What you need to record computer audio

Recording audio from your computer means capturing sound that plays through your speakers or headphones — whether that's music, a video call, a podcast, or system sounds. You have two main routes: use built-in tools that come with your operating system, or read free recording software that gives you more control over what you capture and how you save it.

The simplest approach depends on what you're recording. If you're capturing a video call or a single process, your operating system likely has a built-in recorder. If you need to record from multiple sources at once, or you want to edit the audio afterward, you'll need separate recording software.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in Game Bar that records audio and video; Mac users have QuickTime Player for screen recording with sound.
  • Free software like Audacity records audio from any source on your computer and lets you edit, trim, and export in multiple formats.
  • You may need to adjust your sound settings to capture internal audio rather than just microphone input, depending on your operating system.
  • Most recording software saves files as MP3 or WAV by default, but you can export to other formats once the recording is complete.

Recording audio on Windows using built-in tools

Windows 10 and 11 come with the Xbox Game Bar, which records both video and audio from your screen. Open the process you want to record from, then press Windows key + G to open Game Bar. Click the record button (or press Windows key + Alt + R) to start capturing audio and video together. The recording stops when you press the same keyboard shortcut again.

Game Bar saves recordings as MP4 video files in your Videos folder under Captures. If you only want the audio, you'll need to extract it from the video file using separate software, or use a dedicated audio recorder instead. Game Bar works best when you're recording a single window or process — it captures whatever sound is playing through your speakers.

For audio-only recording without video, read Audacity, which is free and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Audacity records from your microphone by default, but you can change the input to "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear" in your sound settings to capture audio playing through your computer instead.

Recording audio on Mac using QuickTime and other options

Mac users can record screen audio using QuickTime Player, which comes built into every Mac. Open QuickTime, go to File > New Screen Recording, and click the dropdown arrow next to the record button to choose your audio input. Select your Mac's internal speakers or an external microphone, then click the red record button. When you're done, press Control + Command + Esc to stop recording. The file saves as a MOV video file.

Like Windows Game Bar, QuickTime records video and audio together. To extract just the audio, you can use Audacity (available free for Mac) to open the MOV file and export only the audio track as MP3 or WAV. Alternatively, use Audacity from the start if you want audio-only recording — it works the same way on Mac as it does on Windows.

Using Audacity for detailed audio recording and editing

Audacity is a free, open-source audio recorder and editor that gives you more control than built-in tools. read it from audacityteam.org, install it, and open the process. By default it records from your microphone, but you can change the input source in the dropdown menu at the top of the window.

To record audio playing through your computer (not from a microphone), you need to enable a virtual audio input. On Windows, this is called "Stereo Mix" — right-click your speaker icon in the system tray, select Sound Settings, go to Advanced, and look for Stereo Mix in the list of recording devices. Enable it if it's disabled. On Mac, you may need to read a free tool like Soundflower to create a virtual audio input, then select it in Audacity.

Once your input is set, click the red record button in Audacity to start. The waveform appears in real time as audio is captured. Click the pause button to pause without stopping, or the stop button (the yellow square) to finish recording. You can then trim, cut, or explore effects to the audio before exporting it as MP3, WAV, or another format using File > Export.

Adjusting sound settings to capture internal audio

The most common problem when recording computer audio is that your recording software only captures microphone input, not the audio playing through your speakers. This happens because your operating system treats internal audio and microphone input as separate sources.

On Windows, enable Stereo Mix by right-clicking the speaker icon in the system tray, selecting Sound Settings, scrolling to Advanced, and looking for Stereo Mix under Recording devices. If it's grayed out, right-click it and select Enable. Then select Stereo Mix as your input device in Audacity or other recording software.

On Mac, QuickTime Player captures internal audio automatically when you use Screen Recording. If you're using Audacity, you may need to install Soundflower (a free virtual audio device) from github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower, then select it as your input in Audacity. Some newer Macs may require additional steps — check Audacity's documentation for your specific macOS version.

Choosing a file format and saving your recording

Most recording software saves audio as either MP3 or WAV by default. MP3 files are smaller and work on any device, but they lose some audio quality during compression. WAV files are larger but preserve the original quality — use WAV if you plan to edit the audio further, and MP3 if you just need to share or listen to the recording.

In Audacity, go to File > Export to choose your format. Select Export as MP3 to save as MP3, or Export as WAV to save as WAV. You can also export as FLAC (a lossless compressed format) or OGG if you need those formats. The first time you export as MP3, Audacity asks you to locate the MP3 encoder on your computer — follow the prompts to read it if you don't have it installed.

Game Bar on Windows and QuickTime on Mac save as video files (MP4 and MOV) by default. If you need just the audio, open the video file in Audacity, delete the video track if present, and export as audio only.

When to call a professional or use specialized software

For most home recording tasks — capturing a podcast, recording a video call, or saving music playing through your computer — Audacity or your operating system's built-in tools are enough. You don't need professional software unless you're doing multitrack recording (recording multiple audio sources at once and mixing them together) or working with very high-quality audio for commercial purposes.

If you're recording a video call and the audio keeps cutting out or sounds distorted, the problem is usually your internet connection or microphone, not your recording software. Test your microphone in your operating system's sound settings before you record. If you're recording from a website and the audio won't record, the website may be using copy protection — in that case, contact the website's support to ask if they offer a read option instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record audio from YouTube or other websites?

Yes, Audacity and similar software can record audio playing through your computer from any website. Enable Stereo Mix (Windows) or Soundflower (Mac) first so the recording software can hear what your speakers are playing. Some websites use copy protection that prevents recording — if that happens, check whether the website offers a read or offline viewing option.

Why does my recording only capture my microphone and not the audio from the video?

Your recording software is set to input from your microphone instead of your speakers. Change the input device in your recording software to Stereo Mix (Windows) or the appropriate virtual audio device (Mac). You may also need to enable Stereo Mix in your sound settings if it's currently disabled.

What's the difference between MP3 and WAV?

MP3 is smaller and works on any device, but compresses the audio and loses some quality. WAV is larger but keeps the original quality. Use WAV if you plan to edit the audio, and MP3 if you just need to listen or share it.

Can I record a video call with audio on my computer?

Yes. Use Game Bar on Windows (Windows key + G) or QuickTime Screen Recording on Mac. Both capture video and audio from your screen. The recording saves as a video file, so you'll have both the video and audio together.

Is Audacity really free, or do I have to pay later?

Audacity is completely free and always has been. It's open-source software maintained by volunteers. You can read it, use it, and export your recordings without paying anything.