How to Record Computer Audio (Desktop Sound)

Recording a microphone is easy because every computer expects you to do it. Recording the sound coming out of your computer is different: by default, neither Windows nor macOS treats “what you hear” as an input you can record. Knowing how to record computer audio is useful for capturing a synth plugin you are jamming on, a reference track for a mix, a sound-design experiment, your own livestream or a backup of audio you have the right to keep. This tutorial covers the reliable free routes on Windows and Mac, then the settings that keep the recording clean.

A quick but important note first: only record audio you own or have permission to use. Your own music, royalty-free material and your own streams are fine; ripping copyrighted songs or videos may break the platform’s terms and copyright law where you live.

How to record computer audio: the three approaches

Every method falls into one of three groups, and it helps to know which one you are using:

• A loopback input: the system or the sound driver exposes your playback as a recordable input. On Windows this is Stereo Mix (on some hardware) or WASAPI loopback inside an app like Audacity.
• A virtual audio device: software creates a fake sound card that apps play into and recorders read from. This is the standard approach on Mac with BlackHole or Loopback.
• A capture app: a program such as OBS Studio grabs desktop audio directly, usually alongside video.

If you only need occasional clips, the first method that works on your machine is fine. If you record computer audio regularly, a virtual device or a dedicated tool gives you more control.

Windows method 1: Audacity with WASAPI loopback

This is the most dependable free option on Windows because it does not rely on your sound card driver. Audacity is free and open source.

1. Install and open Audacity.
2. In the Audio Setup toolbar (or the device toolbar in older versions), set the Host to Windows WASAPI.
3. Open the recording device list and choose your playback device with (loopback) after its name, for example your speakers or headphones.
4. Set recording channels to 2 (Stereo) so you keep the left-right image of music.
5. Press Record, start playback, then press Stop when you are done.
6. Export with File > Export Audio as WAV for editing or MP3 for sharing.

Two things trip people up. First, the loopback device follows whatever output you selected, so if you switch from speakers to Bluetooth headphones mid-session, pick the matching loopback again. Second, in some setups WASAPI loopback only captures while something is actually playing, so silent gaps may be shortened; start playback promptly after pressing Record and avoid pausing mid-take. Our guide to recording vocals in Audacity covers the editing and export side in more depth.

Windows method 2: Stereo Mix

Many Windows PCs with Realtek and similar onboard audio include a hidden input called Stereo Mix (sometimes “What U Hear” or “Wave Out Mix”). When it exists, any recorder, including the built-in Sound Recorder app, can use it.

1. Open the classic Sound control panel. In recent versions of Windows, go to Settings > System > Sound and click More sound settings; in older versions, right-click the speaker icon and choose Sounds or Recording devices.
2. Open the Recording tab.
3. Right-click an empty area and tick Show Disabled Devices.
4. If Stereo Mix appears, right-click it and choose Enable.
5. Select it as the input in your recording app and record as normal.

If Stereo Mix never appears, your driver does not offer it. Updating to the manufacturer’s audio driver sometimes adds it, but WASAPI loopback or OBS is usually quicker than hunting for drivers.

Windows and Mac: OBS Studio

OBS Studio is free and best known for streaming, but it is also a solid way to capture desktop audio on both platforms, especially if you want your voice on a separate track.

1. Open Settings > Audio and set Desktop Audio to your playback device (on Windows) and Mic/Auxiliary Audio to your microphone if you want commentary.
2. On Mac, recent OBS versions on macOS 13 Ventura or later offer a macOS Audio Capture source that can grab all desktop audio or a single app. Add it from the Sources list.
3. Watch the Audio Mixer meters while you play something: the loudest parts should peak around the yellow zone, not into red.
4. Click Start Recording. OBS saves a video file by default (MKV or MP4 depending on your output settings).
5. Pull the audio out afterwards with a converter or editor. Our guide to extracting audio from video shows several free ways.

