How to Record Audio on a PC or Mac: Capture Both Sides of a Meeting (2026 Guide)

Recording audio on a computer sounds simple until you hit play and realize half the conversation is missing. Your microphone captures your voice, but the other people on a video call come through your computer's internal audio, and most built-in recorders ignore it.

This guide walks through every practical way to record audio on Windows and Mac, from the default apps to free tools like Audacity, OBS Studio, and BlackHole. We focus on the scenario most people actually care about: recording a meeting with both your voice and everyone else's, then turning that recording into notes you can use.

⚠️ This article was independently compiled based on publicly available information and user feedback as of October 2026.

Table of Contents

1. First, decide which audio you need to record
2. How to record audio on Windows
3. How to record audio on a Mac
4. Using your meeting app's built-in recording
5. Comparison of recording methods
6. Recording meetings? Get the transcript and notes in the same step
7. Pre-meeting recording checklist
8. Common problems and how to fix them
9. FAQ
10. Conclusion

First, decide which audio you need to record

Your computer has two separate audio sources. One is the microphone input. The other is everything playing inside the computer, usually called system audio or internal audio. On a video call, your voice goes through the mic while everyone else's voice arrives as system audio.

The third row is where most people get stuck. A mic-only recording loses the other participants, and a system-only recording loses you. The rest of this guide pays special attention to capturing both.

How to record audio on Windows

Windows 11 ships with several tools that can record audio. Pick the one that matches the sound you need.

Sound Recorder: your voice or the room

Sound Recorder (called Voice Recorder on older Windows 10 builds) is the built-in app for recording a microphone. Search for "Sound Recorder" in the Start menu, open it, and press the record button.

You can switch the input device from the bottom-left corner of the app, which is handy if you use a USB or headset mic. The catch: it only records the microphone. On a video call, the other side's voices are captured only to the extent your speakers leak into the mic, and not at all if you wear headphones.

Snipping Tool: screen recording with system audio and mic

Snipping Tool now includes screen recording, and recent versions can capture system audio and your microphone together. Press Windows + Shift + R to start a recording.

1. Open Snipping Tool, click the "..." (See more) menu, and choose Settings.
2. Under Screen recording, turn on the options to include microphone input and system audio by default.
3. Select the area to record, confirm the mic and system audio icons on the toolbar are enabled, then start.

The output is an MP4 video. If you only need audio, you will have to extract it afterwards. Older versions of Snipping Tool and Windows 10 don't support audio capture, so update the app from the Microsoft Store if you don't see these options.

Xbox Game Bar: record one app at a time

Press Windows + G to open Xbox Game Bar, which records the screen and audio together. Windows + Alt + R starts and stops a recording, and you can toggle your mic on or off.

Game Bar records the active app window. It can't capture the desktop or File Explorer, and switching to another app mid-recording can break the capture. Because it was designed for games, Snipping Tool is usually the more reliable choice for an entire meeting.

Stereo Mix: treat internal audio as a microphone

On some PCs you can enable a recording device called Stereo Mix, which exposes system audio as if it were a microphone.

1. Open Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings.
2. On the Recording tab, right-click an empty area and check "Show Disabled Devices."
3. Right-click Stereo Mix and choose Enable.
4. In Sound Recorder or another app, select Stereo Mix as the input.

Whether Stereo Mix appears depends on your PC's audio driver, and many laptops don't offer it. It is also a separate device from your mic, so recording both sources at once takes extra work.

Audacity and OBS Studio: free tools with more control

If the built-in apps fall short, two free tools cover almost every case.

• Audacity is an audio editor. Set the audio host to "Windows WASAPI" and pick your output device with "(loopback)" in its name to record system audio. It is also great for trimming and cleaning up noise afterwards.
• OBS Studio is streaming and recording software. Add both an "Audio Output Capture" (system audio) and an "Audio Input Capture" (mic) source, and it records both at once. You can balance the volume of each source separately.

