Audio Recorder For Mac

Smooth workflow is one of the reasons why Audio and Video Professionals prefer Mac to Windows. As long as you have the right apps, you wouldn’t face any glitches, per se. If you want to record audio for music production, podcasts or something else, you need the best audio recording software for Mac.

By default, Mac allows you to record audio from Mac internal mic, which is fine if you want to take quick audio notes. However, if you want professional audio quality, we recommended using a USB mic like Blue Yeti. If you want to record system audio, install Soundflower on your Mac. Most the following Mac Audio recorder allows you to change audio source. Down below, we have covered some of the best audio recording software for Mac that you can use.

Read: 10+ Best Voice Recorder Apps For iPhone

Best Audio Recording Software for Mac

Audacity, Audio Hijack, and Ocenaudio are probably your best bets out of the 6 options considered. 'Free, open source and cross-platform' is the primary reason people pick Audacity over the competition. This page is powered by a knowledgeable community that helps you make an informed decision.
This free audio recorder for Mac can record any sound your computer produces. It has both Mac and Windows version. Apowersoft Audio Recorder can also produce output files in several formats such as AAC, MP3, etc.

This article will show you top 7 streaming audio recorder for Mac and Windows and teach you the easy steps to record streaming audio on Mac (macOS High Sierra included). Desktop Products Resources.

1. QuickTime

Best for – simple audio recording

QuickTime, as you may know, is an inbuilt utility in macOS. It’s usually used for video/audio playback but it lets you record audio content as well. Just so you know, QuickTime also lets you record video using a webcam or a connected device. Now, coming to the audio recording feature of QuickTime, everything is super-easy. You have a really intuitive interface with minimal customization options.

It’ll take you a few extra clicks to start recording audio with QuickTime. First, launch the app from the Spotlight, and go to File > New Audio Recording.

For instance, QuickTime lets you change the recording source — pick between the internal microphone and the system audio (with SoundFlower). You can also change the Recording quality between High and Maximum. Once these are set, just hit the Record button. As the program records your voice, you can see the size of the recording file also. Once you’ve recorded the whole thing, you can export the file as MPEG-4 Audio file. However, there is no option to pause audio recording, you can only stop it and start a new one.

Pros

Really easy-to-use interface
Built-in macOS
Ability to record from different sources including an external Mic

Cons

Limited customization options, no option to pause recording
The interface isn’t suitable for professionals
Limited options for exporting audio

The Verdict

QuickTime is the best Mac software for casual audio recording. It gets the job done — with minimum things at stake. You don’t have to worry about complex customizations or exporting. Everything you record will be available in a single file. That having said, we would not recommend QuickTime for professionals.

QuickTime Comes Built into Mac

2. Audacity

Best for – recording voice over and editing

Sound Recorder For Mac

Audacity is a free and open source audio recording software for Mac. We use for recording audio for our YouTube channel. You have an option to choose the recording source (we use it with Blue Yeti mic), recording channel type, audio type etc. As you can see below, it does offer a wider range of control as well. But, the best part about Audacity for Mac is that it comes along with a bunch of editing tools. In fact, Audacity is a digital audio editor, first, and recorder later.

Unlike QuickTime, Audacity lets you perform basic audio editing tasks like editing. You will also find options like effects, voice generation, noise removal, and track-based management. In case you are into professional audio recording and editing, there is a wide variety of Audacity plug-ins to choose from. Another bright side is that you will be able to export the audio recording in almost any format.

The reason, why we prefer Audacity is because it’s cross-platform support (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux) Just as Photoshop save the file in PSD and have all the properties intact, you can save audacity files in AUP, which can be later open and edited from any computer that audacity installed in it.

Pros

Professional features for recording & editing
Multiple audio recording and editing options
Free, Open Source and Cross-platform

Cons

Audacity doesn’t have an intuitive interface
Takes time to get used to

The Verdict

As we said, Audacity is made for professionals. Did we say that Audacity is free to use? It’s free, open-source and cross-platform. Considering the features you get, it’s an awesome deal as well. At least, you would not have to worry about paying a huge amount for your DAW.

Check Out Audacity (Free and Open Source)

3. Simple Recorder

Best for – quick audio recording

Simple Recorder is a truly simple solution for audio recording in Mac. It doesn’t come with many bells or whistles, but it gets the job done. Unlike QuickTime and Audacity, which takes multiple mouse click to start the recording, Simple Recorder sits in the menu bar and can start the audio recording in just two clicks. Best solution when you want to take quick notes.

You can select the source of recording from the drop-down menu. It also lets you set up the volume. In just a single button, Simple Recorder would start the recording process. In the Preferences section, you can pick the recording format, Sample Rate, Channel etc. There are some Pro features like Status Icon, Shortcuts and some levels of Automation.

