How to Screen Record on MacBook Air with Sound [Updated]

Deep
22 Oct, 2024

How to Screen Record on MacBook Air with Sound: A Complete Guide

Screen recording on a MacBook Air is easy, but many users struggle to capture sound with their video. Whether creating tutorials, recording presentations, or saving online content, capturing both the screen and audio can make your recording much more effective. This guide will show you how to screen record on your MacBook Air with sound, using built-in tools and a few additional steps.

How to Screen Record on MacBook Air with Sound

Tools You’ll Need:

  • QuickTime Player (built-in on macOS)
  • Soundflower or BlackHole (third-party audio routing software, if needed)

Let’s get started "How to Screen Record on MacBook Air with Sound"with the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Set Up QuickTime Player for Screen Recording

QuickTime Player is an excellent tool for screen recording on Mac. Here's how to set it up for recording your screen:

Open QuickTime Player:

  • Go to the Applications folder and click on QuickTime Player to launch it. You can also search for it using Spotlight by pressing Cmd + Space and typing "QuickTime."

Start a New Screen Recording:

  • In the QuickTime Player menu, click on File and select New Screen Recording. This will open the screen recording toolbar.

Choose Recording Settings:

  • A small recording window will appear. Before hitting the record button, click on the small arrow next to the record button to access additional options.
  • Ensure that the Microphone is set to Internal Microphone if you want to record sound directly from your MacBook's microphone (like voiceovers). If you're recording sound from the system (like playing a video or music), you will need additional software, which we will cover next.

Start Recording:

  • Once everything is set up, click the Record button. You can choose to record the entire screen or select a portion of the screen. To stop recording, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Cmd + Ctrl + Esc.

Step 2: Install Audio Routing Software for System Audio

QuickTime alone isn't enough if you need to record system audio (sounds coming from the computer, like music or video audio). You’ll need to install additional software to route the system audio into your recording. Two popular options are Soundflower and BlackHole.

Installing Soundflower:

Download Soundflower:

Install Soundflower:

  • Follow the on-screen instructions to install Soundflower. You may need to allow the installation from the Security & Privacy settings in System Preferences.

Set Up Soundflower as Audio Output:

  • After installation, go to System Preferences > Sound > Output.
  • Set Soundflower (2ch) as the output device. This will route the system sound into Soundflower.

Step 3: Configure QuickTime to Record System Audio

Now that Soundflower is set up, configure QuickTime to capture system audio during your screen recording.

Open QuickTime Player again and select New Screen Recording from the File menu.

Select Audio Input:

  • In the screen recording window, click the small arrow next to the record button.
  • Set the Microphone to Soundflower (2ch). This will route system audio into your recording.

Adjust Volume:

  • Before recording, ensure the volume is turned up on your MacBook Air. You can control volume while recording using the volume keys, even with Soundflower as the output device.

Start Recording:

  • Click the Record button and capture the desired portion of your screen. All system audio will now be included in the recording.
  • To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar or use the shortcut Cmd + Ctrl + Esc.

Step 4: Record and Export Your Video

After you’ve completed your recording, QuickTime will automatically save your file. You can preview it, trim unnecessary parts, and export it in your preferred format.

Trimming Your Video:

  • After stopping the recording, the video will open in QuickTime. Use the Edit > Trim function to remove unwanted sections from the start or end of the video.

Save Your Video:

  • Once satisfied, click File > Save, choose your file name and location, and select Save.

Optional: Using BlackHole for System Audio (Alternative to Soundflower)

If Soundflower doesn’t work or you prefer another tool, BlackHole is a modern alternative for routing system audio on macOS.

Download BlackHole:

Install and Configure BlackHole:

  • Follow the installation instructions and set BlackHole as the audio output in System Preferences > Sound.

Configure QuickTime:

  • Just like with Soundflower, set BlackHole (2ch) as the microphone input in QuickTime’s screen recording settings.

Record with System Audio:

  • Start recording in QuickTime, and BlackHole will capture the system audio along with the screen.

Conclusion

Screen recording on your MacBook Air with sound is possible with just a few steps, especially when using QuickTime Player. If you want to capture system audio, adding a tool like Soundflower or BlackHole will do the trick. Whether you're recording tutorials, presentations, or gameplay, you now have the tools and knowledge to create high-quality screen recordings with sound.

Pro Tip: If you frequently need to record both your screen and sound, consider using more advanced tools like OBS Studio or Camtasia, which offer more features and smoother integration for system audio and microphone recording.

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