Smooth workflow is one of the reasons why Audio and Video Professionals prefer Mac to Windows. As long as you have the right apps, you wouldn’t face any glitches, per se. If you want to record audio for music production, podcasts or something else, you need the best audio recording software for Mac.
AudioTools Pro is a point-and-click set of production calculators and utilities that are often needed during music production. Key features: setup help for effect processors, such as delay, reverb. Paragon ntfs for mac 15 rutracker. Togu Audio TAL-Dac v1-0-2 WiN-MAC OSX x86 x64 Oct 2, 2018 Ample Sound AME2 VSTi-RTAS-AAX WINDOWS x86 x64 Ene 29, 2018 TDR FREE Plugin Bundle WIN-MAC Ene 10, 2020. Free, open source, cross-platform audio software. Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. Developed by a group of volunteers as open source and offered free of charge. Amazing support community.
By default, Mac allows you to record audio from Mac internal mic, which is fine if you want to take quick audio notes. However, if you want professional audio quality, we recommended using a USB mic like Blue Yeti. If you want to record system audio, install Soundflower on your Mac. Most the following Mac Audio recorder allows you to change audio source. Down below, we have covered some of the best audio recording software for Mac that you can use.
Read: 10+ Best Voice Recorder Apps For iPhone
Explore the best Music & Audio software for Mac. Browse our catalog of over 50 000 mac apps. MacUpdate is serving app downloads since 1997. Live Loops For spontaneous composition. Live Loops is a dynamic way to create and arrange music.
Best Audio Recording Software for Mac
1. QuickTime
Best for – simple audio recording
QuickTime, as you may know, is an inbuilt utility in macOS. It’s usually used for video/audio playback but it lets you record audio content as well. Just so you know, QuickTime also lets you record video using a webcam or a connected device. Now, coming to the audio recording feature of QuickTime, everything is super-easy. You have a really intuitive interface with minimal customization options.
It’ll take you a few extra clicks to start recording audio with QuickTime. First, launch the app from the Spotlight, and go to File > New Audio Recording.
For instance, QuickTime lets you change the recording source — pick between the internal microphone and the system audio (with SoundFlower). You can also change the Recording quality between High and Maximum. Once these are set, just hit the Record button. As the program records your voice, you can see the size of the recording file also. Once you’ve recorded the whole thing, you can export the file as MPEG-4 Audio file. However, there is no option to pause audio recording, you can only stop it and start a new one.
Pros
- Really easy-to-use interface
- Built-in macOS
- Ability to record from different sources including an external Mic
Cons
- Limited customization options, no option to pause recording
- The interface isn’t suitable for professionals
- Limited options for exporting audio
The Verdict
QuickTime is the best Mac software for casual audio recording. It gets the job done — with minimum things at stake. You don’t have to worry about complex customizations or exporting. Everything you record will be available in a single file. That having said, we would not recommend QuickTime for professionals.
QuickTime Comes Built into Mac
2. Audacity
Best for – recording voice over and editing
Audacity is a free and open source audio recording software for Mac. We use for recording audio for our YouTube channel. You have an option to choose the recording source (we use it with Blue Yeti mic), recording channel type, audio type etc. As you can see below, it does offer a wider range of control as well. But, the best part about Audacity for Mac is that it comes along with a bunch of editing tools. In fact, Audacity is a digital audio editor, first, and recorder later.
Unlike QuickTime, Audacity lets you perform basic audio editing tasks like editing. You will also find options like effects, voice generation, noise removal, and track-based management. In case you are into professional audio recording and editing, there is a wide variety of Audacity plug-ins to choose from. Another bright side is that you will be able to export the audio recording in almost any format.
The reason, why we prefer Audacity is because it’s cross-platform support (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux) Just as Photoshop save the file in PSD and have all the properties intact, you can save audacity files in AUP, which can be later open and edited from any computer that audacity installed in it.
Pros
- Professional features for recording & editing
- Multiple audio recording and editing options
- Free, Open Source and Cross-platform
Cons
- Audacity doesn’t have an intuitive interface
- Takes time to get used to
The Verdict
As we said, Audacity is made for professionals. Did we say that Audacity is free to use? It’s free, open-source and cross-platform. Considering the features you get, it’s an awesome deal as well. At least, you would not have to worry about paying a huge amount for your DAW.
