QuickTime Screen Recording: How to Use QuickTime to Record Screen with Audio, Voiceover, and Webcam on Mac

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Posted on: Apr. 06, 2021

QuickTime is a free and versatile media player on Mac. Not only can you use it to play movies, view images, it also allows you to record screens and output high-quality videos.

However, there is a catch when using QuickTime for screen recording with audio, since QuickTime by default only allows you to record screen with Microphone audio. That means you can only record an authorized YouTube video without sound.

So, in this post, we will walk you through how to use the QuickTime screen recording feature to record both screens with system audio and Microphone audio (or voiceover) and how to combine QuickTime screen recording with your webcam for how-to tutorials. Besides, we also offer you a free QuickTime alternative to capture your screen. Let’s dive right into it.

Contents:

How to Use QuickTime to Screen Record with Audio on Mac

To be able to use QuickTime to record your screen with internal or system audio, firstly you need to install Soundflower, a Mac OS X system extension that allows the QuickTime to receive the audio of any audio application on your Mac. Follow the link to download Soundflower for free.

With that in mind, let’s get down to the next step:

Set up the Soundflower on Your Mac:

Step 1
Give Permission to Install Soundflower on Mac

Click on App icon > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > enter “user name” and “ password” to unlock security & privacy > allow Soundflower to be installed on your Mac.

Allow Soundflower to be installed on Mac

Allow Soundflower to be installed on Mac

Step 2
Ensure both Microphone Audio and Soundflower Audio Be Included

Use keyboard shortcuts “Command + Spacebar” to open the search bar > enter “ Audio MIDI Setup” and open it > click the “+” icon at the bottom to the left and select “Create Aggregate Device” > check the box of Built-in Microphone and Soundflower (2ch)

audio-midi-setup-mac

audio-midi-setup-mac

Step 3
Connect the Video Recording with Audio Output

Go back to the same pop-up window, click the “+” icon again at the bottom > choose “Create Multi-output Device”> tick both the boxes of “Built-in Output” and “Soundflower(2ch)”

Step 4
Change Audio Output Mode on Your Mac

Head to System Preferences > Sound > Output > Select “Screen Record with Audio” and Type (Aggregate Device). Check the 5 best screen recorders for Mac.

Use QuickTime to Record Your Screen with Audio

Once you are done with the audio setup, you can start recording both your screen and audio with QuickTime player now.

Step 1
Open QuickTime Screen Recorder

Open up QuickTime > File > New Screen Recording > click the drop-down menu next to the recording button > select Soundflower (2ch)

Launch new screen recording on QuickTime

Launch new screen recording on QuickTime

Step 2
Start Recording Your Screen with QuickTime

Press the recording button. Then, a pop-up will appear saying “Click to record the full screen. Or drag to record part of the screen. End recording by clicking the stop button in the menu bar”

A pop-up window for screen recording

A pop-up window for screen recording

Once you decide which part of your screen for recording. Then hit “Start Recording” button. The QuickTime will automatically record your screen and audio of any application or chrome tab on your screen.

One thing to mention is that during the recording, you won’t hear the audio.

Step 3
Stop Quicktime Screen Recording

To end the screen recording, you have two options: one is to go up to the QuickTime’s menu bar on the top and click on the black recording icon.

Press the “stop button” to end screen recording

Press the “stop button” to end screen recording

The other way is to use the keyboard shortcuts: “Command + Control + Escape”.

As you stop the recording, your recording should be popping up on your screen for playback.

Step 4
Retrieve the Audio of Your Screen Recording

Click on App icon > System Preferences > Sound > OutPut > click “Internal Speakers”. Then you can playback your recording with both video and audio on now.

To save your recording, you can go to QuickTime menu bar> File> Save. Then choose a path and folder to save the recording.

How to Use QuickTime to Record Screen with Voiceover on Mac

To record your screen with your voiceover or audio narration, QuickTime offers you a much easier way to do so. All you need to do is set up your Microphone audio recording mode, then record your screen.

Step 1
Setup Your Microphone Audio Recording

Open your QuickTime > File > New Screen Recording > click the drop-down menu beside the recording button > select either Internal or External Microphone for the voiceover while recording.

Select internal or external mic for audio recording

Select internal or external mic for audio recording

Bonus Tips
To get higher audio quality, an external Microphone is often preferred. Once you select your Microphone recording mode, you can opt to adjust the settings of your external Microphone.
Go to Apple icon > System Preferences > Sound > Input. Then choose the external Microphone you are using. You can move the slider to adjust input volume, input level, and output volume.
Step 2
Start Screen Recording Including Your Voice

Press the recording button > you can click and drag to create a recording area on your screen or click the screen to record your entire screen > hit “Start Recording” button. Then a black recording icon will appear on the top-right corner of QuickTime menu bar.

