In this guide
For screen video with spoken narration, choose a microphone in the Mac Screenshot toolbar. To capture audio playing inside an app, use a recording setup that supports system audio and verify it with a short test; a microphone alone records sound in the room.
To screen record on a Mac with microphone audio, press Shift–Command–5, choose a screen recording option, open Options and select your microphone. Record a short test, stop it and play the saved video to confirm your voice is audible.
Audio from an app playing on your Mac is a separate source. Apple’s Screenshot instructions describe selecting a microphone; do not assume that choice captures a clean internal feed. For app or desktop audio, an OBS Studio setup on a supported macOS version is one option below.
Choose what you want to record
| You need | Starting point | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and your voice | Mac Screenshot toolbar and selected microphone. | The saved video contains clear speech. |
| Screen and sound from an app | OBS macOS Screen Capture on macOS 13 or later. | The intended app is audible in the saved recording. |
| Screen, app sound and narration | OBS screen capture plus a separate microphone source. | Both are audible without echo or doubled app sound. |
| Voice only | Voice Memos or QuickTime audio recording. | Choose the microphone and save the audio file. |
Record the screen and microphone with Screenshot
- Open the toolbar. Press Shift–Command–5. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion; adjust the selection if needed. Apple also documents a selected-window option on macOS Tahoe 26 and later.
- Select the microphone. Click Options and choose the intended microphone. Check the save location and other available options before recording. Apple’s screen recording instructions describe the toolbar and microphone selection.
- Make a short test. Click Record and speak while demonstrating the screen. Stop with the menu-bar Stop control, then locate and play the saved video. Listen for quiet words, clipping and room noise.
- Adjust and record. If the voice is missing, check the selected input, its permissions and your playback volume. Use headphones to reduce feedback and speaker sound leaking into the microphone.
You can also open QuickTime Player and choose File → New Screen Recording. On current versions this opens the Screenshot controls; older versions may show a QuickTime recording window with its own microphone menu. Apple describes both workflows in the same guide.
Record screen and internal audio with OBS
OBS documents its macOS Screen Capture source as supporting audio on macOS 13 and later. Its desktop audio guide describes audio capture in OBS 28 and later and a separate macOS Audio Capture source in OBS 30 and later. Controls and permissions may differ by version.
- Open OBS, create or select a scene and add macOS Screen Capture in Sources. Choose the display, application or window you intend to record. Grant the requested screen and system-audio permissions when appropriate.
- Play a short sound in the intended app and watch the capture source’s meter in the Audio Mixer. For an application or window capture, select the desired app or window; confirm its audio is present. A moving meter alone is not a playback test.
- For narration, add or select your microphone as an audio input and speak while watching its separate meter. Avoid adding a second source that captures the same app audio; duplicated sources can cause echo or excess volume.
- Start a short recording, speak and play the app sound, then stop. Open the actual saved file and listen to the beginning and an overlap between voice and app audio. Adjust source levels or selection before recording the full session.
For older macOS versions, OBS says desktop-audio capture requires additional routing software. Check the OBS guide for version-specific options. Some apps or protected content may restrict capture; verify your intended recording rather than assuming every app will allow it.
Fix silent, noisy or doubled audio
- No voice: Check the recorder’s microphone choice and macOS microphone permission. Use System Settings → Sound → Input to check the selected device, then record again.
- App audio missing: Confirm your recording app supports the required source and that the source is enabled. Apple documents the Screen & System Audio Recording permission. A permission setting alone does not select a source.
- Echo or doubled audio: Check for two sources capturing the same app or the microphone picking up speakers. Disable the duplicate and test with headphones.
- Speech is too quiet: Move the microphone closer, check input level and reduce competing audio. A loud playback setting cannot repair clipping in the recorded signal.
The microphone test checks browser input and a temporary sample; it does not change OBS or Screenshot settings. If a finished recording contains competing sound, you can try the voice isolator on a supported file and compare quiet words with the original. Separation can leave bleed or alter speech; AI downloads require an account and credits.
After recording
Keep the original video. To make an audio-only copy, the video-to-audio converter accepts supported MP4 or MOV files up to five minutes and 50 MiB, with additional output and browser limits. It decodes the mixed soundtrack; it does not automatically separate narration from app audio. If you want only a microphone recording next time, see how to record audio on Mac.
Common questions
Does selecting a microphone record system audio?
A microphone captures acoustic sound, including anything coming from nearby speakers. It is not the same as a direct internal audio source. Use a supported app-audio capture setup and check the saved recording if you need a clean feed.
Can I record both my voice and an app?
Yes, with a recording setup that captures both sources. In OBS, test the screen-capture audio and microphone separately, then listen to the saved mix for balance and duplicates.
Why can I hear the app but not find it in the recording?
Hearing audio through your speakers does not mean the recorder captured it. Check the selected source, permissions and audio meter, then make a new short recording and play the saved file.