Free Mac Screen Recording Software With Audio
How to Record a Screen with Sound on a Mac Using Movavi Screen Recorder An easier way to record video and audio on a Mac at the same time is to use a tool like Movavi Screen Recorder. The software was created with ease of use in mind, but the design does not let that get in the way of placing in a ton of great features. ScreenRec is a free screen recorder with no watermark that lets you to capture your desktop in one click and share instantly. Get started in 60 seconds. Record computer audio. Record your voice. Record your webcam. No watermarks or time limits. Lightweight screen recorder (no lag) Cloud Recording technology. Get ScreenRec For Windows.
Although there are a lot of audio recording programs out there claiming to record almost any sound play on computer, the fact you should always keep in mind is that only a few of them promise capturing high quality audio. Therefore, if you care much about the quality of your recordings, choosing a proper high-powered audio recorder could really matter. Are you just looking for such recording tool but with a low budget? Luckily, among the numerous audio recording software available on internet, we are glad to see most of them are offered for free. To help you quickly pick up the best free streaming audio recorder online, we complied a list of top 5 most popular free audio recording programs that can record streaming music, radios, in-game sound, music in videos, and any other sound play on Mac and Windows with high quality.
- Top 1. Audacity (Mac & Windows)
- Top 2. Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder
- Top 3. Ardour (Mac & Windows)
- Top 4. Aktiv MP3 Recorder (Windows)
- Top 5. Traverso DAW (Mac & Windows)
- Alternative - TunesKit Audio Capture [Best]
Top 1. Audacity (Mac & Windows)
As a well-known open source free audio recorder, Audacity is capable of recording and editing anything you throw at it, including audio through microphone and sound card all in a few clicks thanks to the clean interface. It also allows users adjust pitch, bass, and treble, or normalize noise and add effects like reverb and phasing to the recordings. In addition, it supports multi-track capturing to save a lot of time for you. And unlike most other free audio recorders which are free for a limited time or free with locked features, Audacity is a real free of charge audio recording application offered in full free version. Overall, Audacity offers one of the most robust packages available among free recording programs.
Pros:
1. Totally free and extremely easy to use;
2. Support recording any sound on computer;
3. Edit recorded audio's quality with many effects;
4. Support multi-track recording.
Cons:
1. Require plugins to accomplish optimal functionality;
2. Can't export audio recordings to MP3;
3. Effect editing is destructive to original audio track.
Top 2. Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder
Differing from Audacity or other free audio streaming recorder, Apowersoft Audio Recorder is a free online recording solution that needs no plug-in on Windows or Mac. It allows you record any sound from system sound card and microphone in high quality within 3 steps only. It fully supports capturing streaming music, radio stations, music in games, voice chats, etc. playing via devices like Windows Media Player, QuickTime, iTunes, Tablets, Chromebook, Android smartphones, iPhone, Windows Phone and more. Besides, it offers additional recording functions like converting audio records to MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, OGG, adding ID3 tags, sharing recorded audios online, playing recordings in real time, etc.
Pros:
1. Free and no need to install setup file on computer;
2. Support any sound sources;
3. Save recordings in multiple popular formats;
4. Support extensional functions for recording.
Cons:
1. Can't edit output audio quality;
2. Multi-track recording not supported.
Top 3. Ardour (Mac & Windows)
Ardour DAW is another great open-source audio recorder with professional music recording features and no cost. Developed by Paul Davis, Ardour is aiming at providing powerful recorder for studios who are at low budgets. Featuring highly versatile multi-track audio recording, Ardour can record and edit audios non-destructively or destructively. Its use of Jack, an underlying sound server, makes it compatible with a number of outside applications as well. With the release of third edition, Ardour is supposed to import video for film scoring purpose and record, edit MIDI without a hassle. However, unlike most of other free DAWs, Ardour comes with a confusing graphical user interface which is inaccessible for beginners. It's more like a professional tool developed for musicians or audio engineers.
Pros:
1. Free and professional;
2. Support multi-track recording;
3. Edit recorded tracks non-destructively.
Cons:
1. It's complex and difficult for newbie;
2. No built-in effects or instruments.
Top 4. Aktiv MP3 Recorder (Windows)
If you are looking for a free streaming music recorder that can convey CD, tape, DVD, live performance, TV, Internet radio, streaming music, video games and any other sound source into popular audio formats like MP3, WMA, OGG, VOX, AU, AIFF, then you can't miss Aktiv MP3 Recorder. As a full-featured audio recorder, the big difference between Aktiv and other free recording tools is that it comes with recording scheduler which provides you the ability to record streaming audio at certain times according to your requirements.
