How to Screen Record Audio

Combining visuals and audio creates synergy that helps people perceive information more efficiently and quickly. Modern tools allow you to capture either the entire screen or just a selected portion. You can record system audio while capturing the screen or add an external voice-over.

These days, there is a wide range of tools and solutions, including built-in mobile apps, online screen recorders, free and paid software, and services suitable for both beginners and experts. This article highlights the simplest and most user-friendly methods for recording screens with system sound or external audio.

Introduction to screen recording with audio

Screen recording, also known as screen capture, is the process of capturing everything that appears on your device’s monitor. It is a useful technique for creating detailed, step-by-step instructions, manuals, onboarding materials, or training materials. Teachers or tutors can also use it to guide their students through assignments or justify their grades. In the corporate world, screen recording can be used to present reports, presentations, or other data. Screen recordings enhance communications in both personal and professional settings by making information clearer and more accessible.

While the final result may be completely silent, it’s always better to include a voiceover. This way, you can explain precisely what you’re showing and how it can be useful to the viewer. Screen recording with audio is an effective way to provide clear, repeatable instructions for tasks, troubleshooting, and training.

High-quality screen recordings heavily rely on sound. If you record system audio, the initial soundtrack must be impeccable. If you use a microphone, audio quality should be your primary concern. When choosing a screen recorder, keep this priority in mind and select solutions that offer noise-reduction functionality.

Benefits of screen recording with audio

While video manuals may be useful, exhaustive, and detailed, there is still room for misinterpretations and errors. A voice-over is necessary to clarify exactly what you’re doing and to provide additional information.

There are plenty of benefits to screen recording with audio, including but not limited to:

• Enhanced accessibility. This way, your manual is available to customers with visual impairments or those using devices with small screens.
• Better clarity. Not all actions performed are visible; some remain “behind the scenes” and should be explained verbally.
• Greater engagement. Viewers are less likely to get distracted and miss something essential, as clear audio and visual cues help keep their eyes on the content.
• A gentler learning curve. If the video focuses on highly technical issues, the audio explanations will make the content more digestible.

How to create a screen recording with audio

Before exploring alternative solutions, let’s examine the default screen recorders available on various devices with different operating systems.

MacOS

Mac users can utilize QuickTime Player. Not only does this app allow you to record videos with sound, but it also functions as a basic video editor and player. You can find the option to record your screen under File > New Screen Recording.

Windows

Windows 10 and Windows 11 users can activate the preinstalled Xbox Game Bar and use it as a screen recorder. Ensure the application is turned on in Settings > Gaming.

Unfortunately, earlier versions of Windows don't have built-in video recording solutions, so you'll need to use third-party software.

iPhones

iPhone users can enjoy a built-in free screen recorder accessible through the Control Center. To record audio during your screen capture, simply tap the microphone icon in the Control Center before starting the recording. Although it records audio only from external sources, there is a workaround: increase the system audio’s volume so that it can be picked up by the microphone and recorded in this way. The output is automatically saved to your Photos app.

Android

The latest versions of Android (11 and newer) devices also come with built-in screen recorders. They operate similarly to those on iPhones, with the exception of the audio source limitation. If you have an older version, you may need to look into third-party options, which we'll describe below.

Desktop apps

If your device doesn't have a built-in screen recording tool or you're looking for something with more advanced features, consider desktop apps like OBS Studio, ShareX, FlashBack Express, Bandicam, and others. While their functionalities vary significantly, there are several shared pros and cons worth mentioning.

Although video quality depends on the chosen tool, audio quality can also be affected by the microphone, which may introduce some ambient noise at the start. That's why it's wise to choose software with a noise reduction feature.

Online screen recorders

Online screen recorders include tools such as Loom, Clideo, and ScreenPal, among others. These solutions are compatible with all types of devices, as they run in any browser, including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and others.

I prefer online solutions, as they store all projects in the cloud, allowing me to access them from any device whenever needed.

How to screen record with audio using Clideo

To record videos with the Clideo tool, follow these three simple steps:

1. Select the type of screen recording you need.

   Open the free online screen recorder in a new browser tab and click the "Get started" button.

   Once you're taken to the next screen, click the "Record" option in the left sidebar menu. Choose the "Screen" tile to record your screen. Other options include recording your microphone only, or your webcam, or you can record your screen and webcam at the same time.

2. Start recording

   If prompted, allow the service to access your microphone. If you need to record yourself talking, click the gear icon to open the sound settings and choose the external device you'd like to use for recording audio.

   Press the red "Record" button, and then pick the tab or window you want to capture. You can choose to record your browser tab, a window, or your entire screen. If you also need to include the system sound from your computer, toggle on "Also share tab audio". This way, you can record your screen along with both microphone input and any system audio from the shared tab. Note that system sound recording is possible only when you record a tab or the whole screen.

   To stop recording, click the "Stop sharing" button and go to the editor's tab, or click "View: clideo.com" tab to navigate to the editor and stop recording from that tab.

   When you stop recording, you can either add the result to the timeline for further editing and/or downloading, or start a new screen recording if this one didn’t turn out right.

3. Edit and save the video

   When on the editing screen, you can start modifing your project, trim it, combine it with other audio or video files, replace audio in video, add images, stickers and text, or make any other adjustments.

   Keep in mind that if you recorded a voiceover, it will be saved as a separate audio file in its own track. The system audio, however, will be integrated into the video. However, if you need to make changes to the system audio, you can extract it and later trim it, replace certain parts while keeping the video intact.

   If you're unhappy with your voice, you can create an AI voiceover directly in the tool. Use the TTS feature to convert text to speech in any language.

   When you are done, click the "Export" button at the top right, select the output quality that suits your needs, and process the project.

   Finally, review the video and save it to your preferred location if all is fine, or return to make the edits

Troubleshooting screen recording issues

While recording your screen, you may encounter various issues. Here is a list of the most common ones, their possible causes, and basic troubleshooting steps.

1. Recording doesn't start. This may occur if the recording is blocked at the system level. You'll need to open your device settings and enable permissions there.
2. Black screen. The recording is finished, but when you play the preview, you see only a black screen. This might happen because your recording hasn't been uploaded yet due to a slow Internet connection. Wait 5-10 minutes and try again. Also, some sites, such as Netflix, have DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection, which prevents them from being recorded.
3. No audio. Ensure you've selected the correct audio source and allowed the tool to access it.
4. Low-quality audio. Make sure you speak directly into the microphone and that it’s positioned close to your mouth to minimize ambient noise.
5. Missing options. This issue may be caused by browser or version conflicts, for example, if you're using a mobile browser.

Visit our Help Center for the latest details on screen recording and instructions on how to resolve the most common issues for each operating system.