your microphone away from your computer, monitor, or power cables. If the buzz continues, your microphone may be plugged into a port that shares power with something else — try a different USB port.

Recording system audio without a microphone

If you want to record what your computer is playing — a video, music, or game audio — without your voice, you need system audio, not microphone audio. Windows Game Bar does not record system audio by default, so you will need a different tool. OBS Studio (free, works on Windows and Mac) records system audio easily: open it, click the plus sign next to Audio Input Capture, choose your system audio source, and record.

On Mac, the built-in Screenshot tool does not record system audio at all — you will need ScreenFlow or OBS. Both are free and both let you choose system audio from a dropdown menu before you record.

System audio recording is legal for your own use, but check the terms of service of any streaming platform if you plan to upload the recording. Some platforms have rules about what audio you can include.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen and microphone at the same time as someone else's voice on a video call?

Yes, but it depends on your tool. Most screen recorders capture your microphone and system audio together, so if you are on a Zoom call or Teams meeting, the other person's voice will be in the recording. Test this with a short recording first — some tools only capture your microphone and miss the incoming audio from the call.

Why does my recording have my voice but no background music?

Your tool is probably set to record microphone only, not system audio. Check your recording settings before you start and switch to system audio or both if your tool offers that option. On some tools, you have to choose one or the other, not both.

Can I adjust the volume of my microphone after I record?

Yes, but it is limited. If your voice is too quiet, you can raise the volume in a video editor like DaVinci Resolve or Audacity, but raising quiet audio also raises background noise. If your voice is too loud and distorted, there is no good fix — you have to re-record. This is why testing before you record matters.

What if my microphone is not showing up in my recording tool?

Check that your microphone is plugged in and not muted in your system settings. On Windows, go to Settings, Sound, and make sure your microphone is listed under Input devices. On Mac, go to System Settings, Sound, Input, and check that your microphone is selected. If it still does not appear in your recording tool, restart the tool and try again.

Do I need to read a tool or can I use what came with my computer?

Windows and Mac both have free built-in tools that record screen and microphone audio. Windows Game Bar and Mac Screenshot are enough for most people. You only need to read something like OBS or ScreenFlow if you need features the built-in tools do not have, like recording system audio on Mac or more control over video quality.