Record Computer Audio Directly into Audacity

To record audio playing through your computer — music from a browser, audio from a video, system sounds — you need to tell Audacity to listen to your computer's output instead of a microphone. On Windows, this means selecting Stereo Mix or What U Hear as your recording device. On Mac, you will need a free tool called Soundflower or BlackHole to route audio to Audacity, because macOS does not include a built-in loopback option. Linux users can use PulseAudio or ALSA to create a virtual recording device.

The reason you need this step is that Audacity cannot hear what your speakers are playing by default — it only listens to microphones and line-in devices. Once you set up the right input, recording works the same way as recording from a microphone: press the red Record button, play your audio, and press Stop when you are done.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users should check Device Manager to enable Stereo Mix, which lets Audacity record system audio directly without extra software.
  • Mac users need to install Soundflower or BlackHole first, then route audio through it in Audacity's preferences before recording.
  • After selecting the correct input device, recording computer audio works the same as recording a microphone: press Record, play your audio, and press Stop.
  • Always test your setup by playing a few seconds of audio and checking the waveform in Audacity before recording something you want to keep.
  • Recorded audio can be edited, trimmed, and exported as MP3, WAV, or other formats directly from Audacity's File menu.

Enable Stereo Mix on Windows

Windows includes a feature called Stereo Mix (sometimes labeled What U Hear or Wave Out Mix) that lets your computer record its own audio output. This feature is often disabled by default. To turn it on, right-click the speaker icon in your system tray and select Open Sound settings. Scroll down to Advanced and click Volume mixer. Look for an app or device labeled Stereo Mix; if you do not see it, the feature may be disabled in your audio driver.

If Stereo Mix does not appear, open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting Device Manager. Find Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your audio device, and select Properties. Go to the Advanced tab and look for an option to enable Stereo Mix or Wave Out Mix. If you still do not see it, your audio driver may not support loopback recording — in that case, you will need to use a third-party tool like VB-Audio Virtual Cable (paid) or VoiceMeeter (free).

Once Stereo Mix is enabled, open Audacity, go to Transport > Transport Options (or the dropdown next to the microphone icon), and select Stereo Mix as your recording device. Set the recording channels to Stereo if you want both left and right channels. You are now ready to record.

Set Up Audio Routing on Mac with Soundflower or BlackHole

macOS does not include a built-in loopback device, so you need to install software that creates a virtual audio device. Soundflower is free and widely used, though it is no longer actively maintained. BlackHole is a newer free alternative that works reliably on recent macOS versions. read and install either one, then restart your computer.

After installation, open System Preferences > Sound > Output and select Soundflower (2ch) or BlackHole 2ch. This routes your computer's audio through the virtual device. Then open Audacity, go to Audacity > Preferences > Devices, and set the recording device to Soundflower or BlackHole. Set the recording channels to Stereo.

One drawback: when you route audio through Soundflower or BlackHole, you will not hear it through your speakers. To hear the audio while recording, you can use a tool like Loopback (paid) or SoundFlower Bed (free, included with older Soundflower versions) to monitor the output. Alternatively, record first and listen afterward.

Record and Monitor Your Levels

Before you record something important, do a test run. Play a few seconds of the audio you want to record — a song, a video, a system sound — and watch the level meters in Audacity. The meters should show green or yellow bars moving as the audio plays. If the meters do not move, your input device is not set correctly; go back and check that you selected Stereo Mix, Soundflower, or BlackHole in Audacity's device dropdown.

If the levels are too quiet, you can adjust the input volume using your operating system's sound settings, not Audacity itself. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon and go to Volume mixer to adjust the Stereo Mix level. On Mac, use the volume slider in System Preferences. Aim for levels that peak around the yellow zone without hitting red, which means the audio is clipping and will sound distorted.

Once you are satisfied with the test, press the red Record button (or press R), play your audio, and press the Stop button (or press Space) when finished. The audio will appear as a waveform in Audacity's main window. You can now edit, trim, or export it.

Edit and Export Your Recording

After recording, you can trim silence, remove unwanted sections, or adjust volume using Audacity's editing tools. To remove a section, click and drag to select it, then press Delete. To adjust the overall volume, select all (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A) and go to Effect > Normalize to even out loud and quiet parts.

When you are ready to save, go to File > Export and choose your format. Export as MP3 creates a compressed file suitable for sharing or uploading. Export as WAV creates an uncompressed file with higher quality, useful if you plan to edit further. Export as FLAC offers compression without quality loss. Audacity will ask you to name the file and choose a location; after that, the export happens automatically.

If you want to save your work in Audacity's native format so you can edit it later, go to File > Save Project instead. This saves an .aup3 file that preserves all your edits and lets you reopen the project later.

Troubleshoot Common Recording Problems

If you hear a loud hum or buzz in your recording, this is usually electrical interference. Try moving cables away from power sources, or use a different USB port if your audio device is USB-powered. If the hum persists, you can remove it in Audacity by selecting all (Ctrl+A), going to Effect > Noise Reduction, and following the steps to sample and reduce the noise.

If your recording is very quiet even though the levels looked normal, your input device may have a separate volume control. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon, go to Volume mixer, and check the level for Stereo Mix. On Mac, check the input volume in System Preferences. You can also boost the volume after recording by selecting all and going to Effect > Amplify, though this may introduce noise if you boost too much.

If Audacity crashes or freezes during recording, try closing other applications to free up memory, or reduce the sample rate in Preferences > Quality from 44100 Hz to 44100 Hz (the default is usually fine, but older computers may struggle). If you are recording for a long time, save your project frequently by pressing Ctrl+S or Cmd+S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record audio from YouTube or Spotify with Audacity?

Yes, using the method described above — Stereo Mix on Windows or Soundflower on Mac will record whatever audio is playing through your computer. However, check the terms of service for the platform you are recording from; some services prohibit recording their content. Recording for personal use is generally permitted, but redistributing copyrighted music is not.

Why does my recording sound like it is playing at the wrong speed?

This usually means your sample rate is mismatched. Check that Audacity's project sample rate (shown at the bottom left of the window) matches your recording device's sample rate. Both should be 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz. If they differ, go to Preferences > Quality and set the project rate to match your device.

Can I record computer audio and a microphone at the same time?

Not directly in Audacity with a single recording device. You would need to record them separately — first the computer audio, then the microphone — and then align them in Audacity by importing both as separate tracks. Alternatively, use a tool like VoiceMeeter (Windows) or Loopback (Mac) to mix both sources into a single virtual device that Audacity can record from.

What file format should I use for my recording?

Use MP3 if you are sharing the file or uploading it online, since it is compressed and widely compatible. Use WAV if you want the highest quality or plan to edit further. Use FLAC if you want compression without quality loss and the recipient can play FLAC files. For most purposes, MP3 at 192 kbps or higher is sufficient.

Do I need to buy Audacity to record computer audio?

No. Audacity is free and open-source. You do not need to pay for any version of it. The recording and editing features described here are all included in the free version.