Not sure what factors you should be looking into?

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll be sharing a list of 12 important factors that you should look for in a Mac screen recorder.

Let’s get started.

1. Ability to Record Audio

This is the first things you should look for in a Mac screen recorder. Even though all Macbooks come with two pre-installed recorders (QuickTime Player & Screenshot Tool), neither of can record internal audio. That’s why it’s important to check whether the third-party screen recording application you’re going for records both internal (system) audio and microphone audio.

2. Free Trial/Plan

Many recording software online are built with professional editors and video makers in mind.

If you’re an average user with no prior video-making experience, you might find it difficult to get accustomed to the basic functionalities and use cases of the software. Hence, it’s always safer to test the software, its interface, and its features before you plan to pay for it. Just sign up for a free trial & experience the product in action before you purchase it.

It’s always advisable to check the reviews and ratings of a recording software before you make a purchase. By doing so, you will have a clear picture of what works and what doesn’t in a product.

There are so many credible review platforms like G2, Crozdesk, and Capterra where you can check and compare the ratings, reviews, pros, and cons of your favourite products easily.

4. Pricing

There are a ton of free and paid screen recording software available online.

However, it’s important to note that most of these free screen recorders only provide basic screen recording functionalities. They don’t provide advanced editing and storage functionalities that are required to take professional videos.

If you wish to record professional screen-recorded videos, it’s better to pay a few extra dollars and go for a paid screen recorder. The pricing usually ranges from $7 to $300.

While you sign up for a free trial, check whether your screen recorder has a user-friendly interface. It should have beginner-friendly customization tools & drag-and-drop features. They will not only help you save your time and money, but also make your recording experience less stressful.

6. Customer Support

A responsive customer support team will always put their customers first, and get their issues sorted as soon as possible.

However, not all screen recorders have a solid customer support team.

That’s why it’s important to check whether your screen recorder has a responsive customer support team. To do this, you can have a look at product’s listing on any of the popular software review platforms. They will have consolidated user ratings for all these critical aspects (quality of support, ease-of-use, and ease-of-setup).

Most screen recorders require a good amount of storage space. So, it’s better to look for software that requires less storage space.

A few screen recorders like Vmaker can also be downloaded as a Chrome extension. If you’re running short on storage space, you can try out a screen recorder Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.

8. Editor

This is another important factor you should check for.

Because, without a built-in video editor, you would be forced to perform multiple retakes until you get it all right in a single shot.

Using Vmaker AI video editor, you can transform your raw video footage into publish-ready video in one click. All you have to do is upload your raw footage and select the kind of visual enhancements or elements you want to add to your video like Subtitles, B-rolls, Background Music, Text Animations, etc— Vmaker AI will automatically add them for you.

Not just AI, it also comes with an intuitive timeline. So, you can easily edit the parts of the video as you like.

9. Recording Features

As we mentioned earlier, there are a multitude of screen recorders online. While a few of them may allow you to record your entire screen, a few of them may only allow you to record a selected portion of your screen. Depending on your requirements, it’s up to you to decide what features you’d like to have in your Mac screen recorder.

Here are a few basic features that you can expect in a Mac screen recorder.

i) Background noise control feature
It filters out the unnecessary background noises from your recording and ensures your videos have high-quality audio.

ii) Recording Scheduler
It allows you to schedule your recordings in advance.

iii) Cloud storage
This feature ensures that all your recordings are saved to the cloud. That means you don’t have to worry about downloading your screen recordings to your local device.

iv) Multiple recording modes (with webcam recording)
When you have multiple recording modes, you will be able to switch between screen and webcam recording seamlessly.

v) Annotation and mouse emphasis tools
While the mouse emphasis feature highlights your mouse clicks, the annotation tools allow you to draw on the surface of your screen. Both these features help in grabbing the attention of your viewers.

10. Video Quality

Screen recordings, when compressed, lose their quality. These types of videos will not have sharper details and will end up looking pixelated. This is a huge bummer if you’re looking to record professional videos.

