How can I screen record a video with sound?

Screen recording, or screencasting, allows you to capture video and audio of your computer or mobile device’s screen. This can be useful for creating tutorials, product demonstrations, recording gameplay, and more. Most modern computers and mobile devices now have built-in screen recording capabilities.

In this guide, we will cover how to record your screen with audio on the most common platforms – Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. We’ll look at the native tools available on each platform as well as some third party software options. By the end, you’ll know how to easily record high quality videos with audio on your chosen device.

Screen Recording Options

There are several options for recording your screen with audio depending on your operating system or device. The main options include:

Built-in Screen Recorders

Many operating systems now come with built-in screen recording capabilities:

Windows – Windows 10 and 11 include the Xbox Game Bar which can be used to record your screen and audio. This is a simple option that doesn’t require any extra software.

Mac – macOS has QuickTime Player which allows you to record your screen with audio. This is handy for quick recordings.
iOS – On iPhone and iPad you can use the built-in Screen Recording option found in Control Center to capture your screen and mic audio.
Android – Android has native screen recording in the Quick Settings or via Google Assistant voice command. You can record internal audio and mic.

Third-Party Software

There are also many third party software options that offer enhanced recording features:

Some top options include Camtasia, OBS Studio, Bandicam, Loom, Screencastify, and more. These provide features like video editing, custom overlays, advanced capture options, cloud sharing, and video exports.

Third party software may have a learning curve but provide more control over your recordings. Built-in recorders are simpler to use right away.

Recording with Windows

Windows provides a built-in tool called the Game Bar to record your screen. To access it, press the Windows key + G to open the Game Bar. Click on the camera icon to open the capture settings. Here you can enable options like microphone audio and system audio before starting your recording. The Game Bar recorder allows you to record a specific app window or your full desktop.

For older versions of Windows, you can use the QuickTime app to record your screen. Download and install QuickTime from Apple’s website. Once open, go to File > New Screen Recording to access the capture options. Enable audio inputs if needed, then click the record button to start capturing your screen. QuickTime allows recording a portion of the screen, specific windows, or the full display.

To include microphone audio in your Windows screen recording, enable the Microphone option in the capture settings of either the Game Bar or QuickTime. For capturing your computer’s system audio like music or video playback, enable the System Audio option before starting your recording.

Citations:

[1] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/learning-center/how-to-record-screen-windows-11

[2] https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-screen-record-in-windows-10-or-windows-11/

Recording on Mac

One easy way to screen record with audio on a Mac is by using the built-in QuickTime Player app. To get started, open QuickTime Player from your Applications folder or Launchpad.

Next, click File > New Screen Recording to open the recording overlay. Here you can configure your microphone and system audio settings. To record your voice or other audio from a microphone, select a microphone from the drop down menu. You can also enable System Audio to record audio playing on your Mac.

With your settings configured, click the Record button and your screen recording will begin. QuickTime Player provides a recording toolbar you can use to stop, pause, or resume recording. When you are finished, click Stop.

Your screen recording will be saved to your Videos folder. From there you can trim, edit, or share the video as needed. QuickTime Player provides a fast and simple way to capture high quality screen recordings complete with microphone and system audio on a Mac.

(Sources: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208721, https://www.avast.com/c-how-to-screen-record-on-mac)

Recording on iOS

Apple makes it easy to screen record directly on iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad using the built-in Screen Recorder utility. To access Screen Recorder, open Control Center on your iOS device and long-press the screen recording icon. This will start a screen recording right away. To enable microphone or system audio recording, tap the icon in the floating controls that appears when you start recording. The microphone icon enables recording your microphone audio, while the speaker icon enables recording any audio playing on your device (Source). You can stop a recording by tapping the red timer indicator at the top of your screen.

Screen recordings using the built-in tool are saved directly to your Photos app. You can then share them or edit them like any other video clip you capture on your iPhone or iPad. One limitation is that you can’t record internal audio from apps that explicitly disable it, like some video streaming apps.

Recording on Android

There are a few different ways to screen record videos with sound on Android devices.

Using the built-in screen recorder: Many newer Android devices like Samsung, Google Pixel, LG, and OnePlus phones have built-in screen recording functionality through the Quick Settings or notification drawer. This records whatever is on your screen and can also record internal or external audio through the microphone if enabled in settings. Just open Quick Settings and tap the screen record icon to start capturing your screen.