Pros

Quick and Easy to use
You can manage all the actions from the icon menu itself
Offers support for different sources and standard customization

Cons

Doesn’t offer basic Editing options

The Verdict

Simple Recorder is the best Mac audio recording app for the intermediate users. Unlike QuickTime, it offers a standard set of customization options. That having said, unlike Audacity, the features aren’t that suitable for professionals either. So, if you think you need somewhat control over recording, go for this.

Check Out Simple Recorder (Free, offers a Pro plan as well)

4. GarageBand

Best for – recording audio for music production

Technically speaking, GarageBand is a digital audio workstation, not a digital audio recorder (like QuickTime) or a digital audio editor (like Audacity). In simple words, if you are into recording audio for music production, GarageBand is one of the best choices in town. It’s rich with features and offers the best level of compatibility. Last but not the least, you’d not have to pay a single penny for this program.

Like Audacity, GarageBand supports MIDI recording and editing out of the box. However, unlike Audacity, GarageBand has a smaller learning curve and is more stable. Also, it’s compatible with any iOS device.

Although it’s a fully-fledged DAW, you don’t need rocket science to record audio using GarageBand. It even has a dedicated mode for Voice, where you can also select the type of voice recording. For instance, it offers different options for recording Narration Voice and Bright Voice. Just hit the Record button and you can do the exporting part later.

Pros

GarageBand is a fully-fledged audio recorder
Comes with built-in audio editing features
Well-suited for professionals

Cons

GarageBand isn’t suitable for Quick Recordings
Getting used to the interface may take some time

The Verdict

GarageBand is the recommended choice for professionals out there. If you need the best quality, control as well as performance, you should go for this built-in tool. Although the UI is simple, learning GarageBand will surely help you as an audio professional.

Check Out GarageBand (Free, Built-in in Mac)

5. Piezo

Best for – recording podcast

Piezo from Rogue Amoeba is a simple and wonderful audio recording software for podcasts. If you want to make some amazing podcast recordings with precision, you can count on Piezo. Unlike all of the tools we’ve talked about earlier, Piezo lets you record voice from popular apps like Chrome, Skype, FaceTime, Messages etc. It is one of the best features for getting precise podcasts, you know.

Settings in Piezo are very easy to manage. That having said, it lets you change the Music Quality only. Still, you don’t have to do guesswork here. Piezo has set up some quality pre-sets for music, audio, spoken word etc. By default, the recordings will be saved in MP3, which is convenient for most people. Just as you can see, the interface is a bit unconventional.

Pros

Really easy-to-use Interface
Quality Presets are useful for quick recording
Supports recording from individual apps

Cons

Could have better-exporting options

The Verdict

Piezo is the best audio recording software for doing podcasts on Mac. You can simply record your own voice or get inputs from common apps like Chrome or Skype. It is basically minimal but you have options to extend the capabilities of Piezo.

Check Out Piezo ($23, free trial available)

6. Macsome Audio Recorder

Best for – recording audio from multiple sources

Macsome Audio Recorder is one of the voice recorders that promise to do almost anything. Without bringing all the professional features, Macsome Audio Recorder lets you record audio from multiple sources such as the internal microphone, different apps on your Mac and other hardware. Unlike some other apps, however, it doesn’t offer any kind of optimization.

Despite all these features, the program has a minimal footprint to offer. Did we say mention that Macsome Audio Recorder has one of the best recording management interface as well? You can even use ID tags for organizing your recording files. We really liked how Macsome Audio Recorder works. You can add separate recording profiles for apps/hardware and start the recording process in a single click.

Pros

Simple but effective interface
Supports recording from individual apps/hardware
Super-easy management of recording profiles

Cons

The Recording screen isn’t intuitive

The Verdict

As it promises, Macsome Audio Recorder is one of the best all-in-one audio recorders for Mac. It might not have the best UI in town, but there are many productive features. When you want a tool that records podcast, music, and speech with the same efficiency, Macsome Audio Recorder would be our take.

Check Out Macsome Audio Recorder ($29.95, Free Trial available)

7. Audio Hijack

Best for – advanced video recording

We already talked about Piezo from Rogue Amoeba, right? Audio Hijack is also from the same developer but it offers advanced features and control. Inside a nice package, you will find tools for recording almost every type of audio from your Mac. You can even use Audio Hijack for scheduling recordings. It would be the best option when you’re recording audio from the web.

The best part is that Audio Hijack comes with different session templates — you have one for internet radio, DVD Audio, Application audio and Web Audio etc. When it comes to Application mode, you can pick an app from the list and start recording. You can also check out a bunch of built-in effects and filters in Audio Hijack. It also has an interesting UI that lets you manage how the recording process works. Overal Audio Hijack is one of the best audio recording software for Mac if you are looking for advanced features.