That’s why you should always look for a screen recorder that offers high-quality export options (at least 1080p & above).

11. Export Format

This is, again, another overlooked factor.

If you’re planning to upload your recordings on any of the popular social media platforms like (YouTube and Facebook), you should be able to export your recording in an MP4 format. So, make sure your recording software allows you to export your recordings in MP4 format.

Most screen recorders provide easy and quick sharing options.

Just check if your screen recorder allows you to share your recording in one of the formats mentioned below.

1. As a copied link
2. As a video embed link
3. Upload your videos directly to social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Vmaker is a 4K Mac screen recorder that lets you record, edit, and share professional-quality videos within a matter of a few minutes.

Sign up for free and start recording videos in a jiffy!

Recommended Reads

How to Record Internal (System) Audio on Mac? (5 Simple Ways)

How to Use Your iPhone as a Webcam on Mac?

Top 10 Screen Recorders for Mac

How to Screen Record on MacBook Pro

How to Record Screen and Talk on Mac

How to Screen Record on Mac with Voiceover

How to Screen Record on Mac with Unlimited Time

And, you’re wondering if you should use the built-in Mac screen recorder – QuickTime Player.

Well, straight off – QuickTime Player is a good choice for screen recording. You don’t have to download an external app or sign up using your email account. Which makes it the simplest way to record screen videos on Mac.

But simplest is not always the best…

In return for being simple, QuickTime player keeps its users absent from advanced features that many other screen recording tools offer.

Advanced features like –

• Dual recording – Recording screen + webcam
• Bug-free interface for longer duration recording
• High recording quality (up to 4K in paid plans)
• Multiple formats for downloading recorded videos
• Cloud storage, so you get more storage space in your MacBook
• System audio recording
• Lack of useful video making features like screen annotation, virtual background, recording scheduler and more (these features are mostly paid)

If you’re here, then it means you’re the type of user who wants to explore screen recording to the maximum extent possible. Kudos, you’ve made a great choice.

To avoid missing out on the above features and learn screen recording in a better way, we recommend using other Mac compatible screen recorders. Don’t worry, we will not leave you hanging with just that information.

You can check out our blog on best screen recorders for Mac and decide for yourself. This blog lists down the best options for MacBook along with their pros and cons.

Or, you can try out Vmaker

If you want to spring into action immediately, then you can check out Vmaker. Or, you can watch this 3-minute video tutorial on how to install Vmaker on your MacBook.

Yes, we’re plugging our own product here. Because we think it’s a great alternative to QuickTime Player. We genuinely believe that a Mac user can get more value from using Vmaker than QuickTime Player.

With that in mind, here’s a list of features in Vmaker which you can use for free.

1) Unlimited recording

Like QuickTime screen recording, Vmaker also allows unlimited recording. There is no limit on the number of recordings or the storage space. However, in the free version, a single video can be recorded for 7-minutes.

2) 720p recording

One of the biggest demerits of using QuickTime is that there is no option to choose the quality of recording. There is only one quality, and that’s substandard. Vmaker lets you record in 720p quality and gives you the option to record in lower quality if that’s what you want. (Upgrade for 4K recording quality)

3) Attractive frames and filters

Frames and filters add borders to your webcam recording which makes your face look more prominent. You can also add a name tag to the recording, so that your audience can remember your name throughout the video.

4) Screen + Webcam

As Vmaker can record both screen and webcam at the same time, it’s a much better tool for making screen recordings. Because with this feature you can record video feedback, reaction videos, tutorials and product demos too.

5) Different dimensions

With Vmaker you get to choose how much area you want to record. It can be your entire screen which means every window that is open. It can be only a specific window or a custom area which you can choose by only dragging your mouse.

6) Watermark free videos

This is something you won’t find in a lot of other screen recorders. At least not only in the free plan. But, in Vmaker, every video that you record, irrespective of the plan you’re in, there is no watermark on the videos.

7) In-built video editor

Yes, Vmaker has a built-in video editor. Which means you can trim, crop and rotate your videos for free. You don’t have to spend time downloading the video and uploading it to an external editor. Besides, the editor is user-friendly, and doesn’t require prior experience.

