The best Mac screen recorder depends on which audio you need. For a quick recording with spoken narration, start with Apple’s built-in Screenshot or QuickTime workflow. For desktop or individual-app audio routing, OBS Studio is the most flexible option documented here, provided your macOS version supports it. ScreenFlow is a paid recording-and-editing alternative; Camtasia is another option when its editing workflow suits your project.
Microphone audio (your voice) and system audio (sound played by your Mac or an app) are separate sources. A recorder that captures one may not capture the other.
Which Mac screen recorder should you choose?
| Option | Best fit | Audio to know about | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Screenshot / QuickTime | Quick recordings and spoken narration | Screenshot lets you choose a microphone. Apple documents system-audio capture only for macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. | Some apps, including Apple TV, may prevent window recording. |
| OBS Studio | Flexible display or app capture and audio routing | OBS 30 and later on macOS 13 Ventura and later can use macOS Audio Capture for desktop or individual-app audio. | Older macOS versions may require additional audio-routing software for desktop audio. |
| ScreenFlow | Recording followed by editing | ScreenFlow 10 documentation describes screen, camera, microphone, and computer-audio capture methods. | The cited guide is for version 10; it does not establish current menus, requirements, features, or price. |
These are capability-based choices from vendor documentation, not a hands-on quality ranking or a current price comparison.
1. Apple Screenshot or QuickTime: quickest for voice narration
Apple’s built-in tools are a convenient starting point for a tutorial, walkthrough, or demonstration that needs your voice. They can record the entire display or a selected portion, and Screenshot offers a microphone choice. Apple also cautions that some apps, such as Apple TV, may not allow their windows to be recorded.
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How do I screen record with audio on a Mac?
- Press Shift-Command-5 to open the Screenshot controls.
- Choose to record the entire screen or a selected portion.
- Open Options and select the microphone you want to use for narration.
- Start recording, then stop it when you are finished.
Apple’s screen-recording instructions also describe microphone selection in the QuickTime Player recording window. If you hear feedback while monitoring audio, Apple advises lowering the monitoring volume or using headphones.
Can Apple’s built-in recorder capture Mac system audio?
Apple’s current support page says: “To record system audio with the screen recording in macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, choose Include System Audio.” This is a version-specific instruction; it should not be assumed to apply to older macOS releases. In Screenshot’s Options, look for Include System Audio only if you are using the macOS version Apple names. See Apple’s instructions.
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2. OBS Studio: flexible desktop and app audio capture
OBS is a good candidate when you need more control over what appears in a recording and which sound source is captured. Its macOS audio options depend on both the OBS and macOS versions.
System audio on supported versions
According to the OBS macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide, OBS Studio 30 and later on macOS 13 Ventura and later can use the macOS Audio Capture source to record all desktop audio or audio from one application. OBS also documents that its macOS Screen Capture source can capture screen content and audio on macOS 13 and later in its macOS Screen Capture Guide.
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In practice, this means you need to add and configure the relevant source in OBS rather than assuming that selecting a display automatically gives you the audio you want. Choose the audio source that matches the goal: desktop playback, a particular app, or a microphone for narration.
Using OBS on older macOS releases
OBS says desktop-audio capture on older macOS releases requires additional software. Its guide names VB-CABLE, Loopback, and Sound Siphon as possible routes; setup and per-app behavior differ. This is an extra routing step, not a built-in, plug-and-play equivalent to the documented macOS 13-and-later path. Check the OBS guide for the relevant approach.
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3. ScreenFlow: recording and editing in one workflow
ScreenFlow is worth considering if you want to record and then edit the result in the same product. Telestream’s ScreenFlow 10 guide documents capture methods for the screen, camera, microphone, and computer audio. That supports its role as a recording-and-editing option, but the version-10 guide is not evidence of current menus, system requirements, pricing, or exact features in a newer release. Check Telestream’s ScreenFlow support documentation for information applicable to the version you plan to use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can I record my voice and Mac audio at the same time?
Yes, if your chosen recorder can capture both sources and you enable them separately. A microphone records your voice; system or app audio records sound playing on the Mac. Apple documents selecting a microphone and gives its system-audio instruction for macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. OBS documents desktop or per-app capture through macOS Audio Capture on OBS 30 and later with macOS 13 or later. Confirm both sources are selected in the recorder before starting.
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Why is my Mac screen recording silent?
First identify what is missing: narration, Mac playback, or both. Then check the matching input. A microphone selection will not, by itself, capture system audio; selecting system audio will not record your voice.
- No narration: Open the recording options and select the intended microphone. For Apple’s Screenshot controls, use Options.
- No system or app sound in OBS: Confirm that you have added and configured the macOS Audio Capture source. OBS documents this route for OBS 30 and later on macOS 13 and later.
- Using an older macOS version with OBS: OBS says additional audio-routing software is required for desktop-audio capture; check its guide for the available approaches.
- Using Apple’s built-in workflow: Apple’s cited system-audio instruction applies to macOS 27 Golden Gate or later. Do not expect that instruction to apply to an earlier release.
What about Camtasia?
Camtasia is another recording-and-editing option if its tutorial-oriented editing workflow better suits your project. TechSmith’s support guide describes installing or confirming a system-audio component and selecting system audio in the recorder, so allow for that setup step. The guide does not establish current macOS or hardware compatibility; check TechSmith’s system-audio instructions and current compatibility details for your Mac before choosing it.
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