How to Record Great Audio on Mac, Windows, and Phone

To record great audio, capture a clear, natural voice track with low background noise so listeners can focus on your message. Good audio is just as important as good video quality. In fact, a Camtasia study found that poor audio quality was one of the leading reasons people stopped watching a video.

So, wondering how to record high-quality audio? Throughout this guide, we’ll share all you need to know about audio recording.

High-quality audio is best described as audio that sounds natural — as if the listener and the speaker are in the same room. Quality audio is a great tool to use in PowerPoint presentations,voiceovers, podcasts, and more. Let’s dive in!

Key takeaways

• Record in the quietest space you can find so background noise does not distract from your voice.
• Sit close enough to the microphone for a clear voice, but leave enough space to avoid distortion and breath sounds.
• Use built-in tools like QuickTime Player, Voice Recorder, or Voice Memos when you need a simple recording.
• Use Camtasia Audiate when you want to record, transcribe, and clean up mistakes from a text-based editor.

How do you record audio on a computer?

You can record audio on a computer with built-in apps such as QuickTime Player on Mac or Voice Recorder on Windows. If you choose to record audio from your computer, there are many options you can choose from, including QuickTime Player on Mac and Voice Recorder on Windows 10.

How do you record audio on a Mac?

Mac users can record audio with QuickTime Player by starting a new audio recording and choosing the correct microphone.

1. Open QuickTime Player
2. Click File and then New Audio Recording
3. Make sure that the correct microphone and quality settings are in place using the Options popup menu. Remember that the higher the quality, the larger the resulting files will be.
4. Use the circle to begin recording audio and the gray square to stop.
5. Save your work.

How do you record audio on Windows 10 or 11?

Windows users can record audio with the built-in Voice Recorder app. Voice Recorder comes free on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers.

1. Launch the Voice Recorder app
2. Click the record button to begin
3. Use the standard stop and pause buttons as needed to complete your audio recording
4. Use the icons near the bottom of your app window to trim or share as needed

How do you record and edit audio with Camtasia Audiate?

Camtasia Audiate records audio, transcribes speech as you talk, and lets you edit audio from the transcript. Built-in tools work well for basic recordings, but dedicated audio recording software gives you more control. Camtasia Audiate is a great tool to take your audio from basic to advanced.

1. Launch Camtasia Audiate
2. Click the “Start Recording” button
3. Watch as your audio transcribes as you speak
4. Once you’re done, click the stop button

With Camtasia Audiate, your recording automatically appears in a text-based editor. Then edit out mistakes and hesitations with a simple backspace. Try Camtasia Audiate

How do you record audio on a phone?

Phone recording depends on the operating system, so start with the built-in recording options for your Android phone or iPhone. We’ll cover recording audio on Android and iPhone below.

How do you record audio on Android?

Android users should look for a built-in recorder, memo, or notes app before installing another recording app. There’s no one-size-fits-all for how to record audio on Android. As a first step, search your installed apps using keywords like “voice recorder,” “memo,” or “notes”.

If nothing suitable appears, head to the Google Play Store and use the same terms to identify an audio recording software that will meet your needs. You will find that most of the options available use the standard symbols for Record and Stop, and are relatively intuitive.

How do you record audio on iPhone?

iPhone users can record audio with the built-in Voice Memos app. To record audio, you will need to open the Voice Memos App on your iPhone. Tap the red button to start your recording and press the red button again to end it. Once you’ve completed your recording press “done” and then name and save your file.

How do you record great audio?

Clear audio starts with a quiet space, proper microphone distance, controlled breathing, and light editing. No matter what audio recording software you have, there is no substitute for setting yourself and your space up intentionally to achieve great audio. Here are some additional tips to help make sure that your audio recording turns out great.

Quick recording setup checklist

• Listen for background noise before you start recording.
• Sit at a comfortable distance from the microphone.
• Choose a small room with soft surfaces when possible.
• Control breathing sounds by speaking slightly off-axis and leaving space to edit.
• Edit unwanted noise, plosives, hesitations, and volume changes after recording.

Camtasia Audiate gives you a practical way to record, review, and clean up spoken audio. Try Camtasia Audiate

How do you reduce background noise before recording?

