workshop

Screen recording with internal audio on a Mac (free)

QuickTime can record your screen, but it can’t capture internal computer audio (system sound) — only a microphone. This uses BlackHole, a free virtual audio driver, to route system audio into QuickTime as an input.

Source: How To Screen Record With INTERNAL COMPUTER AUDIO On A Mac (FREE)

1. Record screen with QuickTime

1. Launch QuickTime via Spotlight (Cmd+Space, type “QuickTime”).
2. File → New Screen Recording.
3. Choose a mode: record the entire screen, or a selected portion.
4. In the recording options, set save destination, countdown timer (usually none), and microphone input. By default there’s no system-audio option here — that’s what BlackHole fixes.

2. Install BlackHole (captures internal audio)

1. Go to existential.audio/blackhole.
2. Submit name/email to get the download link.
3. Download and install BlackHole 2ch.

3. Set up virtual audio devices

Open Audio MIDI Setup (Spotlight → “Audio MIDI Setup”) and create two devices:

• Aggregate Device → rename to Computer Audio Input
  • Add BlackHole 2ch to it.
• Multi-Output Device → rename to Headphones (For Recording)
  • Select your headphones first, then BlackHole 2ch. Order matters — headphones first.

4. Record with sound

1. In QuickTime’s screen recording options, set the output device to Headphones (For Recording) so you still hear audio while it’s routed through BlackHole.
2. Under microphone options, select Computer Audio Input.
3. Start recording — screen and internal audio are both captured.
4. Adjust volume via the headphones device, not the Mac’s main output.

Bonus: cursor visibility (Presentation Assistant, ~$3)

Optional paid app for click highlights during recordings.

• Three pointer highlight styles: ring, spotlight (toggle: Option+1), disk.
• Customizable click circle size/opacity, pointer magnify-on-click.
• Can hide desktop icons for a clean recording surface.
• Menubar toggle for quick settings changes mid-recording.

Bonus: video ideas cheat sheet

A free PDF of video ideas/formats, offered via the video’s description — not part of the recording setup itself, just a content-planning aid.