Pros:
1. Free streaming audio recorder;
2. Support most popular output formats;
3. Provide schedule recording tasks.
Cons:
1. Available for Windows only;
2. Installer contains some extra software.
Top 5. Traverso DAW (Mac & Windows)
Traverso DAW is another cross-platform free multitrack audio recording and audio editing suite with support for CD mastering and non-linear processing. Traverso is different with other in UI as it offers a unique user interface using both the mouse and the keyboard together for precision and speed. In addition, Traverso includes non-destructive editing, the ability to use plugins and make edits without changing the actual recorded sample. Also it is offering full support for ALSA, Jack and PortAudio, and lockless real-time audio processing.
Pros:
1. Fullfeatured free recording app;
2. Innovative keyboard and mouse shortcuts;
3. Support non-destructive audio editing.
Cons:
1. Take some time for users to get used to the shortcuts;
2. Need plugins to edit audio non-destructively.
More Professional Audio Recorder for Low Budget - TunesKit
Of course, no piece of free software is without its shortcomings. So do those free audio recorders. They are not as advanced as other paid software in functionality. In case you are searching for such paid recording products with reasonable price, we highly recommend a best free sound recorder to you. The renowned program is called TunesKit Audio Capture. It's available for both Mac and Windows platforms. It costs $19.95 but with more powerful features, including multi-track lossless recording, automatically fulfilling ID3 tags, editing output quality, splitting or merging recorded tracks, etc. You can download the free trial versions as below to test it out by yourself. For complete tutorial, visit this user guide.
Conclusion & Suggestion
As you can see, all the above recording tools are free of charge to meet most of your recording needs with options of recording audio, adding effects, and cutting waveforms, as well as other basic recording tasks. To conclude, if you are referring an all-in-one application that combines easy operation and high performance, Audacity and Aktiv MP3 Recorder could be the best audio recording software. But if you concern more about the professionalism and quality, you are suggested to go for Ardour or Traverso DAW that are more professional oriented. Or alternatively, Apowersoft Audio Recorder could be a great choice if you don't want to install any software on your computer. If you still have no idea which one to choose, simply try them out one by one and decide which works best for you.
Nick Orin is a review writer, software geek and Mac OS enthusiast. He spends all his free time in searching useful software and gadgets to share with others.
Do you want to record something on your Mac computer, like an online meeting, an exciting video clip, a video call, or a live streaming video? Whatever you want to capture, you need a free Mac screen recorder first.
In this article, we have rounded up the best 11 Mac video capture software to help choose. To help you select the best free screen recorder, we will introduce each software with its key feature in detail. Just read to learn more information.
#1. EaseUS RecExperts ★★★
When it comes to Mac screen recording software, EaseUS RecExperts is the best option. This software allows you to record the full screen, a selected area, or a locked window flexibly. Also, you can record screen with audio on Mac simultaneously, including the system sound, microphone, or sound from external audio devices.
Apart from capturing the screen, you can record audio or capture the screen as a GIF with one simple click. Most importantly, it won't leave a watermark on your recordings. For this screen recorder without watermark, you can miss it!
Now click the below button to try EaseUS RecExperts for free!
#2. QuickTime Player
You must be familiar with QuickTime Player. It can play, edit, and share videos on your Mac computer. But did you know it is also a screen recording app for Mac?
It lets you capture a full screen or a selected area with a few clicks. With Mac screencast software, you can easily record online meetings, streaming videos, or other activities on your Mac screen. Most importantly, it is straightforward to use even for beginners of its intuitive interface.
Uicc unlock from system updates menu. Key features:
- Simple and intuitive user interface
- Offer recording and editing options
- Allow you to share the recorded videos with your friends
#3. macOS Catalina
One recommended Mac's built-in screen recorder is macOS Catalina, which is also known as macOS 10.15. It is a cross-platform tool with numerous features. Using this program, you can record your entire screen or selected portion on your Mac with just a few clicks.
Key features:
- Free and easy to use
- Record full screen or a specific region
#4. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is a free and open source screen recorder for Mac users. It has powerful and easy-to-use configuration options, which lets you add new sources or adjust the properties effortlessly.