8) Priority support

If you get stuck while using Vmaker or you have questions about anything related to Vmaker – we’re only an email away. Our support team works 24*7, so we’re always here to answer your questions.

Paid plans start only at $7/month

It will be a one-sided blog if we only tell you about the free features of Vmaker. So, here’s a one line description of some amazing advanced features of Vmaker which you should know about.

Screen annotation

Draw symbols or anything to divert attention of your viewers to something specific on the recording

Mouse emphasis

Highlight your mouse pointer to make it easy for your audience to follow where you’re clicking on the screen

Internal audio

Record any audio playing on your MacBook PC, and Vmaker will record it and sync it with the video recording and voice

Advanced editing suite

Get access to the advanced editor where you can upload external videos to combine them with your own recording and do a lot of exciting things

4k quality

Record videos in 4K quality. You can also choose between other HD quality modes like 1080p and 1440p

Virtual background

Use virtual background in webcam recording. Very useful if you don’t have a proper background to record videos

Embed videos

After recording, you can embed the videos on your website. You can also track how many people have viewed your video

Compare the pricing of Vmaker to find out the exact break-up of features. Check out the pricing page

That’s about it

That’s all we had to tell you about screen recording and why you should stop QuickTime screen recording.

Ok, the latter one was a bit of a stretch. But, seriously, if you want to use screen recorders daily and for a longer term, it makes sense to invest in an advanced Mac screen recorder like Vmaker.

Do check out our list of best screen recorders for Mac, and decide which one will meet your needs the most.

Recommended Readings:

How to screen record on Mac with audio

10 Best 4K Screen Recorders For Windows and Mac

How to use an iPhone as a webcam on a Mac – macOS Ventura

How to Screen Record on MacBook Air

How to Screen Record on Mac with audio and video

How to Screen Record on Mac with Facecam

How to Screen Record on Mac for Free

How to Screen Record on Mac with Internal Audio

But, if you want to record your voice or internal audio along with the screen & webcam recording, then you need an advanced screen recorder. These screen recorders can record audio and sync them with the video in real-time.

If you love streaming videos or sharing commentary, then you should have an advanced screen recorder.

As there are many screen recorders in the market, settling for only one can be a tough choice.

Here’s a quick list of screen recorders that can not only record audio along with screen and webcam, but also have a host of features that can help you with video making.

1. Vmaker
2. Camtasia
3. OBS
4. ScreenFlow
5. Loom
6. Snagit
7. Active Presenter
8. Screencast-O-Matic
9. TinyTake
10. Claquette

You can check our detailed analysis of these tools on how to record screen video on Mac blog.

In this blog, we will be telling you about how you can screen record on Mac with audio using Vmaker. Vmaker is the best advanced screen recorder for Mac and Windows. It’s user-friendly and has all the features you need to make impeccable videos with audio. The best part is that you can do all of that without paying a single penny.

To get started with Vmaker, you can download the Vmaker app on your Mac computer. You can also add it as a Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store. Following are the steps for each of them.

Downloading Vmaker app on your Mac computer

1. Head over to the Vmaker website
2. Click on the Sign up now button
3. Enter your user name, email address and password. You can also sign up with your Google and Facebook account 
4. After you click on the Sign up button, you will see a dashboard pop-up. Download the Vmaker for Mac app
5. Follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation

Installing the Vmaker Google Chrome extension

1. Head out to the Google Chrome Web Store
2. Search for Vmaker in the search bar
3. Click on the Add to Chrome button
4. Open your Google Chrome browser, and from the extension drop-down, pin the Vmaker extension
5. Click on the Vmaker logo after it’s pinned
6. Sign up with your email address and start recording videos

Now that you have downloaded the Vmaker app or installed the Chrome extension, you can start recording your screen on Mac with internal audio.

Here are the steps to follow in the Vmaker app. If you’re using the Chrome browser, you can relate to the above steps as the user interface is the same

You should see a screen similar to the above screenshot.