In Advanced output mode you can record multiple audio tracks, which keeps desktop sound and microphone separate for mixing later. Our walkthrough of setting up streaming audio in OBS explains the mixer, filters and track routing.

Mac method: BlackHole or Loopback

QuickTime Player and the screenshot toolbar can record your microphone, but they do not natively capture system audio. On a Mac, the usual fix is a virtual audio driver:

• BlackHole is a free, open-source virtual audio driver from Existential Audio. It appears as both an output and an input.
• Loopback from Rogue Amoeba is a paid app with a visual routing window, ideal if you want to combine specific apps and a mic. The same company’s Audio Hijack records directly from individual apps.

The free BlackHole route looks like this:

1. Install BlackHole (the 2-channel version is enough for stereo).
2. Open Audio MIDI Setup (in Applications > Utilities), click the + button and choose Create Multi-Output Device.
3. Tick both your speakers or headphones and BlackHole, and make your speakers the primary/clock device. This lets you hear the audio while it is being sent to BlackHole.
4. Set the Multi-Output Device as your sound output in System Settings (or Option-click the volume icon in the menu bar).
5. In your recorder, such as Audacity, GarageBand or QuickTime’s New Audio Recording, choose BlackHole as the input.
6. Record, then switch your output back to normal speakers when you finish.

Note that the Mac volume keys usually cannot control a Multi-Output Device, so set volume in the playing app or on your speakers. Some Macs also need drift correction ticked for the non-clock device in Audio MIDI Setup to avoid clicks on long recordings.

Settings for a clean recording

• Sample rate: match your system’s output, typically 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. A mismatch can cause pitch shift or crackles. On Windows check the device’s Advanced properties; on Mac check Audio MIDI Setup.
• Level: turn off system sound enhancements and “loudness equalisation”, and keep the playing app’s volume at a normal level. Loopback capture records the digital signal, so pushing it louder only risks clipping.
• Stereo: record music and sound effects in stereo; voice-only material can be converted to mono later.
• Notifications: mute system alerts and chat apps first, because loopback records every sound the computer makes.
• Format: record or export WAV for editing; make an MP3 or AAC copy only for sharing.

If you want to talk over the audio, for a tutorial or a stream recap, a proper mic makes a huge difference compared with a laptop’s built-in one. The Samson Q2U is a dynamic mic with both USB and XLR outputs, so it rejects keyboard and room noise well and can move to an interface later. If you already own an XLR mic, a small interface like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (4th Gen) gives you a clean preamp and a headphone output for monitoring. Our roundup of the best USB microphones lists more options.

Quick checklist

• You have the right to record the audio.
• Windows: WASAPI loopback in Audacity, Stereo Mix, or OBS Desktop Audio selected.
• Mac: BlackHole or Loopback set up, or OBS macOS Audio Capture on macOS 13 or later.
• Sample rates match; enhancements off; notifications muted.
• Ten-second test recording checked on headphones.
• Saved as WAV, with a compressed copy only for sharing.

For a wider look at recorders and editors on both platforms, see our guide to the best audio recording software.

FAQ

Why does my recording of computer audio come out silent?

Usually the recorder is listening to the wrong device. Check that the loopback, Stereo Mix or BlackHole input is selected in the recording app and that the audio is actually playing through the matching output. On Mac, make sure the Multi-Output Device (or BlackHole) is the system output and that the recording app has microphone permission in Privacy & Security settings.

Can I record computer audio and my microphone at the same time?

Yes. OBS Studio handles this most easily by capturing Desktop Audio and a mic together, optionally on separate tracks. On Mac, Loopback can combine a mic and apps into one virtual device, and a BlackHole aggregate device can do something similar with a little more setup.

Does recording desktop audio reduce quality?

Not if you use a digital loopback. WASAPI loopback, Stereo Mix and virtual drivers capture the audio before it reaches the speakers, so quality is essentially identical to the source as long as sample rates match, enhancements are off and you save in a lossless format like WAV.