Step-by-step Mac guide
How to record your screen with audio on Mac
A useful Mac screen recording usually needs two different sounds: your voice from the microphone and the app's sound from the system. Here is how to plan the capture, choose the simplest tool that works and avoid the silent-recording surprises.
In short: For microphone-only recording, press Shift-Command-5 and choose a mic under Options. For system audio plus microphone, use a recorder that explicitly supports both sources. Always make a ten-second test before the real take.
First, understand the two audio sources
Microphone audio is your narration, room sound or a connected mic. System audio is sound produced by the Mac: a browser video, app notification, call participant or product sound effect. They are separate inputs.
This distinction explains the most common failure: choosing a microphone records your voice, but does not necessarily record what the app is playing. A recorder must support system audio explicitly. Keeping the sources separate during capture also gives an editor more control over their balance later.
Use the built-in Mac recorder for microphone audio
- Press Shift + Command + 5.
- Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
- Open Options and select your microphone.
- Choose where the file should be saved.
- Click Record. Stop from the menu bar when finished.
This is Apple's supported path for a basic recording. The resulting video can be trimmed in QuickTime. See Apple's current instructions for the controls available on your macOS version.
Capture system audio and microphone together
For a narrated product demo, tutorial or call excerpt, choose a screen recorder that exposes system audio and microphone as distinct sources. In Cadre, select the screen, system audio, microphone and optional webcam before the take. The tracks stay aligned with the recording and are mixed into the finished MP4 at export.
Use headphones when recording content that plays through speakers. Otherwise the microphone can capture the same system sound a second time, creating echo or a hollow comb-filter effect.
Be careful with calls and copyrighted media. Get consent from participants and confirm that you are allowed to record. Some protected apps and video services may prevent their windows or audio from being captured.
A reliable five-minute setup
- Close private material. Hide notifications, password managers and unrelated windows.
- Select the exact sources. Screen, system audio, mic and camera should each show the intended device.
- Check macOS permissions. Screen Recording, Microphone and Camera permission can be managed in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Record ten seconds. Speak, trigger a product sound and move the cursor.
- Play the test back. Listen on headphones. Confirm voice, system sound and sync before the real take.
- Leave handles. Pause for a beat before the first sentence and after the last. Those clean edges make editing easier.
During the take, keep moving after a small mistake. A clean pause is easier to cut than repeatedly restarting a long walkthrough.
Why a Mac screen recording has no audio
- No voice: verify the selected microphone and its permission, then check input level in System Settings → Sound.
- No app sound: confirm the recorder supports system audio and that the source was enabled before recording.
- Echo: wear headphones or disable speaker playback while the microphone is live.
- Wrong mic: Macs often switch to a display, headset or webcam microphone. Select the device explicitly.
- Permission changed but nothing happened: quit and reopen the recorder after changing macOS privacy permission.
Turn the recording into the finished story
Cadre records your Mac and gives you an editable cinematic timeline—automatic zooms, local captions, cuts, styling and an AI agent that can follow your direction.
Record, edit and preview free · Cadre Pro required to export · Apple Silicon · macOS 13+
Frequently asked questions
How do I screen record on Mac with my voice?
Press Shift-Command-5, select a recording mode, open Options and choose your microphone. Record a short test and play it back before the full take.
Why did my Mac screen recording not capture internal audio?
Selecting a microphone does not automatically include sound produced by apps. Use a recorder that explicitly supports system audio, enable that source, and test it before the real recording.
Can Cadre record system audio and microphone?
Yes. Cadre records the Mac's system audio and your selected microphone alongside the screen, with an optional webcam source, then mixes them into the exported MP4.
How do I avoid echo in a screen recording?
Use headphones whenever the Mac is playing sound while the microphone is active. This prevents the mic from recording the speaker output a second time.