How to Record Audio from Computer: Various Recording Tools

Recording audio from your computer is useful for many reasons. You can save music, capture game sounds, record online meetings, or create tutorials. Luckily, there are many easy ways to do this, whether you're using Windows or Mac. Some computers have built-in tools to record system audio, while others need special software. Free programs like Audacity or paid apps like Aqua Demo can help you capture high-quality sound. You can also use online tools if you don't want to install anything. In this guide, we'll show you step-by-step how to record audio from computer. We'll cover different methods, from using built-in features to third-party software. Whether you're a beginner or looking for the best way to get high-quality recordings, this guide will help you find the right solution. Let's get started!

Record Sound from Computer (Windows Built-in Audio Recorder)

If you prefer to record audio on a PC without installing software, Windows has a built-in sound recorder to help you record your voice. It is called a Sound Recorder on Windows 10 and 11 and was previously known as a Voice Recorder. This audio recorder for PC allows you to record voice from a microphone around 192 kbps. Besides, if you want to record internal audio on your computer, you must change the sound settings and enable Stereo Mix. However, the Sound Recorder can't record both system sound and microphone simultaneously. What we love about this tool is that it has a Marker feature. During recording, you can add markers to highlight key parts for easy reference later, which is useful, especially during longer recordings like meetings or lectures. Moreover, recordings are automatically saved in M4A format and stored in the "Sound Recordings" folder.

User Guide:

• First, click the Start Menu and type Sound Recorder or Voice Recorder in the search bar, then click the app to open it. Make sure your microphone is connected properly. If you need to record computer audio, enable Stereo Mix in Sound Settings.
• When ready, click the Record icon to start recording your voice or the system audio. While recording, you can use the Mark icon to add markers to important parts of the recording. After recording, click the Stop button.
• Then, your recording will be saved automatically. You can see it on the left side corner of the app. Select the recording and click the Play button beside the Record button to play it.

How to Capture Audio from Computer (Windows and Mac)

While Aqua Demo is a screen recorder that can record screen and audio from Windows and Mac, it can also record audio, making it a versatile tool for capturing sound. It has a separate audio recording function that allows you to record your voice, computer sound, or both, compared to a built-in audio recorder for Windows. Likewise, Aqua Demo supports popular formats like MP3, WMA, AAC, and M4A, with options to adjust bitrate and audio quality up to 320 kbps for clearer sound. With that, you can create high-quality recordings, which is perfect if you plan to do voiceovers, podcasts, or music capture. Besides, this audio recording software for PC stands out with its Noise Cancellation feature that reduces background noise for clear audio. However, it is paid software ($19.95 - $42.95), and the free version has restrictions, such as watermarks on recordings.

Step 1. Install Aqua Demo on your Computer

To get started, download and install Aqua Demo on its official website. Alternatively, you can click the Free Download button above to install it quickly. After that, launch the software, click the drop-down menu, and select Audio Recorder.

Step 2. Configure Your Audio Recording Settings

Before you start recording, customize the settings first to your preference. Click the Settings drop-down menu and select Record Settings. From there, navigate to the Output tab and locate Audio Recording Settings. Then, choose the audio format, codec, quality, sample, rate, and channels for your audio. After that, click OK to save your changes.

Step 3. Start to Record Audio from Your Computer

If you are ready, choose to record sound from a Microphone, System Sound, or Both. Then, hit the REC button to begin your audio recording. When you’re done, click the Stop icon (red square) to finish recording.

Step 4. Preview Your Audio Recording

After recording, you can preview your audio recording to check its quality. You can also trim unnecessary parts of the recording by dragging the start and end times. The software can automatically save the recording in your preferred quality, format, and output folder, which you set earlier.

Record Audio Playing on Computer Using Browser Extension

Another easy way to record audio playing on your computer is through a Chrome Audio Capture extension. This audio recorder captures sound directly from a Chrome tab, including streaming music, videos, and online meetings. Also, it saves high-quality recordings, typically up to 128 to 192 kbps in MP3 and WAV formats for compatibility with different devices and platforms. In addition, Chrome Audio Capture recordings are limited to 60 minutes, but you can change it on the Recorder settings to extend the limit. However, recordings that are too long may not be saved properly because there is a possibility that Chrome memory will run out. Moreover, the audio recorder only captures audio from the current tab, not from the entire system or other applications. Nonetheless, Chrome Audio Capture is free and easy to access, and no registration or software installation is required, which is perfect for users with old computers.