Both tools take some setup the first time. Do a short test recording before an important call so you don't discover a missing source afterwards.

How to record audio on a Mac

The built-in Mac apps are designed around the microphone. To capture system audio, you will need to check your macOS version or add a tool.

Voice Memos and QuickTime Player: record the microphone

Voice Memos lets you start recording with one click, syncs with your iPhone through iCloud, and keeps every recording in a tidy list. QuickTime Player can also record your mic via File > New Audio Recording.

Both capture the microphone only. If you're wearing earbuds or headphones on a video call, the other participants won't be in the recording.

The screenshot toolbar: screen recording with your mic

Press Command + Shift + 5 to open the screenshot toolbar and record your screen. Choose a microphone under Options to include your own voice.

Support for system audio depends on your macOS version. Historically the toolbar couldn't record internal audio, and there are reports that newer releases add the option. Open the Options menu on your Mac and check whether a system audio setting is listed.

BlackHole: route internal audio with a virtual device

BlackHole is a free virtual audio driver that passes your Mac's system audio to a recording app. Setup takes a few minutes:

1. Install BlackHole.
2. In Audio MIDI Setup, create a Multi-Output Device and check both your speakers (or headphones) and BlackHole. This lets you hear the audio while it is also sent to the recorder.
3. To record your voice too, create an Aggregate Device that combines your microphone and BlackHole.
4. In System Settings > Sound, set the output to the Multi-Output Device, then choose the Aggregate Device (or BlackHole) as the input in your recording app.

When the meeting ends, switch your output back to your normal speakers. While a Multi-Output Device is selected, the volume keys on your Mac may stop working.

OBS Studio: system audio and mic on a Mac

OBS Studio runs on macOS too. On macOS 13 and later, its screen capture sources can pull in app audio, so you can record system audio without installing BlackHole. Add an audio input capture for your mic and you'll have both sides of the conversation.

The first time you use it, grant Screen Recording and Microphone access under System Settings > Privacy & Security.

Using your meeting app's built-in recording

If you only need a copy of the meeting, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet all have recording features. You don't need to install anything, and you also get the video.

The limitation is permission. Whether you can record depends on the host's plan, the meeting settings, and your role, and the record button may simply be missing when someone else hosts. For where recordings are saved, see Where Google Meet, Zoom, and Teams recordings are saved. For settings that prevent forgotten recordings, read How to never miss a meeting recording.

Comparison of recording methods

"Partial" means it works only under certain conditions or with extra setup.

Recording meetings? Get the transcript and notes in the same step

Every method above gets the audio onto your disk. For meetings, though, the real work starts afterwards. Listening back to a one-hour call and writing notes can take as long as the meeting itself, and uploading files to a transcription service adds another step.

If meetings are your main reason for recording, it can make sense to handle recording, transcription, and notes in one app. One option is SuperIntern, built by NanoHuman Inc.

SuperIntern is a desktop meeting assistant for Windows and Mac. It captures your computer's system audio and your microphone at the same time, so there's no Stereo Mix or BlackHole setup to manage.

• No bot joins your call. Nothing extra shows up in the participant list, which keeps external meetings clean.
• Works with any meeting app. Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Webex, Slack huddles, and anything else that plays audio on your computer. You can capture audio even when someone else hosts and recording is restricted on their side.
• Real-time transcription. A speaker-labeled transcript appears during the meeting, so you can check what was just said.
• AI Canvas for automatic notes. Customize the note format around what you need, such as decisions, action items, or open questions.
• AI chat after the meeting. Ask questions like "What concerns did the client raise?" and get answers grounded in the conversation.

You can also upload an existing audio file to get a transcript with speaker separation and a summary, so recordings made with the methods above can become notes too. For in-person conversations, SuperIntern records through your computer's microphone.

