🏡 Frank Zhao

Screen recording with system audio using Quicktime on Mac

3 min read

QuickTime + BlackHole 2ch

BlackHole is a virtual audio driver that routes audio between apps. The trick: macOS won’t let QuickTime capture system audio directly, so you send audio through BlackHole and record it from there — while simultaneously routing it to your speakers via a Multi-Output Device.

Prerequisites

  • BlackHole 2ch installed — get it from existential.audio or via Homebrew:

    brew install blackhole-2ch

  • Audio MIDI Setup (built into macOS — search with Spotlight)

  • QuickTime Player (pre-installed)

Step 1 — Create a Multi-Output Device

This lets audio play through your speakers and be captured by BlackHole simultaneously.

  1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (/Applications/Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup.app)
  2. Click + in the bottom-left corner → Create Multi-Output Device
  3. In the right panel, check both:
    • BlackHole 2ch
    • Your speakers or headphones (e.g., MacBook Pro Speakers, External Headphones)
  4. Set BlackHole 2ch as the Master Device (right-click it in the list)
  5. Check Drift Correction on your speakers/headphones (not on BlackHole)
  6. Optionally rename it — double-click the device name and call it something like QuickTime Recording

Why BlackHole as Master? The master device controls clock timing. BlackHole is more stable as the clock source when recording.

Step 2 — Set System Audio Output to the Multi-Output Device

  1. Open System Settings → Sound → Output
  2. Select your newly created Multi-Output Device

Your audio will now play through your speakers and pass through BlackHole simultaneously.

⚠️ You won’t be able to control system volume with the keyboard while using a Multi-Output Device. Adjust speaker volume in Audio MIDI Setup instead, or switch back to your normal output when done recording.

Step 3 — Configure QuickTime for Screen Recording

  1. Open QuickTime Player
  2. File → New Screen Recording (or ⌃⌘N)
  3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the record button (or click Options in the toolbar on macOS Ventura+)
  4. Under Microphone, select BlackHole 2ch
  5. Optionally set a save location and toggle mouse clicks on/off

Step 4 — Record

  1. Click the Record button
  2. Choose to record the full screen or drag to select a region
  3. Click Start Recording
  4. When done, click the Stop button in the menu bar (or press ⌘⌃Esc)
  5. QuickTime will open the recording — save with ⌘S

Step 5 — Restore Audio Output When Done

  1. Open System Settings → Sound → Output
  2. Switch back to your normal output device (e.g., MacBook Pro Speakers)

Troubleshooting

IssueFix
No system audio in recordingConfirm system output is set to the Multi-Output Device, and QuickTime mic is set to BlackHole 2ch
Audio plays but sounds distortedEnsure sample rates match — in Audio MIDI Setup, set all devices to 48000 Hz (or all to 44100 Hz)
Can’t hear audio while recordingYou forgot to include your speakers in the Multi-Output Device
Volume keys not workingExpected — use Audio MIDI Setup to adjust speaker volume, or set a separate device as output after verifying BlackHole is capturing
BlackHole not appearing in QuickTimeRestart QuickTime after installing BlackHole

Quick Reference Checklist

  • BlackHole 2ch installed
  • Multi-Output Device created with BlackHole + speakers
  • BlackHole set as Master Device, Drift Correction on speakers
  • System audio output → Multi-Output Device
  • QuickTime microphone → BlackHole 2ch
  • Record
  • Restore system audio output when done

Graph View