Mac Screen Recorders That Capture Computer Audio
Quick answer: To capture computer audio while screen recording on a Mac, you can use the built-in Screenshot toolbar if you are on macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. Otherwise, you will need a third-party tool like Screen Studio or OBS, or a browser-based tool like Rescreen for tab-specific audio.
macOS's built-in recording tools cannot natively capture the sound playing on your computer. Apple isolates internal system audio by default, meaning you cannot easily record a web app demo or presentation with its original sound using just QuickTime or the Screenshot toolbar.
To capture computer audio on a Mac, you need a different approach. This guide compares three verified methods: OBS Studio for desktop apps, Rescreen for recording browser tab audio alongside your microphone, and the BlackHole virtual audio driver for routing sound back into Apple's native tools.
Can QuickTime or the Screenshot toolbar record computer audio?
No, the Mac's built-in recording tools—such as QuickTime and the Screenshot toolbar—cannot capture computer audio on their own. By default, macOS intentionally isolates internal system audio from its native capture utilities. This isolation affects sounds from sources like a YouTube video, a Zoom meeting, or gameplay, and is designed to prevent the unauthorized recording of copyrighted media streams (Rescreen).
Because the operating system blocks this sound from the native tools, you cannot simply click record and capture both your screen and the computer's audio. To get system sound into a recording, you must either use a third-party screen recorder that handles the audio capture internally or install a virtual audio driver. If you prefer to keep using Apple's built-in screenshot utility, you will need to configure a third-party virtual audio driver like BlackHole to route the audio into the recorder. The exact steps for setting up this driver are covered in a later section.
How the shortlisted recorders compare on computer audio
To choose the right approach for your recording, you need to compare how each tool handles audio routing and what limitations they introduce. Here is how three working methods stack up. Loom and Screen Studio have been left off this shortlist because their specific driver or plugin requirements could not be fully verified in the available documentation.
| Recorder | Audio capture method | Extra driver required | Mic + computer audio together | Mac compatibility | Price / Free tier | Notable limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Internal via "macOS Screen Capture" source | No (on newer macOS versions) | Not documented | Yes (newer macOS) | Not stated in sources | Not stated in sources |
| Rescreen | Direct from shared browser tab | No | Yes | Yes (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Arc) | Free tier available; $99 lifetime option | Audio source is limited to the shared tab |
| Built-in + BlackHole | Multi-Output Device via Audio MIDI Setup | Yes (BlackHole 2ch) | Not documented | Yes | Not stated in sources | BlackHole occupies the microphone slot |
When evaluating these options, note the scope of the audio source. Rescreen explicitly documents capturing both your external microphone and your computer audio simultaneously, but its audio source is strictly limited to the shared browser tab, meaning it will not capture the sound of standalone desktop apps. By contrast, OBS Studio and the built-in Screenshot tool with BlackHole can capture full system sound from desktop applications, but neither option's documentation verifies simultaneous microphone capture without further workarounds.
Record full system audio with OBS Studio
If you want to capture the audio from any desktop application running on your Mac, OBS Studio handles this natively on newer operating systems. Unlike the built-in macOS tools, OBS manages internal computer sound directly, meaning you do not need to install an extra loopback driver or plugin to get system audio into your recording.
To capture system sound using OBS Studio, follow these setup steps:
- Grant macOS permissions: Click the Apple logo and open System Settings. Navigate to Privacy & Security, then select Screen & System Audio Recording. Find OBS Studio in the list of applications and turn on the toggle to allow it to capture your screen and system audio.
- Add the capture source: Open OBS Studio and locate the Sources panel at the bottom of the interface. Click the "+" icon, select "macOS Screen Capture" from the list, and confirm your selection.
- Adjust the volume: Over in the Audio Mixer panel, locate the new slider labeled "macOS Screen Capture." Use this slider to monitor and control your internal computer audio levels before you hit record.
Illustrative example: Recording a desktop app walkthrough
If you are recording a software tutorial for a desktop music production application, the software's playback audio must be audible in your final video to be useful. By adding the macOS Screen Capture source in OBS, the application's internal playback is captured directly into your recording and balanced via the Audio Mixer, completely bypassing the need for complex virtual audio routing software.
Use the built-in Screenshot tool with BlackHole
If you prefer to keep using the native macOS screenshot utility, you must configure a workaround to route the audio. You will need to install a separate virtual audio driver known as BlackHole 2ch to pass the sound from your desktop applications into the recording tool.
Once BlackHole 2ch is installed on your Mac, you must link it to your physical speakers so you can actually hear the computer audio while the recorder captures it.
Follow these steps to route your computer audio into the built-in recorder:
- Open your Mac's Audio MIDI Setup app.
- Click the "+" icon to create a Multi-Output Device.
- Check the boxes for both your built-in output and BlackHole 2ch.
- Open System Settings and switch your Mac's primary sound output to this newly created Multi-Output Device.
- Open your native screen recording options and select BlackHole 2ch under the microphone settings before hitting record.
Notice that the final step requires you to choose BlackHole 2ch in the native tool's microphone settings. Because this single microphone slot is now occupied by the virtual driver feeding your system sound, it cannot simultaneously capture your physical microphone. If your goal is to narrate a presentation or explain a software workflow while its audio plays in the background, this native method will not easily capture both sources in a single take.
Which approach fits your recording
Your choice of screen recorder depends on where your audio originates and how much setup you are willing to tolerate.
If your presentation or software demo lives entirely inside a web browser, use a browser-based recorder like Rescreen. Because it captures the specific tab's audio alongside your microphone directly, it fits workflows that require simultaneous narration without installing system drivers.
When you need to record sound from local desktop applications, pick OBS Studio. It handles full system audio internally on newer macOS versions, saving you from virtual driver installations while capturing whatever app you have open.
If you strongly prefer Apple's native recording interface over third-party software, stick with the built-in Screenshot tool and install BlackHole. While it requires configuring a Multi-Output Device and giving up the microphone slot to route the audio, it keeps your captures inside the default macOS ecosystem.