Recording in a quiet space helps prevent small background sounds from becoming distracting. Of course, you know you need to record in a quiet space, but there’s more to that than just closing the door and silencing your notifications.

Before you start recording, sit in the space and listen intently. Seemingly small background noises can easily be picked up and heard by your audio recording software.

Even seemingly inconspicuous items like the buzzing of fluorescent lights and whirring of computer fans can be distracting background noise. Really listen to your space before you record.

When using Camtasia Audiate, record your space while you sit quietly without talking first. This will allow the software to identify the frequencies it needs to improve the audio once you begin to speak. Think of it like creating a baseline.

How far should you sit from the microphone?

Most microphones work best when the speaker is close enough for a clear voice but not so close that the sound distorts. Extend your pinky finger and your thumb, and put the thumb just below your lower lip and point the pinky finger at the microphone. Your pinky should touch or be close to your microphone. This technique will give you the approximate distance needed for most microphones to not be too close or too far.

Remember, each microphone is unique and you may need to adjust.

How do you reduce breathing sounds in recordings?

Breath sounds are easier to manage when you record slightly off-axis and leave space to edit. Breath sounds can be incredibly distracting in videos. While barely perceptible in an in-person conversation, breath sounds are more pronounced in audio recordings and can drastically reduce the quality of your audio.

Try things like talking at an angle from the mic. Or, take a deep breath and hold it for a couple of seconds before you record so you can easily cut it out later.

If loud breath sounds still peek through, don’t worry! With Camtasia Audiate’s waveform editor, you can see where the sound peaks and cut it out super easily.

Where should you record audio?

A small, soft room is usually better for recording than a large room with hard surfaces. You can handle many of these tips just by choosing your recording location carefully. Where you record can make a big difference in your audio quality.

Choosing a space with fewer hard, echo-producing surfaces means less time spent soundproofing the space. A small carpeted room with curtains and bookshelves is a much better option than an expansive space with hardwood flooring and desks and bare walls.

And if you don’t have an ideal space, bring in soft materials like pillows, blankets, and rugs to dampen the sound. Even a closet full of clothes or the inside of your car can be viable options in a pinch.

How do you clean up audio after recording?

Editing helps remove background noise, plosives, hesitations, and uneven volume after recording. Even with every precaution taken, your audio may still have some unwanted sounds. Use quality audio editing software to remove background noise, plosives, and other audio issues.

Camtasia Audiate is a reliable editing tool for achieving high-quality recordings.. Plus, you can remove hesitations like “ums” and “ahs” with the click of a button!

Get high-quality audio through audio improvement tools. Improve audio files with easy-to-use features like Remove Plosive, Equalizer, and Volume Leveler for clear, consistent audio.

Start with a clear voice track

Great audio does not require a studio. Start in a quiet space, keep a steady microphone distance, record with the tool that works with your device, and make small edits before you publish. 

When you are ready to edit faster, Camtasia Audiate can help you turn a rough voice recording into clearer narration. Try Camtasia Audiate

Frequently asked questions

How can I record high-quality audio?

Record high-quality audio by choosing a quiet space, sitting at a steady distance from the microphone, and listening for background noise before you begin. Do a short test recording to hear buzzing lights, computer fans, breath sounds, or echoes before they become part of the final file. After recording, use audio editing software to remove unwanted sounds, plosives, hesitations, and uneven volume.

How can I record audio for free?

You can record audio for free using tools already on many devices. Mac users can use QuickTime Player, Windows users can use Voice Recorder, and iPhone users can use Voice Memos. On Android, search your installed apps for terms like voice recorder, memo, or notes before downloading another app.

How do I record good audio on my phone?

To record good audio on your phone, start in the quietest room available and hold or place the phone so your voice stays clear and consistent. Avoid rubbing the phone, covering the microphone, or moving around while you speak. Record a short test first, then listen back and move to a softer, quieter space if you hear echo or background noise.

What does it mean to record audio?

To record audio means to capture sound, such as your voice, so it can be saved, edited, and shared later. Audio recordings are often used for voiceovers, presentations, podcasts, training videos, and tutorials. The goal is to make the recording clear enough that listeners can understand the message without being distracted by noise or uneven sound.