How to Record Your Mac Screen with Audio

Recording your Mac screen with audio usually means two different things: your voice (microphone) and the sound your Mac is playing (system audio). macOS's built-in recorder only does the first. ScreenTailor records both — one toggle, no virtual audio driver — and lets you balance the two tracks afterwards. Here's how.

Which audio do you mean?

Microphone — your narration. The built-in macOS recorder, QuickTime and ScreenTailor can all capture this.
System audio (internal audio) — the sound from apps, browser tabs, video calls or games. macOS can't record this on its own; ScreenTailor captures it natively. If this is what you're after, there's a dedicated guide to recording internal audio.

Record screen + audio in ScreenTailor

Start a capture. Hit the global shortcut and drag the region you want to record.
Turn on system audio. In the capture bar, the speaker toggle records the sound your Mac plays — it's on by default.
Pick a microphone from the mic menu if you want to narrate. Mic, system audio, or both — your choice.
Record. Pause, resume and Checkpoint Recording all keep the audio in sync with the video.
Balance the tracks in the editor — mic and system audio each have their own volume slider.
Export a share-ready MP4. Trims and speed changes apply to the audio exactly like the video.

Balance mic and system audio

ScreenTailor records the microphone and system audio as separate tracks. That's the detail that saves recordings: if the app's music drowns out your voice, you don't re-record — you drag the system audio slider down in the editor and export again. Recording a call or a demo where only the app sound matters? Mute the mic track entirely. The preview mix is exactly what ends up in the MP4.

What the built-in recorder can do

To be fair to macOS: Shift+Cmd+5 and QuickTime record your screen and your microphone perfectly well — the full walkthrough is in how to screen record on a Mac. What they can't do is capture the Mac's own sound, and there's no built-in way to add it later. If your recording needs the audio from an app, a browser tab or a call, use a recorder that captures system audio from the start.

Record it with the sound on

Free download for macOS 12 and later — Apple Silicon & Intel. System audio, mic, and a full editor.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Shift-Command-5 record audio on a Mac?

Only your microphone. The built-in macOS recorder and QuickTime can narrate over a recording, but they can't capture the sound your Mac itself is playing — apps, browser tabs or calls. For that you need a recorder with system audio support, such as ScreenTailor.

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

Yes. ScreenTailor records them as separate tracks, so you can narrate over app sound and still balance the two volumes afterwards in the editor.

Can I change the audio balance after recording?

Yes. Because mic and system audio are separate tracks, the editor gives each its own volume slider — lower the background music under your voice, or mute a track entirely. The mix you hear in the preview is what the exported MP4 uses.

Does system audio recording work when my Mac is muted?

Yes. System audio is captured from the apps directly, before it reaches your speakers, so you can record with the output muted or turned down and the recording still gets full-quality sound.

Which macOS versions support system audio recording?

System audio capture uses Apple's ScreenCaptureKit and requires macOS 13 or later. ScreenTailor itself runs on macOS 12 and later — on macOS 12, recordings capture your screen and microphone.