The free plan requires no credit card. The paid Plus plan costs $20 per month and includes up to 100 hours of meetings. SuperIntern requires the macOS or Windows desktop app and permission to access the microphone and screen recording.

Pre-meeting recording checklist

Whichever method you choose, these steps prevent most recording mishaps.

1. Tell participants you're recording. Consent rules vary. In the US, some states require only one party's consent while others, such as California, require everyone's. Company policies and client contracts may add their own rules. Saying "I'm recording this for notes" at the start and getting agreement is the safe default.
2. Use earbuds or headphones. If you play the call through speakers while recording both mic and system audio, the other side's voices are captured twice and sound like an echo.
3. Run a five-second test. Check that both your voice and the other side are audible and that levels aren't too low.
4. Check where files are saved and how much space you have. Screen recordings can reach several gigabytes per hour.
5. Name files with the date and meeting. Something like "2026-10-27_Acme-weekly" makes recordings easy to find later.
6. Decide how recordings are handled. Agree on who can access them and how long they're kept, and delete what you no longer need. Be especially careful with meetings that include personal data.

Common problems and how to fix them

"The other people on the call weren't recorded"

You're probably using an app that only records the microphone. Sound Recorder and Voice Memos can't capture system audio. Switch to Snipping Tool, OBS Studio, BlackHole, or another method that records internal audio.

"My own voice is missing"

The recording is set to system audio only. Check the mic icon in Snipping Tool or the audio input capture in OBS Studio. Muting yourself in the meeting app doesn't stop a separate recorder from capturing your mic, as long as its mic input is on.

"Voices sound doubled or echoey"

Your mic is picking up the speakers, and that sound overlaps with the system audio. Headphones solve this.

"My Mac has no sound after recording"

After using BlackHole, the output may still be set to BlackHole. Go to System Settings > Sound and switch the output back to your speakers or headphones.

"I have the recording but no time to listen to it"

Upload the file to a transcription service or AI note taker to review it as text. If you record meetings often, a tool that transcribes and summarizes during the call removes the need to listen back at all.

FAQ

How do I record only my computer's internal audio?

On Windows, use Snipping Tool's system audio option, Stereo Mix, or Audacity with WASAPI loopback. On a Mac, use a virtual audio device like BlackHole, or OBS Studio on macOS 13 and later.

How do I record both sides of a video call?

On Windows, the easiest option is Snipping Tool with both mic and system audio turned on. On a Mac, use OBS Studio or combine BlackHole with an Aggregate Device. To skip the setup, use a meeting assistant that captures both sources automatically.

Do I need permission to record a meeting?

It depends on local law, company policy, and any agreements with the other party. In the US, consent requirements differ by state. The simplest way to avoid problems is to announce the recording upfront and get agreement, and to check the other company's rules for external meetings.

What free software can record audio on a computer?

Sound Recorder and Snipping Tool on Windows and Voice Memos on Mac are built in and free. To capture system audio as well, Audacity, OBS Studio, and BlackHole are all free. If you also need transcripts and summaries, consider an AI note taker with a free plan.

Should I use Zoom's recording or record on my computer?

If you host the meeting and want video, Zoom's built-in recording is convenient. If someone else hosts, or you switch between Zoom, Teams, and other apps, recording on your own computer is more dependable.

How do I transcribe a recording?

Upload the file to a transcription service. You could also play the audio into your computer's dictation feature, but accuracy and speaker separation are limited. For meetings, an AI note taker with speaker separation and summaries gets you to finished notes in one pass.

Conclusion

The right way to record audio on a PC or Mac depends on what you need to capture. For your own voice, Sound Recorder or Voice Memos is enough. For video calls, use Snipping Tool on Windows, or OBS Studio or BlackHole on a Mac, and make sure system audio and your mic are recorded together.

If you record meetings to create notes, combining recording, transcription, and summaries in one step saves the most time. SuperIntern has a free plan, so you can try the full flow from recording to notes in your next meeting.

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