Step 3
Stop Recording

Hit the black recording icon on the top-right menu to stop recording or use “Command +Control + Escape. Once your recording is stopped and the recorded video will pop up automatically on your screen.

Then, you can click on the red close button and choose the hard drive and folder to save your recording.

How to Use QuickTime for Screen Recording with Webcam

If you want to record your screen for how-to tutorials with your webcam in a corner of your screen, QuickTime may also fulfill your needs. Check the 3 best screen recorders with facecam.

Step 1
Setup Your Webcam/Facecam in QuickTime

Launch QuickTime Player > File > New Movie Recording. Then your webcam should be activated and pop up on your screen. Then hit the drop-down menu next to the recording button to choose the webcam, microphone, and video quality you prefer.

Set up the camera and audio of movie recording QuickTime

Set up the camera and audio of movie recording QuickTime

Next, shrink down your webcam to a smaller size and place it to let’s say the right bottom corner of your screen. Ready to be recorded.

Step 2
Create New Screen Recording in QuickTime

Go to top menu bar > File > New Screen Recording. Then the QuickTime screen recorder will appear. Click the drop-down menu next to the recording button to select your microphone.

Step 3
Start Recording

Press the recording button on QuickTime screen recorder. Then click and drag to make a selection of your screen recording including your webcam.

Bonus Tips
If the video or web browser being recorded blocks your webcam, you can go to QuickTime > View > choose “Float on Top” option. Then you should see your facecam again. Besides, don’t use the full screen of your web browser. Otherwise, your webcam will be blocked again. It’s advisable to manually resize your browser or a video for screen recording.
Make sure your webcam is not blocked by a web browser

Make sure your webcam is not blocked by a web browser

Step 4
End and Save the Recording

Hit the black recording icon on the top-right menu bar, then the recording will be stopped. You can go to the top-left menu bar > File > Save.

Free Alternative to QuickTime to Capture Your Screen on Mac

Well, though you can use built-in QuickTime on Mac for screen recording, you do have to go the extra mile to download and add Soundflower extension to capture both your screen and audio while the complex setup can be daunting to newbies.

So, we are glad to offer you a free alternative to QuickTime, i.e. the RecordCast, an all-in-one screen recorder and video editor. The biggest benefit is that you don’t have to download anything. You can record the screen online with internal audio, mic audio and webcam in just a few clicks. Besides, you can edit your recording in no time.

Use RecordCast to record screen on Mac

Use RecordCast to record screen on Mac

Use RecordCast to Record Screens on Mac with Audio and Webcam

Step 1
Choose the Video and Audio Recording Mode

Open the RecordCast.com > hit “Start Recording” button > select video recording mode: Screen+Webcam; Screen Only or Webcam Only > choose audio recording mode: Microphone + System audio; Microphone; or System audio; you may also select your external Mic as well.

Customize the video and audio recording mode

Customize the video and audio recording mode

Step 2
Select Screen Recording Area and Start Recording

Press the Start Recording button > Select from recording “Your Entire Screen”, “Application Window” or any “Chrome Tab” > click the box of “Share Audio” on the bottom left pop-up > hit “Share” Button.

Choose a specific area for screen recording

Choose a specific area for screen recording

Then you will be directed to a Chrome tab or application like a video for screen recording. Currently, the maximum time for recording is 30mins. Yet, you can resume a new recording with unlimited time.

Copyright Infringement & Privacy Reminder
Well, though technically you can record an online video/audio with ease by RecordCast, you have to bear in mind that any attempt to record a copyrighted online video/audio or a private video/audio without permission from its owner is illegal. Meanwhile, if you distribute or make profits by selling these unauthorized copies, it also constitutes copyright infringement and violation of privacy and will put you in trouble.
So before you use RecordCast, it's advisable to refer to the local law or get permission from the owner of the video/audio in the first place. RecordCast is not liable for any intentional or unintentional copyright violation.
Step 3
Edit and Save Recording

Press the “Stop” button on the browser or application being recorded. Then go back to RecordCast web page, you can preview the recording and hit “Edit” button for quick editing in a user-friendly video editor.

Edit your recordings in RecordCast’ video editor

Edit your recordings in RecordCast’ video editor

You can freely trim your recording, customize text effects, dynamic elements, overlays and background colors, etc. Finally, you can download the edited recording in MP4 format (1080p) to your hard drive. Super easy and efficient.

Final Thoughts

Using QuickTime for screen recording on Mac can be both delightful and disheartening to different users since its internal audio recording feature is only available by adding an external extension—Soundflower.

If you want to record your screen on Mac in an easier way, using RecordCast can be a viable option. Whatever you choose, hopefully, you find your article useful, and don’t forget to share it with your friends using Macbook screen recording for daily use.

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