Downloading third party apps: You can find dedicated screen recording apps on the Google Play Store like AZ Screen Recorder, Hecorat Screen Recorder, and DU Recorder. These let you record your screen, face from your camera, and internal or external audio. Look for advanced settings to enable “record internal audio” to capture audio playing on your device.

Using an internal audio recording app: You can also find apps focused specifically on internal audio recording like Internal Audio Screen Recorder that will capture just the audio playing on your Android device, which you can then sync up with a separate video screen recording.

With the right app and settings enabled, you can screen record video with high quality internal and external audio on Android. Be sure to adjust audio sources and volumes for the best mix.

Third Party Software

Some of the most popular and powerful options for screen recording come from third party software companies. These dedicated screen recording tools provide advanced features beyond what’s built into operating systems. Two of the most popular options include:

OBS Studio – This open source software is free and packed with features like device capture, real-time editing, annotations, and more. OBS is commonly used for capturing gameplay, live streaming, and video production. It’s available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. (Source)

Camtasia – For polished, professional videos, Camtasia is a top choice. It offers an intuitive editor, animations, callouts, transitions, and great sharing options. The downside is it’s only available as a paid subscription at $249/year, but free trials are offered. (Source)

Other popular options include Bandicam for gameplay recording and ScreenFlow for Mac screen capture. Paid tools like Camtasia and ScreenFlow require subscriptions for full access, while freeware like OBS Studio has a perpetual free version but less beginner-friendly interfaces. Overall, third party screen recorders provide customizable advanced utilities beyond basic built-in options.

Tips for Quality Recording

There are a few key things you can do to maximize the quality of your screen recordings:

Adjust the video and audio settings in your recording software to match the needs of your video. Higher resolution and frame rates will result in a crisper, smoother recording. However, very high settings may create extremely large files. Find the sweet spot based on your priorities.

Choose an optimal resolution and frame rate for your particular video. For example, 1080p at 30fps is common for gameplay videos, while slide presentations may only need 720p at 15fps. Higher frame rates are important for recording video and motion.

Position your microphone properly to maximize audio quality and minimize background noise. Having the mic 6-12 inches from your mouth, facing towards you, usually produces the best results.

Do a short test recording to check your video and audio quality. Make any necessary tweaks to improve quality before the actual recording.

Refer to this guide for more tips on optimizing screen recording quality.

Sharing and Saving Screen Recordings

Once you have captured your screen recording, you will likely want to save it and share it with others. There are several options for saving and sharing screen recordings:

Saving Locally vs. Cloud Storage

You can save your screen recording directly on your device’s local storage. This will save it to your photos or videos folder. The advantage of local storage is that you always have access to the file and do not need an internet connection. The downside is that if you lose or damage your device, you could lose the recording.

Alternatively, you can upload and save your screen recording to cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud. This allows you to access the recording from any device by logging into your cloud account. It also serves as a backup if you lose your local copy. The downside is you need an internet connection to access cloud recordings.

Sharing on Social Media, YouTube, etc.

Once saved, you can easily share your screen recording through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Most platforms allow you to directly upload a video file. You can also upload your screen recording to video sharing sites like YouTube and Vimeo to share with a wider audience.

Some screen recording tools have built-in sharing options to facilitate posting your videos to popular sites. You can also share screen recordings through messaging apps like WhatsApp or Slack by sending the video file.

When sharing screen recordings publicly, make sure you do not include any private, confidential, or sensitive information.

Conclusion

In summary, there are a few key steps to follow when recording a video with audio:

First, choose your recording software based on your device – Windows, Mac, iOS or Android. On Windows and Mac, free tools like OBS Studio, Bandicam and CamStudio are popular choices. On mobile devices, the built-in screen recording feature is recommended.

Next, check the audio and video settings to optimize quality. For audio, use a headset microphone if possible. For video, 720p or 1080p resolution is best. Record a short test clip and review it to make adjustments.

When recording, find a quiet space, minimize background noise, and close other apps. Follow a script or outline for smooth narrative. Pause before mistakes instead of stopping and restarting.

Finally, trim any unwanted sections before sharing or saving the video. Share through sites like YouTube or Vimeo for public access.

For more guidance, check out resources like Niu’s Tips for Screen Recordings and Vmaker’s Guide to Screen Recording. With the right tools and techniques, you can produce professional screen recordings with high quality picture and sound.