How to Record MacOS Screen with App Audio

Recently, I was exploring how to record my Mac’s screen along with the audio from the running app. While it’s straightforward on iOS devices (using broadcast extensions via ReplayKit), macOS doesn’t offer a built-in solution out-of-the-box.

After some research, I found a native workaround using QuickTime Player or the built-in screen recorder. The tricky part is selecting the correct audio input because, by default, macOS only recognizes the microphone as an audio source. To record app audio (like audio from a YouTube video), we need to create an additional virtual input device that captures system audio.

Here’s how to do it:

We’ll use an open-source tool called BlackHole, a virtual audio driver that allows audio to pass between applications with zero latency. This tool effectively captures audio from any app without delay.

Step-by-step Guide

Install BlackHole

We’ll use the basic 2-channel version, which suits our needs perfectly using Homebrew(if you don’t have Homebrew installed, check out my post on How to Install Homebrew on macOS for detailed instructions):

brew install blackhole-2ch

If you don’t have Homebrew installed, check out my post on How to Install Homebrew on macOS for detailed instructions.

The “2ch” stands for two audio channels, which is sufficient for our purposes.

Restart Core Audio

Next, restart your Mac’s Core Audio system to apply changes:

sudo killall -9 coreaudiod

Configure Audio MIDI Setup

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup:
   • Use Spotlight (Cmd + Space), type “Audio MIDI Setup,” and press Enter.
2. Create a Multi-Output Device:
   • In the Audio Devices window, click the “+” icon in the bottom-left corner and select “Create Multi-Output Device.”
3. Select Output Devices:
   • In your newly created Multi-Output Device, select both “BlackHole 2ch” and your built-in output (e.g., MacBook Speakers).
   • It’s important to enable “Drift Correction” for all devices except the primary device.

⚠️ Important: macOS requires the built-in output (like MacBook Pro Speakers) to be the primary (top-listed) device. If BlackHole appears first, simply uncheck and recheck the built-in output to rearrange their order.

1. Set Multi-Output as Audio Output:
   • Right-click your Multi-Output Device and select “Use This Device For Sound Output.”
   • Audio will now play through both your speakers and BlackHole simultaneously.

Start Recording

To begin recording:

1. Open Screenshot (press Cmd + Shift + 5).
2. Choose either Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
3. Click Options, and under the “Microphone” section, select BlackHole 2ch.
4. Click Record (or press Return) to start capturing.

That’s it! You can now record your Mac screen along with high-quality app audio.

Troubleshooting

• Can’t adjust volume of Multi-Output Device? Unfortunately, macOS doesn’t support changing the volume directly for Multi-Output Devices. However, you can individually adjust device volumes within Audio MIDI Setup.

• Audio or video playback issues? Ensure your built-in output is listed first in the Multi-Output Device settings. Adjust as needed by unchecking and rechecking the devices.

Let me know your thoughts or any questions in the comments below!