Pros

Professional Interface and Intuitive UI
In-built options for filters and sound effects
Advanced options are available

Cons

None worth noting

The Verdict

Audio Hijack is one of the very few Mac audio recording software that is worth paying for. You get a whole bunch of features like filters, effects, and top-to-bottom control. Even if you’re not into it, you can get a cool audio recording and management experience.

Check Out Audio Hijack ($59, Free Trial available)

8. AudioNote

Best for – take audio notes during lectures

AudioNote lets you combine a note-taking app and audio recording app. This is how it works: you can open AudioNote and start recording the lectures, interviews or something else. When you make notes on the screen, it will be synced with the audio. So, during the playback, you can listen to the audio as well as seeing all the notes on the screen.

There are some really cool features too. For instance, you can tap on one section of your notes to jump into the corresponding section in audio. As a note-taking software, you can bring text, shapes, annotations and a lot more things. Once you are done, you can also convert your notes to a PDF document. The best part is that you have everything in sync.

Pros

An excellent way to record and sync notes
Easy interface
iCloud integration

Cons

None worth noting

The Verdict

AudioNote is the best option for students and professionals alike. With this tool in your hand, you don’t have to worry about getting the list in the notes. You would know what the professor was talking about when you’d written something. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

Check Out AudioNote ($14.99)

Best Audio Recording Software for Mac

Well, these are the different kind of audio recording software for Mac, for different needs. For your day-to-day casual recording needs, Simple Recorder is the best option, indeed. On the other hand, if you are into the world of podcast recording, go for Audio Hijack from Rogue Amoeba. Options like GarageBand as well as Audacity are for those who need professional-quality control over the recording quality and process. Still, you can take an effort to step up the game.

Read: 4 Best Voice Recorder Apps for Android

Use Shift-Command-5

Audio Recorder For Macbook Air

If you're using macOS Mojave or later, press Shift-Command (⌘)-5 on your keyboard to see onscreen controls for recording the entire screen, recording a selected portion of the screen, or capturing a still image of your screen. You can also record the screen with QuickTime Player instead.

Record the entire screen

Click in the onscreen controls. Your pointer changes to a camera .
Click any screen to start recording that screen, or click Record in the onscreen controls.
To stop recording, click in the menu bar. Or press Command-Control-Esc (Escape).
Use the thumbnail to trim, share, save, or take other actions.

Record a selected portion of the screen

Click in the onscreen controls.
Drag to select an area of the screen to record. To move the entire selection, drag from within the selection.
To start recording, click Record in the onscreen controls.
To stop recording, click in the menu bar. Or press Command-Control-Esc (Escape).
Use the thumbnail to trim, share, save, or take other actions.

Trim, share, and save

After you stop recording, a thumbnail of the video appears briefly in the lower-right corner of your screen.

Audacity For Mac Os X

Take no action or swipe the thumbnail to the right and the recording is automatically saved.
Click the thumbnail to open the recording. You can then click to trim the recording, or click to share it.
Drag the thumbnail to move the recording to another location, such as to a document, an email, a Finder window, or the Trash.
Control-click the thumbnail for more options. For example, you can change the save location, open the recording in an app, or delete the recording without saving it.

Audio Recorder For Mac App

Change the settings

Click Options in the onscreen controls to change these settings:

Save to: Choose where your recordings are automatically saved, such as Desktop, Documents, or Clipboard.
Timer: Choose when to begin recording: immediately, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds after you click to record.
Microphone: To record your voice or other audio along with your recording, choose a microphone.
Show Floating Thumbnail: Choose whether to show the thumbnail.
Remember Last Selection: Choose whether to default to the selections you made the last time you used this tool.
Show Mouse Clicks: Choose whether to show a black circle around your pointer when you click in the recording.

Use QuickTime Player

Open QuickTime Player from your Applications folder, then choose File > New Screen Recording from the menu bar. You will then see either the onscreen controls described above or the Screen Recording window described in the following steps.
Before starting your recording, you can click the arrow next to to change the recording settings:
- To record your voice or other audio with the screen recording, choose a microphone. To monitor that audio during recording, adjust the volume slider (if you get audio feedback, lower the volume or use headphones with a microphone).
- To show a black circle around your pointer when you click, choose Show Mouse Clicks in Recording.
To start recording, click and then take one of these actions:
- Click anywhere on the screen to begin recording the entire screen.
- Or drag to select an area to record, then click Start Recording within that area.
To stop recording, click in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc (Escape).
After you stop recording, QuickTime Player automatically opens the recording. You can now play, edit, or share the recording.

Audio Recorder For Mac Mojave

Learn more

Audio Recorder For Mac Mojave

When saving your recording automatically, your Mac uses the name ”Screen Recording date at time.mov”.
To cancel making a recording, press the Esc key before clicking to record.
You can open screen recordings with QuickTime Player, iMovie, and other apps that can edit or view videos.
Some apps, such as DVD Player, might not let you record their windows.
Learn how to record the screen on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.