Record Your Mac Screen With Audio — System Sound and Mic, Built In
Record your Mac screen with both system audio and microphone using Cap. The free, open-source fix for macOS's missing internal audio recording. No plugins, no setup — just press record.
Everything You Need for Mac Screen Recording with Audio
Cap solves the biggest frustration with Mac screen recording — capturing internal audio — and adds professional features on top
System Audio Capture Built In
macOS does not capture internal audio by default. Cap solves this natively — no BlackHole, no Loopback, no virtual audio drivers required. Enable system audio in Cap's settings and it records app sounds, music, and notification audio alongside your screen without any extra configuration.
Microphone and System Audio Simultaneously
Cap records your microphone and system audio at the same time in a single recording. Narrate your screen while keeping all the original application sounds — perfect for software tutorials, walkthroughs, and presentation recordings on Mac.
Up to 4K at 60fps on macOS
Cap is natively optimized for macOS and records at resolutions up to 4K at 60 frames per second. Every screen recording is sharp, smooth, and professional — ideal for Retina displays on MacBook Pro and iMac.
Webcam Overlay While Recording
Add a picture-in-picture webcam overlay to any Mac screen recording with audio. Record your face alongside your screen for a more personal, engaging experience — great for tutorials, product demos, and async video messages.
Instant Shareable Links
Stop recording on your Mac and Cap generates a shareable link immediately. No uploading, no file transfers. Paste the link anywhere and your viewers get instant access to the full recording with audio.
Free with No Watermarks
Cap's Studio Mode is completely free for personal use on Mac with no watermarks, no time limits, and no hidden fees. Download Cap's free screen recorder to start recording with audio on Mac today.
AI-Generated Captions from Your Audio
Cap automatically transcribes your screen recording audio into accurate captions. Whether you are recording a tutorial narration or capturing a presentation, captions are generated automatically — no manual effort required.
Open Source and Privacy-First
Cap is fully open-source and supports your own S3-compatible storage for complete data ownership. Your Mac screen recordings with audio stay private and under your control — always. Learn more about Cap as open-source software.
See Cap in Action
Watch how Cap makes screen recording simple, powerful, and accessible.
Cap vs Built-in Mac Recorders for Audio
Understand why the built-in macOS tools fall short for audio recording and how Cap fills the gap
Cap vs macOS Cmd+Shift+5
The macOS built-in screenshot toolbar (Cmd+Shift+5) can record your screen but cannot capture system audio. It records microphone only. Cap captures both system audio and microphone natively on macOS without any additional tools — making it the far superior choice for anyone who needs audio in their Mac screen recordings. See all reasons to use Cap on Mac.
Cap vs QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player's screen recording feature also lacks internal audio capture on modern versions of macOS. Like Cmd+Shift+5, it can only record the microphone. Cap removes this limitation entirely, capturing system audio natively alongside microphone input in every recording.
Cap vs OBS Studio for Mac
OBS Studio can record Mac screen with audio, but it requires installing and configuring a virtual audio device like BlackHole to capture system sound — a multi-step process that is easy to get wrong. Cap handles all audio routing automatically with zero configuration. Compare all screen recording software.
Cap vs Loom on Mac
Loom records Mac screen with audio and is a popular tool for async video, but it charges $18/month for professional use and adds watermarks on the free plan. Cap is significantly more affordable, fully open-source, and offers Studio Mode completely free with no watermarks. See the full Cap vs Loom comparison.
Two Ways to Record Your Mac Screen with Audio
Cap adapts to whether you need a quick share or a polished production
Instant Mode
Record your Mac screen with audio and get a shareable link the moment you stop. Perfect for quick demos, bug reports, and async team updates. Free plan includes recordings up to 5 minutes with built-in thread commenting.
Studio Mode
Completely free for personal use with no time limits. Records your Mac screen with audio at up to 4K quality with separate screen and webcam tracks for full editing control. Ideal for professional tutorials and polished product demos.
Mac Screen Recording with Audio: Tool Comparison
| Feature | Cap | macOS Cmd+Shift+5 | QuickTime Player | OBS Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal system audio | Built-in, no plugins | Not supported | Not supported | Requires setup |
| Microphone recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mic + system audio together | Yes | No | No | Requires routing |
| Instant share link | Yes | No | No | No |
| Webcam overlay | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 4K recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No watermark | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI captions | Yes | No | No | No |
Why People Record Mac Screen with Audio
From tutorial creators to remote teams — here are the most common reasons Mac users need screen recording with audio
Software Tutorials and Walkthroughs
Create step-by-step tutorials where narration and application sounds both matter. Cap records your Mac screen with microphone and system audio so viewers hear exactly what you hear as you demonstrate software. New to it? Our step-by-step guide to screen recording on Mac with audio walks through every click.
Recording Video Calls and Presentations
Capture Zoom calls, Google Meet sessions, or Keynote presentations in full — screen and audio together. Cap records system audio natively on Mac, so you never miss a word from participants or presenter.
Bug Reports with Sound Context
Some bugs involve audio — unexpected sounds, missing audio feedback, or broken voice responses. Recording Mac screen with audio gives your development team the full picture when you file a bug report.
Async Team Communication
Replace status meetings with short video updates recorded on your Mac. Share the link in Slack or email so your team can watch with full audio context on their own schedule. Learn how Cap supports remote teams.
Course and Educational Content
Educators and course creators need Mac screen recordings with both narration and application audio for engaging lessons. Cap's Studio Mode is free for personal use with no time limits. Learn how Cap supports educators.
Product Demos for Clients
Record polished product walkthroughs with voiceover narration on your Mac and share them as links. Clients can watch with full audio and leave timestamped comments via Cap's built-in thread commenting.
How to Record Your Mac Screen with Audio Using Cap
- 1
Download Cap for free from cap.so/download and install it on your Mac. Grant the required Screen Recording and Microphone permissions when prompted — these are needed to capture your display and audio.
- 2
Open Cap from your menu bar. In the recording settings, toggle on Microphone and System Audio. You can enable one or both depending on whether you want narration, app sounds, or both in your recording.
- 3
Choose your recording source — full screen, a specific window, or a custom region. Click the record button to begin capturing your Mac screen with audio immediately.
- 4
When you are done, click Stop. Cap processes your recording and gives you a shareable link instantly, or you can export it as an MP4 file for use in editing software or local storage.
Mac Screen Recording with Audio — FAQ
Record Your Mac Screen with Audio — Free
Ready to get started? Download now and see the difference.