Check Out Audacity (Free and Open Source)
3. Simple Recorder
Best for – quick audio recording
Simple Recorder is a truly simple solution for audio recording in Mac. It doesn’t come with many bells or whistles, but it gets the job done. Unlike QuickTime and Audacity, which takes multiple mouse click to start the recording, Simple Recorder sits in the menu bar and can start the audio recording in just two clicks. Best solution when you want to take quick notes.
You can select the source of recording from the drop-down menu. It also lets you set up the volume. In just a single button, Simple Recorder would start the recording process. In the Preferences section, you can pick the recording format, Sample Rate, Channel etc. There are some Pro features like Status Icon, Shortcuts and some levels of Automation.
Pros
Free Audio Programs For Mac
- Quick and Easy to use
- You can manage all the actions from the icon menu itself
- Offers support for different sources and standard customization
Cons
- Doesn’t offer basic Editing options
The Verdict
Simple Recorder is the best Mac audio recording app for the intermediate users. Unlike QuickTime, it offers a standard set of customization options. That having said, unlike Audacity, the features aren’t that suitable for professionals either. So, if you think you need somewhat control over recording, go for this.
Check Out Simple Recorder (Free, offers a Pro plan as well)
4. GarageBand
Best for – recording audio for music production
Technically speaking, GarageBand is a digital audio workstation, not a digital audio recorder (like QuickTime) or a digital audio editor (like Audacity). In simple words, if you are into recording audio for music production, GarageBand is one of the best choices in town. It’s rich with features and offers the best level of compatibility. Last but not the least, you’d not have to pay a single penny for this program.
Like Audacity, GarageBand supports MIDI recording and editing out of the box. However, unlike Audacity, GarageBand has a smaller learning curve and is more stable. Also, it’s compatible with any iOS device.
Although it’s a fully-fledged DAW, you don’t need rocket science to record audio using GarageBand. It even has a dedicated mode for Voice, where you can also select the type of voice recording. For instance, it offers different options for recording Narration Voice and Bright Voice. Just hit the Record button and you can do the exporting part later.
Pros
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- GarageBand is a fully-fledged audio recorder
- Comes with built-in audio editing features
- Well-suited for professionals
Cons
- GarageBand isn’t suitable for Quick Recordings
- Getting used to the interface may take some time
The Verdict
GarageBand is the recommended choice for professionals out there. If you need the best quality, control as well as performance, you should go for this built-in tool. Although the UI is simple, learning GarageBand will surely help you as an audio professional.
Check Out GarageBand (Free, Built-in in Mac)
5. Piezo
Best for – recording podcast
Piezo from Rogue Amoeba is a simple and wonderful audio recording software for podcasts. If you want to make some amazing podcast recordings with precision, you can count on Piezo. Unlike all of the tools we’ve talked about earlier, Piezo lets you record voice from popular apps like Chrome, Skype, FaceTime, Messages etc. It is one of the best features for getting precise podcasts, you know.
Settings in Piezo are very easy to manage. That having said, it lets you change the Music Quality only. Still, you don’t have to do guesswork here. Piezo has set up some quality pre-sets for music, audio, spoken word etc. By default, the recordings will be saved in MP3, which is convenient for most people. Just as you can see, the interface is a bit unconventional.
Pros
- Really easy-to-use Interface
- Quality Presets are useful for quick recording
- Supports recording from individual apps
Cons
- Could have better-exporting options
The Verdict
Piezo is the best audio recording software for doing podcasts on Mac. You can simply record your own voice or get inputs from common apps like Chrome or Skype. It is basically minimal but you have options to extend the capabilities of Piezo.
Check Out Piezo ($23, free trial available)
6. Macsome Audio Recorder
Best for – recording audio from multiple sources
Macsome Audio Recorder is one of the voice recorders that promise to do almost anything. Without bringing all the professional features, Macsome Audio Recorder lets you record audio from multiple sources such as the internal microphone, different apps on your Mac and other hardware. Unlike some other apps, however, it doesn’t offer any kind of optimization.
