How to Record Audio from Your Computer (Windows & Mac): Free Tips That Actually Work

Whether you want to capture a Zoom call, save a streaming track, or record your own voice for a podcast, the process is not always obvious. This guide explains various free recording methods available for Windows and Mac. Each option is organized by your operating system and recording needs. No paid software is required for any of the core methods covered here.

What You’re Actually Trying to Record  and Know Your Goal First

Before you begin, identify what you want to record first. Many people get confused because they mix up two different recording tasks.

Option A — Capture system/internal audio: You want to record sounds already playing through your computer, such as a YouTube video, a streaming music track, a video call, or game audio. This is harder than it sounds because most operating systems block it by default.

Option B — Record your own voice through a microphone: You want to capture your voice using a built-in or connected microphone for a podcast, voiceover, or commentary track. This is more straightforward but has its own quality considerations.

Many users need both at the same time, which adds a layer of setup. Use the table below to jump straight to what you need.

How to Record Audio from Your Computer on Windows?

Windows includes built-in tools for recording your microphone and system audio. Here are the three easiest and most dependable methods.

Using Windows Voice Recorder / Sound Recorder (Built-In, No Download)

Windows includes a native recording app that requires no installation. On Windows 10, it is called Voice Recorder; on Windows 11, it is called Sound Recorder. Both work the same way.

Steps:

1. Open the Start menu and search for Voice Recorder (Windows 10) or Sound Recorder (Windows 11).

2. On first launch, grant microphone access when the permission prompt appears.

3. Open the app settings to confirm the correct microphone is selected as the input device.

4. Press the large record button to start capturing.

5. Press Stop when you are finished.

6. Your file saves automatically as an M4A in your Documents folder under “Sound recordings.”

Best for: Quick voice memos, interview audio, simple voice commentary.

Limitation: This app records microphone input only. It cannot capture audio playing through your speakers or system without additional configuration.

Enabling Stereo Mix to Record System Audio on Windows

Stereo Mix is a virtual recording device built into many Windows audio drivers. When enabled, it treats everything coming out of your speakers as a recordable input, which means any audio playing on your computer becomes capturable.

Steps:

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Sound settings (Windows 11) or Sounds (Windows 10).

2. Navigate to the Recording tab.

3. Right-click anywhere in the device list and check Show Disabled Devices.

4. If Stereo Mix appears in the list, right-click it and select Enable.

5. Right-click it again and select Set as Default Device.

6. Open any recording app such as Voice Recorder or Audacity and select Stereo Mix as the input source.

7. Play the audio you want to capture, then press record.

Note: Not all audio drivers expose Stereo Mix. If it does not appear even after enabling hidden devices, your driver does not support it. Download VB-Audio Virtual Cable (free) as a fallback, which creates a virtual audio route with the same result.

Best for: Recording streaming video audio, saving content from a browser tab, capturing game audio without microphone input.

Using OBS Studio to Capture Desktop Audio + Microphone

OBS Studio is a free, open-source tool built for streaming and recording. It manages both system audio and microphone input simultaneously, making it the most flexible free option for Windows users who need both channels at once.

Steps:

1. Download and install OBS Studio from obsproject.com.

2. Go to Settings → Output → Recording tab. Set the recording format to MKV or MP4 and choose your output folder (Recording Path). Click Apply and OK.

3. In the Audio Mixer panel, you will see Desktop Audio and Mic/Aux channels already listed by default.

4. Click the three vertical dots icon next to Desktop Audio. Click Properties and assign it to your system output device.

5. Repeat the previous step, but for the Mic/Aux section to select the input audio device.

6. Adjust input levels so neither channel clips — aim to keep the meters consistently below 0 dB.

7. Click Start Recording. Click Stop Recording when done.

8. Locate your file in the output folder you specified.

Best for: Streamers, game commentators, tutorial creators, anyone who needs voice and system audio in one file.

How to Record Audio from Your Computer on Mac

Mac handles microphone recording easily, but capturing system audio is a different story. Apple blocks direct system audio routing by design, so an extra step is required before you can record internal audio.

Using QuickTime Player for Microphone Recording

QuickTime Player is included on every Mac and handles microphone recording without any extra software.

Steps:

1. Open QuickTime Player (press Cmd + Space and search “QuickTime”).

2. Go to File → New Audio Recording.

ADD IMAGE

3. Click the small dropdown arrow next to the record button and select your preferred input device.

4. Choose your built-in microphone or any connected USB or Bluetooth microphone.

ADD IMAGE

5. Press the red Record button to start.

6. Press Stop when finished, then go to File → Save to export as M4A.

Limitation: QuickTime captures microphone input only. It cannot record audio playing through your Mac’s speakers without the BlackHole setup described below.

Recording System Audio on Mac with BlackHole (Free)

BlackHole is a free, open-source virtual audio driver that creates a loopback channel on macOS. It routes your Mac’s audio output back in as a recordable input, which is the most reliable free method for capturing system audio on a Mac.

Steps:

1. Download BlackHole from existential.audio. Select the BlackHole2ch version for most recording use cases.

2. Run the installer and restart your Mac if prompted.

3. Open Audio MIDI Setup (Applications → Utilities → Audio MIDI Setup).

4. Click the + button in the bottom left and select Create Multi-Output Device.

5. In the new device, check both BlackHole 2ch and your normal Built-in Output or headphone output so you can still monitor audio while recording.