Besides, this free Mac screen recorder offers an unlimited number of scenes to switch seamlessly via custom transitions. Also, it can be used for live streaming, which means you can download and start streaming quickly on your Mac.
Axife mouse recorder full version. Key features:
- Completely free for all users
- Allow you to capture real-time activities and create great live streaming videos
- Offer intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux
#5. Screenflow
Screenflow is another free Mac screen recorder with audio. This video capture is very polished and can record anything and give you many editing options once the recording is done.
Using Screenflow, you can record computer audio or microphone as well. In addition, this Mac screen capture even can monitors keystrokes and mouse movements, which can make the recording more interesting.
Key features:
- A lightweight screen recorder and video editor
- Export almost all the major formats and directly upload recorded videos to YouTube
- Provide a lot of effects
- Enable you to record video and audio simultaneously
#6. Screencast-O-Matic
Screencast-O-Matic is a versatile Mac screen recorder and editor. It is free and fast to create screencast videos with this screen recording program. When the recording is done, you can personalize your video with the built-in video editor. Here it allows you to add overlays, text, animations, visual effects, and many more to your recorded video quickly.
Key features:
- Available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chromebook users
- Offer some basic yet useful video editing tools
- Add and size your webcam for a picture in picture effect
- Share the recorded videos to YouTube with one click
#7. Snagit
Snagit is a screen recording tool, which enables you to record video and capture images. This screen recorder can capture your entire Mac screen, a region, a window, or a scrolling screen. It lets you quickly grab individual frames from the recorded videos or save your video file as an mp4 or animated GIF with ease.
In addition, this Mac screen capture enables you to remove any unwanted sections from your screen recordings by trimming after recording.
Key features:
Best Free Screen Recorder Mac
- Allow you to record iOS screen with Snagit
- Record screen, webcam, audio, and other things on your screen
- Turn video into an animated GIF and add it to your website
#8. VLC Media Player
Good Screen Recorders For Mac
VLC Media Player is another completely free and open-source screen recording software for Mac. Like QuickTime Player, it can help you play media files, convert file formats, and capture your computer screen. It is straightforward to use. When you want to do some quick screen recording on your Mac, you cannot miss VLC Media Player.
Key features:
- A screen recorder, video converter, and media player at the same time
- Help you stream media on the internet
- 100% free and easy to use
#9. Camtasia
Screen Recording Apps For Mac
Camtasia can help you record and create professional-looking videos on Windows and Mac computers. This free Mac screen recorder is easy and quick to learn, and you do not need a big budget or fancy video editing skills.
With it, you can easily record anything on your computer, including an application, website, video call, or PowerPoint presentation. Apart from that, it supports iOS capturing. You can connect your iOS device directly to your Mac to record from the screen, then add some effects to your video.
Key features:
- Provide options for recording screen, webcam, and audio
- Allow you to use callouts, arrows, shapes to highlight important points in your video
- Built with many templates to reduce your editing time
- Flexibly apply device frames to your videos to make them play well on a different device screen
#10. Screenflick
As another best free screen recorder for Mac, Screenflick is popular all over the world. A simple user interface helps you be more efficient to start recording tasks. Built with a smart recording engine, it lets you capture screen and audio with the highest quality and resolution. What's more, the video, audio, keystrokes, and mouse clicks are recorded in separate tracks so that you can modify them conveniently after recording.
Key features:
- Record system audio, microphone, or external mic on your Mac
- Use a timer to stop or start recording automatically
- Create time-lapse screen recordings of long projects
- Export to multiple sizes, formats, and frame rates
#11. Monosnap
Monosnap is a free screen capture program for Mac users. It comes with the option of recording your webcam, microphone, and system audio at the same time before starting recording. You can capture full screen, area, window, videos, or HIGs using hotkeys.
Once recorded, you can edit the video by adding annotations. Then it allows you to upload and share the link with your friends if you have connected to your Monosnap account.
Key features:
- Create pixel-perfect screenshots
- Allow you to record screen to GIF with one click
- Offer editing options to highlight details, hide sensitive data with the Blur tool
- Upload and share the recorded video directly
The Bottom Line
On this page, we have discussed the top 10 best screen recorders for Mac. Which one will one choose?
Taken together, we highly recommend EaseUS RecExperts. It allows you to capture screens in high resolution, including 4K. Besides, using it, you can easily capture the system sound without downloading any other third-party software. Don't hesitate. Just download it!