How do I record system audio on a Mac without a virtual audio device?
To record your Mac's system audio without a virtual audio device, use a tool that taps macOS's built-in system-audio capture instead of routing sound through BlackHole, Soundflower, or Loopback. Canary does this for meetings: it reads the audio your Mac is already playing on-device — no virtual device, no bot, no plugin — and turns it into a live, rolling summary. The older virtual-device method still works, but it adds setup, can take over your speaker output, and tends to break on macOS updates.
Last updated June 3, 2026
You can record your Mac’s system audio without a virtual audio device by using a tool that taps macOS’s built-in system-audio capture, instead of routing sound through BlackHole, Soundflower, or Loopback.
The old way: virtual audio devices
For years the only way to grab the audio your Mac was playing was to install a virtual audio device — BlackHole, Soundflower, or Loopback. These work by pretending to be a speaker: you set your output to the virtual device, then have your recorder read from it. The catch is that once your output is the virtual device, you can’t hear the call anymore, so you have to build a multi-output device that splits sound to both your real speakers and the virtual one. That setup re-breaks on reboots and macOS updates, and it’s a lot of plumbing just to record a meeting.
The modern way: native system-audio capture
Recent macOS versions (Sonoma 14.4 and later) added a native system audio capture API. An app can read the audio your Mac is already playing directly, on-device, with no virtual device in the signal path. Nothing changes about your output — you keep hearing the call normally — and there’s nothing to route, split, or reconfigure.
That’s how Canary captures meeting audio:
- No virtual audio device. It reads your Mac’s existing system audio output directly.
- No bot and no plugin. Nothing joins the call and there’s no extension to install — see how to take meeting notes without a bot.
- Platform-agnostic. Because it listens to system audio, it works the same on Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams.
From raw audio to a live summary
Capturing the audio is only step one. Canary feeds that system audio into streaming transcription and a live, rolling summary, so you don’t just get a recording — you get a live summary during the call you can glance at the moment your name comes up. That’s the difference between Canary and a plain recorder, and between Canary and after-the-call notetakers like Otter and Granola.
Stay transparent
Recording the audio of a call should always be transparent, not secret. Recording and consent laws vary by region — some places require one party’s consent, others everyone’s — so tell participants when you’re capturing a meeting. “No virtual device” and “no bot” are about a cleaner setup, never about hiding that you’re taking notes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need BlackHole or Soundflower to capture system audio?
No. Modern macOS (Sonoma 14.4 and later) exposes a native system-audio capture API, so an app can read the sound your Mac is already playing without installing a virtual audio device. Canary uses this on-device, which is why there's nothing to route or configure.
Why is a virtual audio device a hassle?
A virtual device like BlackHole or Loopback inserts itself as your output, so you often have to build a multi-output device just to still hear the call, re-point it after reboots, and fix it whenever macOS updates. Native system-audio capture skips all of that.
Does recording system audio capture my microphone too?
System-audio capture reads what your computer is playing — the other participants' voices on a call. It's separate from your microphone input. For meeting notes you usually want the system audio; a tool can mix in your mic if you also want your own voice transcribed.