Record, edit, and produce your audio with Sound Studio, an easy-to-use Mac app for recording and editing digital audio on your computer. Digitize tapes and vinyl records, record live performances.
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.
- Download and install this Mac audio editing software on your Mac computer and then launch it. The below steps would show you how to record and edit audio files on Mac. It works on Mac OS 10.6 and later. Step 1: Set Audio Source. Tap on the little microphone icon at bottom left corner to choose 'Audio.
- Edit, mix, record, and restore audio. Audition is a comprehensive toolset that includes multitrack, waveform, and spectral display for creating, mixing, editing, and restoring audio content. This powerful audio workstation is designed to accelerate video production workflows and audio finishing — and deliver a polished mix with pristine sound.
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
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
- 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
- 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
How to install software on mac from usb. 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
Audio Recording And Editing 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
Want to create an awesome remix song for your group dance performance? Want to compose a music for the background sound of your next play? Want to record your own audio? Well, an audio editing software is the solution to all of these requirements.
Today, it has been a very easy task to compose, edit, record or remix the songs just by sitting at home. Raw audio clips contain noise and less clarity so, we edit the audio files using audio editing software to enhance their quality. You can easily get an audio editing software for your Windows or Mac computer and edit audio files at your home.
Must visit: What's This Song? How To Identify A Song Playing Near You
There is a huge number of audio editing software available around the web which allows you to edit your audio without extra efforts. The amazing features of these software make it the work of only a few clicks to record or edit an audio file.
Best Audio Editing Software For Windows & Mac
It may take a lot of time before your find a good audio editing software suitable for all your audio editing needs. So, for your convenience, I have created a list of Top 10 best audio editing software for windows and mac. Hence let's go through it …
1.WavePad
Wavepad is one of the best audio editing tools. It a powerful and professional tool which helps you to edit the audio in your desired way. This tool provides you every necessary feature you need to have for editing the audio. Also, the working of the tool is quite easy to understand and you can quickly edit audio files without any problem.
Best Audio Recording Software Mac
The main features of this audio editing software include batch processing means you can add effects or edit multiple audios at the same time if you need to apply the same effects on all of the audio files. It enables you to copy, paste, delete, insert, compression, auto-trim, pitch-sifting, silence and so on.
It supports all kind of popular audio file formats such as mp3, vox, wav, wma, real audio, ogg, amr, mid, aac, etc. You can even add effects such as equalizer, amplify, reverb, envelope, reverse, echo and so on for making your audio more interesting and attractive.
The software provides you free and paid version. The free version offers you the basic tools to edit audio but for getting the benefit of advanced tools you can purchase the full package for $39.95.
2.Adobe Audition
Best Recording Software For Mac
Adobe Audition tool is the another great tool for editing the audio files. This software is the product of Adobe creative cloud. It offers you many professional-level audio editing features. You can perform multi-track editing, audio slicing, mix several sounds, apply sound effects, restoration and so on. It also includes some inbuilt sounds which you can use in your musical projects.
The software supports all the audio formats and it can also convert one format to the other. The software is available for both Windows as well as Mac. Adobe Audition provides you 30-days trial and you can get the full version for $29.99/month.
3. Ardour
Ardour is another wonderful audio editing software which can be used by composers, soundtrack editors, musician, audio engineers etc. This software is professional and easy to use at the same time. It enables you to record, edit or mix the audio tracks. it is also very easy to use. If you want to record the audio then simply connect your microphone and click the record button and start recording your audio.
The software offers you many features for editing your audio the way you want such as stretch, move, cut, copy, paste, snapshot, zoom, transpose, align, trim, rename, crossfade, swing, drag, drop and so on. It also supports plugin so that you can get the tool or feature you want to as per your requirements. You can get this software for free for Windows and Mac.
4. Sound Forge
Sound forge audio editing software is all you need to have if you want to compose music and edit it for personal use or the professional one. The software contains easy to use interface to provide the best experience to its users. It includes almost every aspect of creating a great music or editing the existing one. You can add effects, trim, copy, paste etc. It also offers you to record audio for creating the personalized audio files.
You can use its basic tools to perform the basic audio editing which can be done with a few clicks. Sound forge now has included 64-bit/192 kHz support so that you do not have to compromise the quality of the input. The can download the software for both Windows or Mac for $59.95.
5.AVS Audio editor
AVS Audio editor in one of the best audio editing software. With the help of this tool, you can perform every function for audio editing. The software lets you edit audio with efficient features such as trim, mix, cut, join, remix, spit etc. You can even apply effects to your audio files for providing them more life. AVS Audio editor lets you record audio from any of input. You can also create ringtones for iPhone with the help of this tool.
It also lets you export audio from video. Multilingual support is the another helpful feature of this tool. You can get this software for free and the full package costs you $39/year.
6. Avid Pro tools
If you are searching for a tool which can provide advanced music composing and audio editing feature then Avid Pro tools is one of the best options for you. It provides sounds of different musical instruments using which you can even create your own music or add some extra music sound to the existing audio. It also enables you to search for the music effects you want to add in your audio file so that you don't have to scroll down or search for the same here and there.
Avid pro tools also enables you to edit audio file in batches so you do not have to edit the multiple audio files one-by-one. You also get the virtual Dj sound facility with this great software. It is available for Windows and Mac. You can get the software for $24.92 per month.
7.Wavosaur
Wavosaur is another great tool for audio editing purpose which is available absolutely for free. This tool is also good for beginners as it provides you the easiest to use interface. You can perform all the basic things which you may require to edit your audio files such as clip sound, noise suppression, sound mixing, sound effects, etc. It also enables you to record the live sound without any hassle.
Another great thing about this software is that it is quite light weighted and you do not need to install any file. Simply double-click the application and there you go.
8. FL Studio 12.1.2
FL studio is another great audio platform to create your own music and edit audio files as per your wish. We can actually call it a digital audio workstation as it offers all the wonderful features for audio editing and provides a feel of professionalism.
When you first launch the software you will be highly impressed by its interface and the look of it. Also, the software regularly updates itself which is a good thing about it. The main features of this software include multi-touch, browsing, channel menu, piano roll, playlist, VST plugins, real-time stretching, fruity envelope controller, pattern menu and so on.
The software provides you different audio editing plans to choose from and the basic plan is available for $99.
9.Diamond cut
Diamond cut is another efficient audio editing tool. This software includes all the necessary features to create the awesome and unique audio files. along with the basic features for audio editing, it also offers you unique features such as big click filter which helps you to automatically repair the large clicks resulted due to the badly gouged record.
You also get amazing sound effects such as overtone and sub-harmonic synthesizer. These features help in recreating the lost lower and upper octaves of a recording.
This audio editing software is only available for Windows and you can get its full package for $159.
10. Audacity
If you have just begun with your audio editing skills then Audacity is the best option for you. This audio editing tool is a freeware and you can download this for free. It comprises of a user-friendly interface which is great for beginners. The software offers you many audio editing tools such as audio mixing, live audio recording, noise suppression and so on.
The software supports all the popular audio file formats such as AIFF, WAV, OGG, MP3 and so on. This amazing tool is available for Windows, Mac and Linux too.
Recording Software For Mac
So, above were the top 10 software for audio editing requirements. All the tools work quite well and most of them offer a free version. Try the free versions first as the free versions have enough features for daily audio editing requirements. If you want to do some professional audio editing then go for the premium versions. Let me know which one is your favorite in comments.