Despite all these features, the program has a minimal footprint to offer. Did we say mention that Macsome Audio Recorder has one of the best recording management interface as well? You can even use ID tags for organizing your recording files. We really liked how Macsome Audio Recorder works. You can add separate recording profiles for apps/hardware and start the recording process in a single click.
Pros
- Simple but effective interface
- Supports recording from individual apps/hardware
- Super-easy management of recording profiles
Cons
- The Recording screen isn’t intuitive
The Verdict
As it promises, Macsome Audio Recorder is one of the best all-in-one audio recorders for Mac. It might not have the best UI in town, but there are many productive features. When you want a tool that records podcast, music, and speech with the same efficiency, Macsome Audio Recorder would be our take.
Check Out Macsome Audio Recorder ($29.95, Free Trial available)
7. Audio Hijack
Best for – advanced video recording
We already talked about Piezo from Rogue Amoeba, right? Audio Hijack is also from the same developer but it offers advanced features and control. Inside a nice package, you will find tools for recording almost every type of audio from your Mac. You can even use Audio Hijack for scheduling recordings. It would be the best option when you’re recording audio from the web.
The best part is that Audio Hijack comes with different session templates — you have one for internet radio, DVD Audio, Application audio and Web Audio etc. When it comes to Application mode, you can pick an app from the list and start recording. You can also check out a bunch of built-in effects and filters in Audio Hijack. It also has an interesting UI that lets you manage how the recording process works. Overal Audio Hijack is one of the best audio recording software for Mac if you are looking for advanced features.
Pros
- Professional Interface and Intuitive UI
- In-built options for filters and sound effects
- Advanced options are available
Cons
- None worth noting
The Verdict
Audio Hijack is one of the very few Mac audio recording software that is worth paying for. You get a whole bunch of features like filters, effects, and top-to-bottom control. Even if you’re not into it, you can get a cool audio recording and management experience.
Check Out Audio Hijack ($59, Free Trial available)
8. AudioNote
Best for – take audio notes during lectures
AudioNote lets you combine a note-taking app and audio recording app. This is how it works: you can open AudioNote and start recording the lectures, interviews or something else. When you make notes on the screen, it will be synced with the audio. So, during the playback, you can listen to the audio as well as seeing all the notes on the screen.
There are some really cool features too. For instance, you can tap on one section of your notes to jump into the corresponding section in audio. As a note-taking software, you can bring text, shapes, annotations and a lot more things. Once you are done, you can also convert your notes to a PDF document. The best part is that you have everything in sync.
Pros
- An excellent way to record and sync notes
- Easy interface
- iCloud integration
Cons
- None worth noting
The Verdict
AudioNote is the best option for students and professionals alike. With this tool in your hand, you don’t have to worry about getting the list in the notes. You would know what the professor was talking about when you’d written something. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
Check Out AudioNote ($14.99)
Best Audio Recording Software for Mac
Well, these are the different kind of audio recording software for Mac, for different needs. For your day-to-day casual recording needs, Simple Recorder is the best option, indeed. On the other hand, if you are into the world of podcast recording, go for Audio Hijack from Rogue Amoeba. Options like GarageBand as well as Audacity are for those who need professional-quality control over the recording quality and process. Still, you can take an effort to step up the game.
Read: 4 Best Voice Recorder Apps for Android
Technology has truly made our life so very comfortable and interesting with all the incredible inventions. One of the most unbelievable inventions which have totally changed the manner in which we perceive life is the ‘Computers’. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration if one says that this particular contraption is truly indispensable. Though there are many manufacturers of computers, Mac has made a niche for itself which is totally indisputable. The entry of computers has not only made our life so much simpler but it has also created employment for many. Computers have made its presence felt in every walk of life, be it your home, offices, hospitals, schools, banks, film industry and many more. Actually one can say that the list can go on and on.
Audio Interface For Mac Pro Tools
In fact, computers are used extensively for video watching and listening to music. So it is but natural that people in these fields would be using various software to enhance their videos and music albums. There are various software which could augment the quality of your audio and in case you are trying to make a career in the field of music then you are indeed in need of the best audio editing software which we aid in you finding instant success. Just to save you time and money we have done extensive research and homed on to the 10 Best Audio Editing Software for Mac, you can just go through the list.
