[Free Ways] Record Audio on Mac with an External Mic

High-quality audio is always essential for voiceover, music production, podcasts, or simply lecture recording.

If you are a Mac user and seeking proper methods to capture external sound via a mic, this post covers all your needs with 3 free and professional audio recorders. Read on to learn more.

Record Audio on Mac with an External Mic in QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player is a native macOS app that enables you to record screen and audio separately. It supports various audio formats including MP3, M4A, WAV, and more.

The minimalist design offers only basic audio settings but you can still control the audio volume and export the large audio files.

Step 1. Connect Your External Microphone to Your Mac

Step 2. Open QuickTime Player and select “New Audio Recording” from the “File” menu. A small recording window appears on the desktop.

Step 3. Click the down arrow icon next to the record button, and choose your external microphone. Then, adjust the input volume using the slider next to the record button.

Step 4. Click the red record button to start recording and click it again to stop.

Step 5. Set file name and location in the pop-up window for file storing.

Record Audio on Mac with an External Mic in GarageBand

If you want a more professional audio recorder, another built-in music creation studio on Mac can fulfill your demands.

GarageBand is equipped with advanced recording features like audio trimming, splicing, and more. It also allows multi-track recording, easing the work for complex recording arrangements.

Step 1. Plug your external microphone (EarPods, AirPods, a mic, or headphones) into your Mac.

Step 2. Open GarageBand, choose “New Project.” Click the “Audio” track type and click “Create” to open the new project.

Then, tap “Smart Controls” in the topmost tabs. You can adjust the input volume, turn on the monitor, switch microphones, and make other adjustments.

Step 3. Press the red record button to start recording and click it again to stop.

Step 4. Save your project by selecting “File” and choose “Save.”

Record Audio on Mac with an External Mic in a Professional Audio Recorder

Audacity is a free and open-source audio recorder compatible with macOS. The background noise clean-up feature and sound effects make it popular among professionals, but these advanced options can be challenging for beginners.

One thing is not understood MP4 is not supported by Audacity on Mac. Users may utilize other tools to expand the file type list.

If you prefer flexible audio recording with an external mic, let’s get started.

Step 1. Plug external microphones into your Mac.

Step 2. Launch Audacity, and go to the top of the screen. Click on the “Audio Setup” dropdown menu, locate “Recording Device,” and select your external microphone for recording. Select what you want the recorded audio to play from in “Playback Device.”

Step 3. Press the red “Record” button on the top of the window to start recording. You can speak or play with the external microphone.

Step 4. When you’re done, press the “Stop” button (an icon with a square in it). Press the green “Play” button to listen to your recording.

All the recorders mentioned above excel in audio recording with an external mic. To add visual elements to a recording, such as screen videos or webcam footage, you need a screen recorder like Record Go.

It supports both external and internal audio recording with simple operation on MacBook and iMac, while ensuring high-quality video output in MP4 format.

FAQs

1. How do I set up an external microphone on my Mac?

Connect your external microphone to your Mac’s USB port or audio input jack. For USB microphones, make sure they are securely plugged in. If you’re using an analog mic, you might need an adapter for the Mac’s audio input.

2. How do I select an external microphone as the input device on my Mac?

Click the Apple menu, select “System Preferences,” and choose “Sound.” In the “Input” tab, select your external microphone from the list.

3. Why is my external microphone not working on my Mac?

There could be several reasons:

• The microphone is not connected to your Mac.
• Mac is not set to use the external microphone as the input device.
• The input volume for the external microphone may be set too low.
• The recording app you’re using might not be set up to utilize the external microphone.