To record your voice, check the highlighted section in the screenshot above. Make sure that the microphone is enabled, and it’s not on mute  . If you’re using a bluetooth headset, then Vmaker will automatically identify the microphone. Select it from the drop-down, and your audio will be recorded from that microphone. After you start screen recording on Mac, you can mute and unmute your microphone if that’s needed.

Choose your screen, screen with webcam or webcam only to start recording videos. You can also schedule screen recording, to automatically start recording your screen at a pre-destined time. Make sure you keep the Vmaker app open.

To highlight the content in your recording, use annotations. You can choose different colours tailored to your needs

If you’re recording your webcam too, then make sure you try out the frames feature. You can add different filters on the webcam view to make the recording more interesting.

After you finish recording, edit your video by using Vmaker AI video editor. All you have to do is upload your raw footage and select the kind of visual enhancements or elements you want to add to your video like Subtitles, B-rolls, Background Music, Text Animations, Intro, Outro, etc— Vmaker AI will intelligently add them for you.

Not just AI, it also comes with an intuitive timeline. So, you can easily edit the parts of the video as you like.

Once you’re done with chiseling your video, don’t waste any time in sharing it with your friends. Upload it on social media in a click right from the Vmaker dashboard

If you want to check out the other cool features that will help you to make, edit and share videos, then here’s the features page link.

For Mac users, it’s tough to understand why they can’t use QuickTime player to record audio while recording their screen. It’s in-built, therefore it’s more convenient to use. Also, there is no need to download an application or sign up anywhere.

That makes sense, but the problem is that you can’t do it with QuickTime player. It is a basic tool for making screen recording videos on Mac. It cannot record your internal audio while recording the screen at the same time.

When you play videos on your Mac computer, it will not record the audio of the file being played. As an alternative, you can record your voice as narration in a voice recorder, and then sync it with the screen recording.

But, that’s too much work. And, it’s tedious too. If you’re serious about generating more engagement on your videos, QuickTime player is not the right tool for you.

If you already know it, feel free to skip it. But, I think there will be a few inquisitive readers who want to know more about this. It’s not mandatory to record your audio while making a screen video on Mac. But, in a few cases, it has its advantages. Here are a few that come at the top of our head –

Immersive experience

With audio recording, you can give that immersive experience to your audience. You can play multimedia files from your desktop all the while recording your screen. So, you don’t have to share the link with them, and tell them to go check it out later. You can get things done right then, and make the whole experience more engaging.

Explain easily

Simple, with audio recording you can add more explain stuff in the screen recording more easily. Instead of only putting numbers or words in slides, you can add your voice narration to explain to the viewers what exactly they’re looking at.

High personalization

Audio recording gives the audience a feeling that they’re having a private conversation with you. Due to the asynchronous nature of communication, they can’t see you, but as they hear your voice, it gets more personal for them. So, it becomes a lot more than just any other screen recording video.

High engagement

The most important point: you make better content with voice and internal audio recording. When your content is better, it means you will get more engagement too. They will watch your videos as the go-to content for learning something new. It will also encourage them to share your videos with others, which will ultimately improve your popularity.

Wrapping it up

So that was the complete walkthrough of how you can screen record on Mac with audio. Audio recording is very helpful for recording both voice narration and internal audio. If you’re using a screen recorder that doesn’t allow this, then switch to Vmaker for better experience. With Vmaker, you not only get things done quickly, but also in an efficient way.

You can also read our other blogs to get more insights on Vmaker and screen recording. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started

How to record online lectures for free

How to make instructional videos with screen recording

Best Screen Recorders for Mac

How to send a video email

How To Record Internal Audio on Mac

How to Screen Record on MacBook Pro

How to Screen Record on Mac with audio and video

How to Screen Record on Mac without Quicktime

But all good things might still have a few disadvantages and Mac too has one area that needs improvement but sadly hasn’t been looked at is the screen recording functionality in the mac for some time forcing us to look elsewhere. Yes, you’re right I’m talking about the Quick time player.