1. Adobe Audition
This is considered to be quite popular audio editing software. The team at Adobe is known for their professionalism in creating incredible software with amazing features. The multi-track editing, effect layering, hum reduction, and post-processing ensures that your audio editing would be much more efficient. This software comes with another amazing feature “Auto Ducking” which has this unique ability to figure out where to reduce the volume of Background track so as to make the speech, audio, etc much more audible and clear. It supports a whole lot of audio formats like AAC, AC-3, CAF, AIFF, FLAC, AIF, OGG, HE-AAC, WMA, PCM and many more.
2. Audacity
This is totally free software and it is quite useful as a digital audio workstation. It is an open-source, free, cross-platform software which is useful for multi-track recording and editing. It has most of the features that will enhance your audio editing experience. It has effects like treble, noise removal, bass, distortion and much more. It also comes equipped with analysis tools like sound finder, beat finder, silence finder, etc. Apart from this it also has trappings like time shift tool, envelope tool, etc. It supports audio file formats like WMA, MP4, FLAC, MP3, PCM, OGG Vorbis, AIFF, AMR, WAV, etc. Audacity is beginner-friendly and has a huge online community which is very proactive.
3. Logic Pro X
Most of the Mac users find this software very useful. This app comes with such brilliant editing features which prove to be of great help to both professional users as well as beginner editors. This audio software has this incredible feature called ‘Smart tempo’ which helps in automatically matching the timing of various tracks. It also has another feature called ‘Flex Time’ which enables the user to edit the timing of one particular note in a waveform one at a time, without having to remove it from the clip. Logic Pro X also has features like arpeggiator, Flex pitch which helps in giving your music a much richer feel.
4. Reaper
This is audio editing software is loaded with features and in comparison with some of the other audio software, it is quite cheap. It comes with multichannel support having 64 channels in each one track. It has the capability to record audio directly to stereo, mono or multichannel files and to record numerous disks simultaneously. It has time and pitch shifting. Comprehensive tutorials are available on the website. It supports most of the audio file formats like WAVPACK, ACID, WMV, AIFF, WAV,AVI,W64,BWF,SYX,CDDA,REX2,EDL,RADAR, FLAC, QT, KAR, OGG OPUS, MIDI, OGG VORBIS, MOGG,MPEG,MP3, MOV etc.
5. FL Studio
This is considered to be a popular audio editing software used by many famous artists. Like most of the digital audio workstations, it also supports pitch shifting, multi-track recording and time stretching. It also has features like automation, delay compensation, effects chains, etc. It has more than 80 plug-ins for compression, sample manipulation, synthesis and many more. It has VST support which helps in getting more instrument sounds by using a third-party plug-in. This software is truly remarkable for not only for editing audio but also for music production.
6. Ableton Live
People in the line of music production swear by its name, for Ableton Live comes with a whole lot of features which not only enhances the quality of music but also provides with an enriching experience because it is so user-friendly. It supports a plethora of MIDI tracks, audio, 256 mono output channels, 256 mono input channels, and MIDI capture. It also has 46 audio effects, 70 GB pre-recorded sounds and 15 software instruments. It supports most of the popular file formats.
7. Cubase
Cubase is widely used by people in the music production field. It comes equipped with a frequency equalizer which aids in performing real delicate edits. The plug-in sentinels guarantee your system safety by automatically scanning the plug-ins. Cubase might be a little daunting for beginners.
8. Presonus Studio One
Presonus Studio One audio software is quite well known for its cool features. One of its amazing features is the Chord track with the help of which you can quickly make a sample song so that you are able to get a preview of the song. Chord track also has features like chord substitution, key modulation, etc. Studio One also has features like real-time stretching, beat quantization, external plug-in scanner, multiple macro toolbars, multi-editing and many more.
9. Hindenburg Pro
Hindenburg comes with multi-track recording and it has a lot of features like automatic EQ, compressors, supports third-party plug-ins, loudness meters, etc. Most of the popular file formats are supported by this software.
10. Ardour
Audio Tools Mac Osx
Though it is mentioned as the last editing software, don’t undermine its ability. This too is a powerhouse of features and comes with most of the editing features like transposition, crossfades, swing, cuts and so on. It supports most of the file formats.