Is there a screen recorder that records internal audio?

A screen recorder is a software program that allows users to capture video and audio activity taking place on a computer screen or mobile device display (https://www.movavi.com/learning-portal/what-is-screen-recording.html). The uses of screen recorders include creating tutorials or how-to videos, recording gameplay, capturing presentations, recording video conferences, and documenting technical issues. They give creators of all types the tools to demonstrate concepts to others or simply to archive audiovisual materials that appear on screen.

Recording Screen and System Audio

There are two main types of audio that can be recorded with screen recording software: external audio and internal (system) audio. External audio includes any sounds coming from external microphones or your computer’s headphone/speaker jacks. Internal audio refers to any sounds generated from within your computer itself, such as system alerts, notification pings, in-app video/audio clips, and other internal system noises.

Recording external audio alongside screen recordings is relatively straightforward. Most screen capture tools enable you to easily record audio from an external microphone or your computer’s audio output. However, recording internal system audio poses more challenges and limitations. Unlike external audio sources which have physical inputs/outputs, internal sounds do not travel through an audio interface and are instead mixed and processed through your operating system’s audio architecture.

Therefore, recording internal system audio requires accessing and tapping into the underlying audio streams within your OS. This deeper integration means that not all screen recording apps have built-in support for capturing internal audio. The ability depends on factors like your device type, OS version, root/admin access levels, audio driver models, etc. Workarounds exist, but native internal audio recording capabilities can vary across platforms.

Challenges of Recording Internal Audio

Recording internal or system audio presents some unique challenges compared to recording audio from an external microphone. This is because the audio is being captured internally from the operating system rather than through an input device.

According to this article, some of the main challenges include:

• System security restrictions that prevent applications from accessing internal audio
• Complex audio routing from multiple internal sources that needs to be captured
• Synchronizing internal audio tracks with video recording
• High CPU and RAM usage for simultaneously recording video and internal audio
• Ensuring consistent audio quality and volume levels

In summary, recording internal system audio is more resource intensive and involves overcoming operating system restrictions. Screen recording apps need specific permissions, audio drivers, and complex audio capture pipelines to route all the internal audio sources.

Windows Screen Recorders

Several screen recording software options are available for Windows that allow recording of internal audio. Some popular free and paid options include:

• Snagit – Snagit’s screen recorder can capture video, audio, webcam footage, and screenshots. The Record System Audio option allows recording of internal audio.
• Windows 10 Game Bar – Windows 10 includes a built-in game capture tool that allows recording of gameplay footage along with microphone and system audio.
• Open Broadcaster Software – The open-source OBS Studio software is popular for livestreaming but also works for screen recording with audio capture capabilities.
• Movavi Screen Recorder – Movavi is a paid screen recording tool for Windows with options to record system audio from specific apps or computer-wide.

So in summary, leading screen recording software like Snagit, OBS Studio, or Movavi provide full system audio capturing during screen recordings on Windows devices.

Mac Screen Recorders

Several Mac screen recorders support recording internal audio. Here are some top options:

• ScreenFlow – This popular paid tool offers the ability to record both system and microphone sounds. One reviewer noted “One of the best screen recorders for Mac with internal audio is ScreenFlow. It offers a user-friendly interface and numerous features, including…” (source).
• QuickTime Player – Apple’s free built-in tool can capture audio from your Mac in screen recordings. To enable it, select “Show Movie Inspector” under the File menu.
• OBS Studio – The open-source OBS works on Mac and lets you capture desktop audio as well as mic input.

Most Mac screen recording software does not capture internal audio by default due to privacy, security or legal concerns. However, with the right tools and settings configured, recording computer audio along with your screen capture is achievable on macOS.

Linux Screen Recorders

Linux has several screen recording utilities that can capture internal audio along with screen activity. Some examples include:

• SimpleScreenRecorder – This open source tool can record the entire Linux desktop as well as audio from microphones, line-in devices, and other internal audio sources (Source 1).

• RecordMyDesktop – Another open source utility that captures screen video and internal audio through PulseAudio or OSS. It offers configurable hotkeys and video encoding options (Source 1).

• Kazam – A lightweight screen recorder that records both video and internal audio simultaneously. It has options to capture the entire desktop or select windows/regions (Source 2).

Most Linux distributions come with at least one of these tools pre-installed or available in their software repositories. So recording internal audio along with screen video is generally straightforward on Linux systems.

Mobile Screen Recorders

Mobile devices like Android phones and iPhones have built-in screen recording capabilities. However, the default screen recorders typically don’t capture internal audio from videos, music, or other media playing on the device.

There are some third party mobile apps that can record internal audio while screen recording:

• AZ Screen Recorder for Android can capture internal audio along with screen recordings according to this app listing on Google Play.
• ADV Screen Recorder for Android also has the capability to record internal audio based on this list of top Android screen recorders.

However, internal audio recording can be challenging on mobile devices due to system limitations. There are some workarounds like using a wired headset with a mic to capture internal audio.

Workarounds

While most screen recorders cannot directly capture internal audio, there are some workarounds you can try to record the audio coming from your computer’s speakers or headphones.

For Windows 10, one option is to enable Stereo Mix in your sound settings. Stereo Mix allows you to record all audio playing through your speakers. You can then select Stereo Mix as the audio input in your screen recorder [1].

On Mac, you can create an Aggregate Device that combines your speakers and microphone into one input. This makes it possible to record internal audio by selecting the Aggregate Device in your screen recorder [2].

If using Audacity, you may be able to record computer playback by enabling the WASAPI loopback device as the recording input in Audacity’s settings.

For mobile devices, connecting your phone to your computer with an audio cable can let you capture internal audio. You then select the connected phone as the audio source in your screen recording software.

While a bit more complex, these workarounds allow you to record internal computer audio with most screen capture programs.

Recommendations

There are several strong options for screen recorders that can capture internal audio:

For Windows, I recommend Wondershare DemoCreator. It’s an easy to use recorder with lots of customization options and the ability to record system audio.

On Mac, Quicktime is built-in and effective. Just go to File > New Screen Recording to get started.

For Android, AZ Screen Recorder is a top choice that lets you record internal and external audio separately.

On iOS, Screen Recorder with Audio works well for capturing full system audio along with video.

For Linux, try SimpleScreenRecorder which is open source and full featured.

Those are some of the best options currently available for recording internal audio on the major platforms.

Conclusion

In summary, there are a number of screen recording solutions to capture system audio across major desktop and mobile platforms. While some operating systems offer built-in options, third party tools tend to offer more flexibility and control. However, inherent challenges exist due to technical restrictions on accessing internal audio streams. While challenging, there are several techniques and workarounds that enable capturing audio along with screen recordings.

In terms of recommendations, Windows users may want to consider tools like OBS Studio for flexibility or Xbox Game Bar for simplicity. On Macs, QuickTime Player offers an accessible option, while third party apps provide advanced capabilities. For mobile platforms, built-in support varies, so it’s worth exploring the app stores. Finally, solutions like virtual audio cables and multi device recording provide creative workarounds. Whichever method you choose, testing it thoroughly before critical recordings is advised.