Record Audio on a Mac

    How to Record Audio on Mac When Using Cya Live

    When you hit the “Record” button on Cya Live, your session is captured—including video and visuals—but macOS restricts apps from recording system audio by default, which means you might miss the sound from videos or other participants unless you take a few extra steps.

    Here’s the easiest way to enable both system and mic audio recording on a Mac.

     

    What You’ll Need

    We recommend using BlackHole – a free, lightweight audio driver that lets you route audio between apps.

    You can install it in just a few steps:

    Step 1: Install BlackHole (Free)

    1. Visit the official BlackHole GitHub page.

    2. Click on “Download Installer” and follow the instructions.

    3. Choose “2ch” version unless you need advanced multi-channel setup.

    Step 2: Create a Multi-Output Device (So You Can Hear and Record at Once)

    1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (found in Applications > Utilities).

    2. Click the ”+” button at the bottom left and choose “Create Multi-Output Device”.

    3. Check the boxes for:

      • Your Mac’s built-in output or headphones

      • BlackHole 2ch

    4. Optional: Right-click it and select “Use This Device for Sound Output”.

    Step 3: Route Mic and System Audio

    To capture both your mic and system audio:

    • In Cya Live, keep using your regular mic as input.

    • For recording:

      • Choose BlackHole as the system output when recording.

      • Or, for simpler capture, use a free app like Loopback or Audio Hijack if you prefer visual control (these are paid but easier for non-technical users).

    Step 4: Start Recording in Cya Live

    1. Hit Record in your Cya Live session.

    2. Make sure your audio output is set to the Multi-Output Device you just created.

    3. Talk and play content as usual—Cya Live will now capture everything.

    Tips

    • Test first: Run a short Cya session and review the video to confirm everything is working.

    • You can switch audio output back to normal once your session is done (System Settings > Sound).

    Coming Soon

    We’re working on an even smoother one-click audio setup for Mac. Stay tuned!