How to Record Internal Audio on macOS

You want to record the audio playing on your Mac. Maybe it is a podcast episode you are a guest on and want a local copy of. Maybe it is gameplay audio for a YouTube video. Maybe you just want to capture a few seconds of a song or sound effect from a browser tab. You hit record in QuickTime Player, and all you get is silence, or your own voice from the built-in microphone.

This is one of the most common frustrations on macOS, and it has been this way for years. macOS simply does not include a way to record internal audio out of the box.

Why macOS Does Not Let You Record System Audio

Apple is very deliberate about audio privacy. On macOS, each app lives in its own sandbox and cannot tap into the audio output of another app without explicit system-level permission. This is a good thing for security. You would not want a random app silently recording your FaceTime calls or banking notifications.

But the tradeoff is that there is no built-in “record what you hear” feature like some other operating systems offer. QuickTime Player can record your screen and can capture microphone input, but it has no option for system audio. Apple’s Core Audio framework supports virtual audio devices that could bridge this gap, but Apple does not ship one by default.

So if you want to capture the audio playing inside your Mac, you need a third-party tool to create that bridge. Here are three ways to do it.

Option 1: QuickTime Player with a Virtual Audio Device

QuickTime can actually record system audio, but only if you give it a virtual audio device to record from. The idea is simple: you install a driver that creates a fake microphone, route your system audio into it, and then tell QuickTime to record from that device.

Here is the general process:

1. Install a virtual audio device driver (such as Soundshine, BlackHole, or Loopback).
2. Open System Settings > Sound and set the virtual device as your output, or use the tool’s own routing controls.
3. Open QuickTime Player and choose File > New Audio Recording.
4. Click the dropdown arrow next to the record button and select the virtual audio device as the input.
5. Hit record.

The catch with some free virtual cable tools is that when you reroute your system output to the virtual device, you stop hearing audio through your speakers. You need to set up a multi-output device in Audio MIDI Setup to hear the audio and record it at the same time, which adds extra steps and can be confusing.

Option 2: OBS (Open Broadcaster Software)

OBS is a free, open-source tool built for streaming and recording. It is powerful but designed for a different audience, so the setup is heavier than most people need for simple audio capture.

1. Download and install OBS from the official site.
2. On macOS, OBS still needs a virtual audio device to capture system audio (the same limitation applies). Install one if you have not already.
3. In OBS, add an Audio Input Capture source and select the virtual audio device.
4. Set your output format. For audio-only recording, go to Settings > Output and choose a format like AAC or WAV.
5. Click Start Recording.

OBS is excellent if you are already using it for streaming or screen recording with overlays. For a quick audio capture, though, the interface can feel like overkill. And you still need that virtual audio device underneath, so OBS alone does not solve the core problem.

Option 3: Soundshine

Soundshine takes a different approach. Instead of making you reroute your system output and configure multi-output devices, it creates a virtual microphone that mirrors your system audio automatically. You keep hearing everything through your normal speakers. The virtual mic just shows up alongside your other audio inputs, ready to use.

Here is how it works:

1. Install Soundshine. A guided setup wizard handles the audio driver installation in about 30 seconds.
2. Click the Soundshine icon in your menu bar and flip the routing toggle to on.
3. Open any recording app (QuickTime, GarageBand, Audacity, Voice Memos, OBS, or anything else that lets you pick a microphone) and select Soundshine Microphone as the input.
4. Record.

That is it. Your system audio, from any app, browser, or game, flows into the virtual microphone at 48 kHz, 32-bit float stereo quality. There is no audible delay, and your speakers keep working normally through Soundshine’s passthrough.

This is especially useful if you want to capture system audio inside a video call tool like Zoom or Google Meet, not just a recording app. Since Soundshine shows up as a microphone, you can select it in any app that accepts mic input. Want to play a song for someone on a call? Flip the toggle, pick Soundshine as your mic, and they hear exactly what you hear.

Which Option Should You Pick?

It depends on what you are already working with.

If you just need a quick audio recording and do not mind a little setup, the QuickTime route with a free virtual audio driver works. Be prepared to configure a multi-output device in Audio MIDI Setup if you want to hear the audio while recording.

If you are already an OBS user and need system audio as part of a larger recording or streaming setup, adding a virtual audio source in OBS makes sense. You will still need a virtual audio driver installed.

If you want the simplest path from “I need to record system audio” to actually recording, Soundshine handles the hard parts for you. Install it, flip a switch, and pick it as your mic in whatever app you are using. No multi-output devices, no Audio MIDI Setup, no rerouting your system output.

A Note on Audio Quality

However you capture internal audio, the quality depends on the virtual audio device in the chain. Some free tools operate at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, which is fine for casual use. Soundshine routes audio at 48 kHz, 32-bit float stereo, which matches professional production standards if you need higher fidelity for podcasts, music production, or video editing.

Wrapping Up

macOS not having built-in system audio recording is a pain, but it is a solvable one. Whether you go with a manual virtual audio cable setup, OBS, or a purpose-built tool like Soundshine, the core trick is the same: you need a virtual audio device that bridges system output to an input that recording apps can see.

The difference is how much setup you want to deal with. If the answer is “as little as possible,” give Soundshine a try.