Best way to record audio on mac

You might want to record sound on a Mac for many reasons: from documenting your thoughts to creating music to live streaming. Although the uses for a Mac as an audio recording device are as numerous as they are varied, the built-in tools at your disposal are scarce: Voice Memos and QuickTime Player.

Of course, you can record audio on a Mac using a third-party utility, but that’s the subject of another article. Here, we will focus on voice recording with your Mac’s native tools.

How to record audio on a Mac using Voice Memos

The Voice Memos app allows you to record voices on a Mac using the built-in mic, a headset, or an external microphone. The subsequent M4A file can then be synchronized across your Apple devices.

Here’s how to use Voice Memos:

1. In the Applications folder, open Voice Memos
2. When prompted, enable or disable iCloud syncing
3. To start creating an audio file, click the Record button
4. During the recording process, you have the options to pause or continue recording using the Pause button
5. To complete the recording, click the Done button in the bottom-right corner

That’s it. You’ve just created a voice recording on a Mac. Click the Trash icon to delete the file or the Share icon to spread your message.

How to record audio on a Mac using QuickTime Player

Designed for playing and editing video, QuickTime Player also allows you to record audio. It can be done using the built-in mic or an external headset.

Follow these steps to record audio with QuickTime Player:

1. In the Applications folder, open QuickTime Player
2. In the File menu at the top of your screen, select New Audio Recording
3. Select the arrow next to the Record button to configure the audio. Choose the microphone that will be used and the recording quality
4. Click the Record/Stop button to start recording. If necessary, control the sound in the process using the volume sliders
5. To stop recording, click the Record/Stop button again

Now you know how to record voices on a Mac.

Let’s see how to edit your audio:

1. Click the Pause button to stop the recording
2. In the Edit menu at the top of your screen, select an editing option. For example, Trim
3. Drag the yellow sliders to select the part of the recording you want to leave
4. Click Trim to cut the recording
5. In the File section at the top of your screen, select Save to save your recording in M4A audio format

Summary

To record voices on a Mac, use its native apps: Voice Memos and QuickTime Player. Both apps work perfectly well with the Mac’s built-in microphone. The only thing that’s missing to start a recording is a smidgen of inspiration. Hopefully, our blog can help you with that.

Read more:

• How to Fix Sound Not Working on Your Mac
• How to Take Video on a Mac: An Ultimate Guide
• How to Choose the Best MacBook for Music Production

Written By

With over 5 years of supporting Mac users, Ruslana lives and breathes everything Mac. Tech expert, Apple lover, and well, a cutie. Say hi on LinkedIn!

With over 5 years of supporting Mac users, Ruslana lives and breathes everything Mac. Tech expert, Apple lover, and well, a cutie. Say hi on LinkedIn!

Whether you’re taking a voice lesson, interviewing your role model, or trying to send a guitar riff to a friend, it’s helpful to have a decent audio recording device.

You may not know this, but your Mac computer can serve as a type of audio engine! 

How to record sound on your Macbook with QuickTime Player:

1. Open QuickTime Player
2. Select “file” and “new audio recording”
3. Press the red “record” button
4. End recording by pressing the same button
5. Rename and save the recording to your desktop

In this article, I’m going to walk you through the various audio recording tools on your Mac. There are a couple of different resources, none inherently better than the others, and you get to choose which one you prefer.

Is it time to become serious about your music career, or YouTube channel? Then you may need a device to help out with audio recording. Even if you have a camera or smartphone, knowing how to record audio on your Mac is a great backup strategy in case one of the other options falls short.

Let’s discuss a few different ways to record audio on your Macbook.

Voice memos

You’re probably familiar with voice memos because this app exists on most apple iPhones, as well. To access it on your Mac, open the launchpad - the button with the rocket ship symbol on it.

1. Open voice memos

You can either find the “voice memos” app by looking through the apps that pop up, or by searching for it in the search bar at the top. The icon will look as below. Select this icon to open the app.

2. Record voice memo

The voice memo app will open, providing you with a simple screen that really only features one button: the red “record” button. When you’re ready to begin, press this button. There is no confirmation screen; the recording will immediately begin.

To pause the recording, press the pause button in the lower left-hand corner. You can press “resume” to begin again. While paused, you can also press “play” to listen to what you’ve recorded so far.

3. Complete the recording

Once you’ve finished the recording, press “done” in the bottom right-hand corner. This will automatically save the recording in the app. As you can see, I now have two recordings in my library on the left-hand side of the screen.

Quicktime

You’re probably familiar with Quicktime player because it’s often the default player for any downloaded video or image. But a little-known fact is that Quicktime can also be used for audio recording.

Let’s go through the simple steps of how to use Quicktime as an audio recorder on Mac.

1. Open QuickTime

Begin by opening the QuickTime player. QuickTime is more than likely already downloaded onto your device. Simply open the launchpad (the icon with the rocket ship that sits in your quick menu), and either manually find or search for QuickTime in the search bar.

2. Select “New Audio Recording”

Once the QuickTime Player icon appears, the player is technically open. Right click the icon in the bottom of the screen and select “new audio recording.”

Another way to do this is to ensure the QuickTime Player is selected, then go to “File” at the top of your screen and select “New Audio Recording.”

3. Record audio

QuickTime will open a tiny, tiny window for audio recording. Again, the only option you have is to hit “record” via the red record button in the middle of the screen. Select this when you are ready to record.

The recording will begin immediately. Once you’re done, select the “stop” icon. There are no options to pause the recording. When you stop the recording, it will exist without a title as an m4a file. Be sure to save and edit the title so you can find it later.

Want to take it a step further? Edit your recording with audio editing software.

You learned in record time

See? That wasn’t so hard. Now you’re ready to take your Mac to your next voice lesson or jam session. Or you could just buy a handheld voice recorder, which might make traveling easier. But either way, you now know how to use your Mac as a viable recording option.

Just stay away from GarageBand unless you’re actually trying to mix your own songs and such; that app is not something I know how to walk you through!

Interested in other recording strategies? Learn how to record a podcast, plus the four things you need to make it happen.

Grace Pinegar is a lifelong storyteller with an extensive background in various forms such as acting, journalism, improv, research, and content marketing. She was raised in Texas, educated in Missouri, worked in Chicago, and is now a proud New Yorker. (she/her/hers)