These are 3 ways to record audio on your Mac

You can easily record audio on various devices, including a MacBook or MacBook air. Your Mac is a useful audio recording device. Whether you want to record audio for YouTube or you want to record audio of yourself, no problem.

No separate software is required to record audio on your Mac. By default you can record audio with the QuickTime player. The QuickTime player is a standard part of the Mac software on your Mac. However, if you want to edit the sound file after recording audio, you will need third-party software.

The QuickTime player on your Mac can only record the audio and export it as an audio file, after editing you can do it with other software. In addition to the QuickTime player, you can record audio with the Dictaphone software on your Mac and with Garageband.

In this tip I will show you step by step how to record audio on your Mac with QuickTime, Dictaphone or Garageband.

Record audio on MacBook

If you watch videos that you've downloaded or synced from your phone to your Mac, you've probably used the preinstalled QuickTime Player program. The program includes all the tools you need to record audio or your entire Mac screen and save the audio file, making it useful for longer recordings.

QuickTime also features screen and audio recording capabilities, so you can use it to record FaceTime calls and other VoIP calls on your Mac.

To make your recording, you can use your Mac's built-in microphone. However, if you don't like the quality of the built-in microphone or you are using your Mac with a third-party display, you can use an external microphone or use your iPhone as a microphone.

For basic audio recording, you can use the built-in microphone and QuickTime Player.

Record audio with QuickTime Player

Open the applications folder on your Mac. In the Applications folder, open the QuickTime Player.

In the menu go to Archive and then click on New audio recording.

The window to record new audio will now open. Click the down arrow to select an audio device and the audio quality.

You only need to select an audio device if you are using an external microphone or if you want to change the audio recording quality.

You can change the volume by dragging the bottom bar from left to right. This concerns the volume of your Mac so that you hear yourself. You can also use the touch bar above your Mac keyboard.

You can then choose from different audio devices connected to your Mac, for example a different microphone. You can also change the sound recording quality from High to Maximum.

If you have set everything as desired, you can now record audio with QuickTime Player on your Mac.

To get started, click on the red button. The audio is now being recorded. When you are ready, click on the gray button.

To export (or save) the audio you've recorded, go to File in the QuickTime menu and then click Save.

The sound you have recorded is now saved to the desired location as an .m4a audio file.

Record audio with Dictaphone

The Dictaphone software is also pre-installed on your Mac. By default, the Dictaphone software uses the built-in microphone of your Mac, but if you prefer higher quality sound recording, you can also use an external microphone.

Open the applications folder on your Mac. Click on Dictaphone. Open the Dictaphone application.

To record audio with the Dictaphone app on your Mac, click on the recording icon (the red button) at the bottom right. The audio recording starts immediately.

To stop the audio recording in the meantime, you can press the pause button and click resume again to continue.

When you are done, click the Done button in the lower right corner.

Your audio recording file is now available on any Apple device you are logged in to with your AppleID.

To delete a sound recording file made via the Dictaphone, click on the sound recording and at the top right click on the trash can icon to delete the sound recording.

If you right-click on the audio file you will have the option to edit the audio file. In the Dictaphone app you can shorten the audio file, remove a section or improve the audio quality.

Record audio with Garageband

Garageband is advanced audio software for Mac. It also provides a way to record audio through your Mac.

The Garageband software is installed by default on your Mac. However, if you don't see it, you can download Garageband from the Apple AppStore.

Open the applications folder on your Mac. Click on Garageband and open the Garageband application.

Choose an empty project and click the Choose button at the bottom right.

Then click on Audio and then on “Record via microphone or line input, or drag and drop audio files”. If necessary, select your input device such as an external microphone connected to your Mac and click Create.

To start a sound recording, click on the red recording button at the top of the menu. The audio recording starts immediately.

When you are done, you can save the audio recording by clicking the Save button at the bottom left.

The audio file will now be exported from Garageband and saved to your Mac computer.

I hope these 3 ways to record audio on your Mac have helped you. Thank you for reading!