User Guide:

• Go to the Chrome Store and search for Chrome Audio Capture. Then click Add to Chrome to install it. Once installed, you will see its icon in the Chrome toolbar at the top right corner. Click on its icon to see the available settings.
• Next, navigate to the browser tab containing the audio you want to record. Afterward, click the Chrome Audio Capture icon and select the Start Capture button to begin recording. When you’re done, click the extension icon and choose Save Capture to stop recording.
• Wait until Chrome Audio Capture processes the recording. After that, click the Download File As Custom Name or Download File As Date button to save the recorded audio. Finally, rename the file and choose a location on your computer to save it.

How to Record Audio from Computer Using Desktop Audio Recorder

Audacity is a free and open-source audio recording software for recording audio playing on your computer. It runs on all major Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. In addition to that, this recording software can record live audio from a microphone, line-in, or mixer. However, like Windows built-in recorder, it doesn't natively capture system sound. You can set up "Stereo Mix" (on Windows) or use virtual audio cables to record sound directly from applications or games. But Audacity stands out with its multi-track recording feature, meaning you can simultaneously record and mix multiple audio sources, like vocals, over background music. Moreover, it has many built-in effects, like Noise Reduction, Echo, Fade In/Out, and Pitch Shift, that help you polish your recordings or add creativity. Furthermore, Audacity allows you to export recordings in many formats, such as WAV, MP3, FLAC, and OGG with up to 192 kHz and bit depths up to 32-bit float.

User Guide:

• Download and install Audacity on its official website or other trusted sources. Next, launch the tool and select the recording source. Simply click the Audio Setup tab from the top menu. Then, locate the Recording Device and choose the system audio input option you prefer.
• Set up a Stereo Mix or a virtual audio cable to capture internal sound if you're recording system sound. Then, tap the Record button above to begin recording. When finished, hit the Stop button to end the recording.
• Finally, you can improve your recorded audio with noise reduction and trim the unnecessary parts. Once you are happy with the result, go to File > Export and choose your preferred audio format. Alternatively, if you want to continue editing later, save it as an Audacity Project file (.aup) by going to File > Save Project.

Online Sound Recorder for PC for Recording Computer Audio

The last tool we tried to record audio from a computer was an online audio recorder. AceThinker Free Online Audio Recorder is a web-based tool that lets you capture audio from the microphone and your computer's audio. Yes, even though it's an online tool, it can record the system's sound, which is an advantage for those who prefer lightweight apps. Furthermore, it's especially useful if you want to record audio for YouTube, such as voiceovers, tutorials, or background narration, without installing any software. Likewise, this online audio recorder lets you customize the audio quality, bitrate, and sample rate to get the best quality audio possible up to 128 kbps or higher. Not only that, but AceThinker stands out with its ID3 Tag Editor feature, which allows you to add details like title, artist, album, year, and genre to your recorded files for easy access. However, MP3 is the only supported format of the tool.

Step 1. Launch the Online Audio Recorder

Visit the AceThinker Free Online Audio Recorder website. Alternatively, you can click the link to access the page directly. After that, click the Start button on its interface to activate the online launcher.

Step 2. Choose Audio Source

Once the audio recorder's launcher appears on your screen, navigate to the volume icon in the bottom left corner. From there, specify your audio source, whether you want to use the microphone, system sound, or both. Afterward, adjust the audio settings and test them before recording.

Step 3. Start Recording Audio

When you're ready to record, click the big Record icon in the center to start recording audio. Then, play the audio or start speaking into your microphone and let the tool capture it. Next, hit the Stop icon once you're finished recording.

Step 4. Locate the Recordings

Lastly, navigate to the Recording List at the bottom right corner to see the recorded files. From there, play the recorded audio with its built-in player and see the result. Since the tool automatically saves the recorded file to your local drive, you can freely locate it by simply clicking the folder icon below.

Frequently Asked Questions