6. Open System Settings → Sound → Output and select the Multi-Output Device.

7. Open QuickTime → File → New Audio Recording and set the input to BlackHole 2ch. Alternatively, open Audacity and set the input device to BlackHole.

8. Play the audio you want to capture and press record.

How to Use Audacity to Record Audio from Your Computer (Windows & Mac)

Audacity is a free, cross-platform audio editor and recorder that runs on both Windows and macOS. It supports microphone input, system audio capture with the right routing, full waveform editing, and export to multiple formats, making it the most versatile single tool available at no cost.

Setup and Recording Steps:

1. Download and install Audacity from audacityteam.org.

2. Open Audacity and locate the Audio Setup toolbar near the top of the window.

3. Set the Recording Device based on your operating system and goal:

• On Windows: Select Stereo Mix to capture system audio, or your microphone for voice input. For a more stable result, set the Host to Windows WASAPI and select your speakers in loopback mode.

• On Mac: Select BlackHole 2ch to capture system audio after installation, or select your microphone for voice input.

4. Set your Project Sample Rate (bottom left of the Audacity window) to 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz.

5. Press the red Record button to begin.

6. When finished, go to File → Export and select your format:

• WAV for lossless quality, ideal for further editing

• MP3 requires downloading the LAME encoder, which Audacity will prompt you to install

• FLAC for lossless compressed files with smaller file sizes than WAV

Note: On Windows, using the WASAPI host with your output device selected in loopback mode often captures system audio more reliably than Stereo Mix does, especially with newer drivers. Both options are free.

How to Record Both System Audio and Microphone at the Same Time

Recording a podcast intro, gameplay commentary, or a voiceover with reference audio means you need your own voice and computer audio captured in a single file. OBS Studio handles this cleanly with minimal configuration.

OBS-based workflow for simultaneous capture:

1. Open OBS Studio with the setup described in the Windows section above.

2. Confirm that both Desktop Audio and Mic/Aux are active in the Audio Mixer panel.

3. Use the volume sliders to balance levels. Your voice should sit noticeably above any background system audio to avoid the two channels competing.

4. Go to Settings → Output → Recording and set the format to MKV to prevent file corruption if the recording stops unexpectedly. You can remux the MKV to MP4 inside OBS after recording.

5. Click Start Recording. Both audio channels are written to the same output file.

Quick Comparison: Which Tool Should You Use?

Tips for Better Audio Quality When Recording from Your Computer

Good software setup only takes the result so far. These practical steps will improve your recordings regardless of which tool you use.

• Set your sample rate to 48000 Hz in your recording app. Sample rate mismatches between your driver and recording software cause subtle quality loss and are easy to overlook.

• Lower input gain before recording rather than boosting volume in post-production. Audio that clips during recording cannot be repaired after the fact.

• Use Audacity’s Noise Reduction effect to clean up hiss or room hum. Record a few seconds of room silence first to generate a noise profile, then apply reduction across the full track.

• Close background audio applications such as music players and browser tabs when recording voice-only tracks. Other audio apps can bleed into your recording or cause driver conflicts.

• Record in a small, soft room. Carpet, curtains, bookshelves, and upholstered furniture absorb reflections, making voice recordings sound hollow or muddy.

For users who want broadcast-quality voice recording alongside their computer audio, such as podcasters or voiceover creators, a dedicated wireless microphone delivers results that no software setting can replicate. The Hollyland LARK MAX 2 records at 48 kHz / 32-bit Float with AI Noise Cancellation, which removes the room noise and handling rumble that built-in laptop microphones pick up constantly. Its wireless design keeps your desk uncluttered and lets you position yourself naturally while recording rather than staying pinned to a USB mic on a stand. Plus, the wireless OWS earphones let you listen to your audio in real-time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I record audio from my computer without downloading any software?

Yes. Windows includes Sound Recorder for recording microphone audio, while Mac comes with QuickTime Player. These basic apps cannot record your computer's internal audio by default. On Windows, you need to turn on Stereo Mix and choose it as the input. On Mac, you must set up a multi-output device with Audio MIDI Setup and a free tool like BlackHole. Every method is free and does not require paid software.

Q: Why can’t I hear system audio when recording on Mac?

macOS intentionally blocks direct system audio routing, partly for copyright protection. A free virtual audio driver called BlackHole creates a loopback channel that routes playback audio back into macOS as a recordable input. It installs like a standard driver and does not modify any system files.

Q: Does OBS record audio only, or does it require video?

OBS can record audio even if you do not capture any video. Leave video sources out of your scene before recording. Then change the recording settings to Custom Output (FFmpeg) and turn off the video encoder. Another option is recording a normal video file first. You can remove the audio later with Audacity or FFmpeg.

Q: What format does recorded computer audio save in?

It depends on the tool. Windows Voice Recorder saves as M4A. Audacity exports to WAV, FLAC, or MP3 (with the free LAME plugin). OBS records to MKV or MP4 with AAC audio. WAV is lossless and the safest format if you plan to edit the recording afterward before converting it.

Q: Is recording system audio on Windows legal?

Recording audio for personal use or private reference is generally permitted. Distributing recordings of DRM-protected content, such as streaming music or licensed films, may violate the platform’s terms of service or applicable copyright law. Review the terms of any content you record before sharing or publishing it.

Conclusion

Your recording method depends on your computer and the audio you need. Voice Recorder on Windows and QuickTime on Mac are good for voice only. Record computer sound by turning on Stereo Mix or installing BlackHole. OBS Studio is a good choice when recording voice and system audio together. Follow the matching method, and you should be recording within ten minutes.