How to Record Computer Audio as MP3 on Mac (FREE) - OBS Studio Tutorial
Learn how to record internal computer audio on your Mac as an MP3 for free. This guide uses OBS Studio, VLC, and Audacity to capture, convert, and edit.
You'll learn how to record computer audio on your Mac as an MP3 file, quickly and easily, for FREE. By the end of this video, you'll be able to capture system audio on your Macbook including optional microphone, and you'll be able to trim and boost the volume of your MP3 file so that it sounds great.
For older macs (macOS 12 or earlier), watch the following video to screen record with audio, then convert the recording to MP3 using VLC (instructions are at 2:56). Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjL_sJS9Rko
Watch next:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1gpaPQN2M
All links mentioned:
OBS Studio: https://obsproject.com/
VLC Media Player: https://www.videolan.org/
Audacity: https://www.audacityteam.org/
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Install OBS Studio
0:20 Review app permissions
0:30 Open Settings
0:40 Output Settings
1:06 Audio Settings
1:16 Video Settings
1:35 Add macOS Audio Capture Source
1:55 Check audio levels in Audio Mixer
2:26 Start Recording!
2:47 Stop Recording
2:59 Install VLC Media Player
3:12 Convert MP4 to MP3 in VLC
3:48 Install Audacity
4:08 Open MP3 in Audacity
4:18 Trim blank space off of MP3
4:45 Normalize audio volume (so it's not too quiet)
4:58 Export MP3
5:26 LIST OF STEPS - PAUSE HERE
5:36 Subscribe
5:46 Older Mac support
6:13 Outro
Note: Only record audio you have permission to capture. I own the music recorded in this tutorial.
- Combine three free tools to process Mac system audio: OBS Studio for capturing, VLC Media Player for format conversion, and Audacity for editing.
- Use macOS Audio Capture in OBS Studio to record system audio (and an optional microphone) as an MP4 file, keeping the video resolution as low as possible to save disk space.
- Use the Convert / Stream feature in VLC Media Player to extract the audio from your OBS MP4 recording and save it as an MP3.
- Polish your final MP3 in Audacity by trimming dead space and applying the Normalize effect to intelligently boost the volume without distorting it.
- Users on macOS 12 or earlier lack native audio capture in OBS and must use an alternative screen recording method to capture the audio before converting the file in VLC.
Capturing internal computer audio on a Mac can sometimes feel unnecessarily complicated, especially if you want the final file to be a clean, high-quality MP3.
Whether you are looking to save a snippet of a podcast, record an online meeting, or capture system sounds alongside your microphone, you can do it all completely for free. By combining three powerful open-source tools, you can easily record system audio, convert it to an MP3, and edit the final file so it sounds perfectly crisp and loud.
Disclaimer: Always ensure you have the proper rights and permission to capture and save the audio you are recording.
Free Tools You Will Need
To capture, convert, and clean up your computer's audio, you will need to download three free, open-source applications.
FAQ
Quick answers to the questions people usually ask about this topic.
Can I record my microphone and system audio at the same time on a Mac?
Can I record my microphone and system audio at the same time on a Mac?
Yes. When configuring OBS Studio, you can set up your microphone under the Audio settings and add macOS Audio Capture in the Sources panel. The Audio Mixer will show both inputs. Be sure to lower the desktop audio slider slightly so the system sound doesn't overpower your voice.
Why do I need to record as an MP4 video file first instead of directly to MP3?
Why do I need to record as an MP4 video file first instead of directly to MP3?
OBS Studio is primarily a broadcasting and video recording tool, so it does not natively support exporting audio directly as an MP3. Saving the recording as an MP4 video is the best universal format to use before extracting and converting the audio using VLC Media Player.
How do I fix quiet or distorted computer audio recordings?
How do I fix quiet or distorted computer audio recordings?
To prevent distortion during recording, ensure your audio levels in the OBS Audio Mixer don't hit the red zone (exceeding 0 dB). If your final recording is too quiet, you can boost it by importing the file into Audacity and selecting Effect > Volume and Compression > Normalize to intelligently increase the overall volume.
Can I capture internal Mac audio if I am using macOS 12 or an older operating system?
Can I capture internal Mac audio if I am using macOS 12 or an older operating system?
If you are running macOS 12 or earlier, OBS Studio cannot natively capture internal audio using the macOS Audio Capture source. Instead, you will need to use an alternative screen recording method to capture the audio, and then convert that video file to an MP3 using VLC. If you want to screen record on macOS 13 or newer, check out this Mac screen recording guide.
Is it legal to record audio playing on my Mac?
Is it legal to record audio playing on my Mac?
You should always ensure you have the proper rights and permissions to capture and save any audio playing on your system. Only record music, podcasts, or online meetings if you own the content or have explicit permission from the copyright owner or participants.