If you’re on the latest versions of Mac, there’s a separate app in Mac called screenshot for recording and capturing screen but it offers the same functionality as of Quick time player with the same features except for the fact that you can start screenshots with a keyboard short cut.

As the name suggests Quick time player/Screenshots is majorly a video/audio player that has screen recording functionality. Quick time player lets you record or capture screen on Mac but lags without many important features.

Here are some limitations of Quick Time player that make you look elsewhere for a screen recorder tool.

 1. No dual recording 

Quick time doesn’t support webcam recording which is a bummer as it immediately rules out the ability to create engaging videos through webcam. The only recording that’s possible through screenshots or Quick time player is the screen recording with any dimensions. As the importance of videos are increasing exponentially the need for a dual recording is paramount and sadly there isn’t dual recording on Quick time player.

2. Moderate Quality Recording 

Quick time player or screenshots both limit the quality of your recording to 1080P in an era where people look out for high-quality videos and stream at 4K as the access to high speed and internet has been ever-improving across the globe. The only three available quality on Mac in either quick time player or screenshots are 480P, 720P, and 1080P.

3. Only one format to export your recordings 

Apple restricts the ability to export videos in multiple formats in fact the only format available for export is .mov. A format that works exclusively with Quick time player.  If you’re looking to upload your video elsewhere in popular formats like .mp4, .wmv, .mkvs then there is the unnecessary step to convert the video to the format of your choice which sometimes hampers the quality of videos.

Also, the file sizes are generally huge with a 10 min recording at the max recording of 1080P coming out to around half a GB which again occupies a lot of unnecessary disk space on your Mac. Most of the online video format converters restrict the file size if you’re using a free version and this again is a big disadvantage!

4. Recordings are stored locally and not on cloud 

The recordings made on Quick time player or screenshots are saved locally and not on the cloud means the recordings are available on only one device. If you need to share it with anyone else there is the need to upload it each and every time and the huge file size makes it a tough job to share.

5. No ability to capture system audio 

This is one of the essential features that’s needed in a screen recording tool and Mac doesn’t offer it. Both the recording tools on mac do not come with the ability to capture the system audio or internal audio while you record. If you’re attending a meeting and recording the same, you’ll not be able to capture what the others in the meeting or conversing. Similarly for other cases including gameplay recording and other instances.

This limitation rules out the ability to record tutorial videos, Product tours using the native screen recording tool on the Mac. If you have to record audio as well you’ll need to install another application like sunflower which again makes the simple process of recording your screen unnecessarily complicated.

6. No cool features to make the recordings engaging 

Mac offers just the mouse emphasis feature which also isn’t completely useful as you’ll not be able to differentiate which part of the screen is being clicked exactly which is again a massive letdown.

There’s no screen annotation feature available as well so this again makes the recording flat and boring. If you’re looking to create engaging videos then Quick time player or screenshots both are simply not the ideal fit!

Not just these drawbacks the existing features seem to be not performing well with a lot of users complaining about the same in support forums. Here are a few of those listed below.

Quicktime player faces performance problems while recording long duration videos and further limitations in terms of audio quality. Apple users have also complained of bugs that don’t let them save their recordings. Apple also discontinued Quicktime player for windows in 2018 and doesn’t update screenshots or Quicktime player for Mac frequently these days.

To sum up the built-in screen recording tools on Mac (QuickTime Player) are decent tools to record or capture anything for personal use. But it’s nowhere near a good solution if you’re a heavy user and looking to use it for professional use. A good screen recorder should allow dual recording with tools like mouse emphasis, screen blur out, screen annotations to make the recording engaging.

Check out Vmaker that lets you record unlimited number of videos and stores your recording on the cloud forever. Not just that you can record screen, camera, or both as you wish along with cool features that enable you to make your recording look cooler.

Read more:

Best screen recording software for Mac

How to record your screen on Mac with audio using Vmaker

How to Record Your Computer Screen With Audio

How to Screen Record on Mac

How to Screen Record on Mac with Unlimited Time