UPDATED: How To Screen Record With COMPUTER AUDIO On Mac (FREE) - Macbook Tutorial | OBS Studio
Learn how to record your Mac screen and internal computer audio for free using OBS Studio. Follow this complete step-by-step guide for macOS Ventura or newer.
Learn how to record your screen including INTERNAL COMPUTER AUDIO on a Mac for FREE! By the end of this video you'll be a pro at screen recording on your MacBook.
🚨 Note this tutorial is for macOS 13 Ventura (2022) or newer (Sonoma, Sequoia, Tahoe, etc). For earlier versions (macOS 12 Monterey or older), watch this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjL_sJS9Rko
All links mentioned:
OBS Studio: https://obsproject.com/
Older Mac Screen Recording Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjL_sJS9Rko
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:16 Download & Install OBS Studio
0:28 Review App Permissions
0:43 Open Settings
0:53 Output Settings
1:20 Audio Settings - Configure Mic
1:30 Hotkeys for Start/Stop Recording
1:41 Add macOS Screen Capture Source
2:06 Resize output (source size)
2:18 Video Settings
2:42 Add a webcam (optional)
3:05 Check audio levels in Audio Mixer
3:22 Start Recording
3:37 View your recording
3:49 FULL LIST OF STEPS - PAUSE HERE
3:59 Subscribe
4:09 Older Mac support
4:22 Outro
- Use OBS Studio to easily capture your Mac screen, internal computer audio, webcam, and microphone entirely for free.
- This native internal audio setup requires macOS 13 Ventura or newer; if you are running macOS 12 Monterey or older, you will need to follow this older Mac workaround tutorial.
- Configure your Output Settings to use MP4 format and H.264 encoding to guarantee high-quality video that works with almost all editing software.
- Map custom keyboard hotkeys (like F10) to start and stop recordings to eliminate the need to trim the beginning and end of your videos.
- Add a macOS Screen Capture source, then right-click the preview and select Resize output (source size) to perfectly fit your display to the video frame.
- Monitor the Audio Mixer before recording to ensure your microphone levels stay below 0 dB (out of the red) to prevent distorted, clipping audio.
If you want to record your Mac screen along with its internal computer audio, and include your microphone and webcam, you can do it entirely for free. Using OBS Studio, you can set up a professional-grade screen recording environment on your MacBook in just a few minutes.
Note: This guide is specifically for Macs running macOS 13 Ventura (2022) or newer (including Sonoma, Sequoia, Tahoe, etc.). If you are running macOS 12 Monterey or older, please refer to this Older Mac Screen Recording Tutorial.
Here is your complete, step-by-step guide to setting up your Mac for screen recording with internal audio.
Step 1: Download OBS Studio and Grant Permissions
The first thing you need is the recording software. is completely free, open-source, and considered the industry standard for content creators.
FAQ
Quick answers to the questions people usually ask about this topic.
Can I record internal computer audio on older macOS versions?
Can I record internal computer audio on older macOS versions?
Yes, but not natively. The standard OBS Studio setup for capturing internal desktop audio only works out-of-the-box on macOS 13 Ventura or newer. If you are using macOS 12 Monterey or older, you will need to use a special audio routing workaround. You can learn how to set this up in our older Mac screen recording tutorial.
What is the best video format for saving OBS recordings on a Mac?
What is the best video format for saving OBS recordings on a Mac?
For the highest quality and best compatibility across editing software and video platforms, it is highly recommended to set your Recording Format to MP4 and your Video Encoder to H.264 (Hardware) in your OBS Output settings. If H.264 hardware encoding is unavailable on your machine, you can select the Software option instead.
How do I prevent my microphone audio from sounding distorted?
How do I prevent my microphone audio from sounding distorted?
To avoid distortion, you must monitor your levels in the OBS Audio Mixer before you start recording. Speak into your microphone and ensure the audio meter does not push into the red zone or exceed 0 dB. If it hits 0 dB, your audio will "clip" and sound distorted. Simply drag the volume slider down until the meter stays in the green and yellow zones.
Will OBS Studio place a watermark on my Mac screen recording?
Will OBS Studio place a watermark on my Mac screen recording?
No. OBS Studio is completely free and open-source. It will not put any watermarks on your videos, nor does it restrict your recording time, which is why it is considered the industry standard for professional content creators.
Why is my OBS screen completely black when I try to record my Mac display?
Why is my OBS screen completely black when I try to record my Mac display?
This almost always happens because OBS Studio lacks the necessary Apple system permissions to capture your screen. When you first install OBS on a Mac, you must grant it screen recording and microphone access in your System Settings. If you missed this step or denied it by accident, you can open the prompt again by clicking OBS > Review App Permissions in your top menu bar.
