Mac Tutorials
How to Record Your Screen with QuickTime Player on MacOS
QuickTime Player is a convenient tool for screen recording that is pre-installed on all Mac computers. With the ability to record both your screen and audio, it provides a simple solution for various recording purposes. This article will walk you through how to effectively utilize QuickTime Player for screen recording and audio capture—both for microphone input and system audio. 🍎💻🔊
Navigating QuickTime Player for Screen Recording
First, open QuickTime Player on your Mac by using the search icon 🔎. Proceed by selecting ‘New Screen Recording’ from the ‘File’ menu. QuickTime Player offers options to either record the entire screen or select a portion of the screen. Further settings include deciding the save location for the video, microphone selection, and whether to include a countdown timer before the recording starts. 💾🎙️⏱️
Adjusting Audio Quality for Screen Recording
QuickTime Player, by default, uses the built-in microphone for recording audio. However, there are external microphones available that offer considerably higher audio quality than the built-in microphone. 🔊💼
Capturing System Sound with QuickTime Player
To capture internal system sound during a screen recording, such as the audio from a video playing on your Mac or gameplay audio, additional steps are required. This more advanced setup involves downloading and setting up an auxiliary plugin named BlackHole. This nifty plugin allows for the capture of internal audio during screen recordings, taking your records to the next level. 🎧📈🎮🎥
Setting Up the BlackHole Plugin
Installing the BlackHole plugin is straightforward. After the installation, go to Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac—a utility application that is already included. Within this utility, create an aggregate device that includes the BlackHole 16 channel and an audio input source such as the built-in microphone or an external one. Then, create a multi-output device that includes built-in output and BlackHole 16 channel. Be sure to name these for easy recognition in future. ⚙️🖥️🎙️
System Preference Settings for Screen Recording
In System Preferences on your Mac, switch the audio output to the multi-output device created in Audio MIDI Setup. This setting directs the sound output to both your speakers (or headphones) and the BlackHole 16 channel, thus allowing QuickTime Player to record this sound. 🎧↔️🎙️
Starting the Screen Recording
Upon heading back to QuickTime Player and initiating a new screen recording, you’ll notice an additional option in the microphone menu titled QuickTime input, which was created in the Audio MIDI Setup utility. Choosing this option will enable QuickTime Player to record audio from the built-in microphone (or external one, if selected), and the internal system sound. Thus, enhancing your screen recording with high-quality audio. 🎥🔉🎉
Conclusion: 🏁
Screen recording, although seemingly easy, can require complex setups for quality results. QuickTime Player, however, includes everything necessary for great screen recording—right on your Mac. By following this guide, you’ll be able to produce seamless and quality screen recordings, with or without internal system sound. Always remember to switch your sound settings back to normal after recording to ensure optimal audio experience during normal usage. Good luck with your screen recording! 🎥🌟🍀
FAQ
What is QuickTime Player?
QuickTime Player is a free multimedia playback framework designed by Apple for Mac OS users. It can handle various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity.
Can QuickTime Player record screens?
Yes, QuickTime Player has screen recording capabilities.
How to start QuickTime Player?
Navigate to Applications and then select QuickTime Player.
What are the steps to record the screen with QuickTime Player?
Open QuickTime, go to File, select New Screen Recording, click on the red record button, choose the area you want to record and click Start Recording.
Can I record audio with QuickTime Player while screen recording?
Yes, QuickTime Player allows audio recording while screen recording.
How can I record the screen and audio simultaneously?
Before starting your screen recording in QuickTime Player, click on the drop-down arrow next to the record button, and select your microphone.
Can I select a specific area for screen recording in QuickTime Player?
Yes, after clicking the record button, you can drag to select the area you want to record on your screen.
How to stop recording in QuickTime Player?
To end recording, click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command-Control-Esc (Escape).
Where does QuickTime Player save screen recordings?
QuickTime Player doesn’t automatically save screen recordings. After stopping a recording, you’ll need to manually save your recording to the desired location on your computer.
Can I edit the screen recordings in QuickTime Player?
Yes, QuickTime Player provides basic editing functions like Trim, Split, Cut, Copy, Paste, etc.
Can I record a FaceTime call with QuickTime Player?
Yes, you can use QuickTime Player to record FaceTime calls on your Mac. However, ensure the other party is aware and consents to being recorded.
Is QuickTime Player free to use?
Yes, QuickTime Player is a free application provided by Apple for MacOS.
How do I record sound with QuickTime Player on MacOS?
You can select the audio input in the screen recording options in QuickTime Player.
Can I record a specific application window using QuickTime Player?
Yes, after pressing the screen record button, drag the cursor around the window you’d like to record and then click ‘Start Recording’.
Will recording my screen with QuickTime Player slow down my Mac?
Screen recording can use more of your computer’s resources and may cause it to run slower, especially on older machines. However, newer models should handle QuickTime’s screen recording without a significant impact on performance.
Is recorded video quality good in QuickTime Player?
The video quality in QuickTime Player is quite good, and it saves recordings in high resolution.
Are there any alternatives to QuickTime Player for screen recording on a Mac?
Yes, alternatives include OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), Camtasia, Screencast-O-Matic, and others.
How to solve if QuickTime Player not responding during screen recording?
Force quit the application and restart it. If the problem persists, restart your Mac. It’s recommended to save all open files and documents before restarting.
Can I use QuickTime Player on my iPhone to record my screen?
No, QuickTime Player does not have an iOS version. However, you can use the built-in screen recording feature on iOS.
How to resolve audio issues while recording with QuickTime Player?
Go to System Preferences – Sound, and ensure the correct output device is selected. Also, make sure the volume is turned up.
Can QuickTime Player record in the background?
No, QuickTime Player cannot record in the background. If you switch windows during recording, it will be captured on the video.
Can QuickTime Player capture keystrokes while screen recording?
No, QuickTime Player cannot capture keystrokes during screen recording.
Can I pause a screen recording in QuickTime Player?
Unfortunately, QuickTime Player does not have a pause function during screen recording. You’ll have to stop the recording and start a new one.
How to increase the quality of screen recordings in QuickTime Player?
The quality of screen recordings in QuickTime Player is generally quite good and isn’t manually adjustable. Good quality depends largely on the resolution of your screen and available processing power.
Are there any restrictions on the length of screen recordings in QuickTime Player?
No, there are no restrictions on the length of screen recordings. The only restrictions are the available space on your Mac and sufficient processing power.
Does recording screen with QuickTime Player require internet connection?
No, QuickTime Player does not require an internet connection to record the screen.
Are files outputted by QuickTime Player compatible with Windows?
Yes, recordings by QuickTime Player are saved in .MOV format, which is compatible with many players including those on Windows like VLC and Windows Media Player.
How do I adjust the volume of the recorded audio in QuickTime Player?
During playback of your recording, you can adjust the volume using the volume slider in QuickTime Player. But it doesn’t affect the original audio volume in the recorded video.
Can I record a timed screen recording in QuickTime Player?
No, QuickTime Player does not offer a timer for screen recordings. You’ll have to manually stop the recording when you’re done.
Can I share my QuickTime Player screen recordings directly to social media?
Although QuickTime doesn’t have a direct social media sharing feature, you can manually upload exported files to various social media platforms.