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This is for recording a Google Hangouts call on my Retina MacBook Pro. I am using the internal microphone and the internal speakers.

I would simply like to record the conversation. So I would like to record my voice picked up by the mic as well as the voice coming out of my speakers.

My DAW is Logic Pro X.

I have followed the steps from this and this answer but they have not worked. The problem is that the internal microphone records the other person's voice coming from the speakers—even though Hangouts works perfectly. [Of course I could always use headphones as my output, which would not result in a feedback loop with the internal mic, but I much prefer to use the internal speakers.]

Reply to Tetsujin:

I just tried Audio Hijack and I am getting the same issue as using before from when I was using the Soundflower workaround in my DAW: the internal microphone picks up the speaker output which causes an ear-piercing feedback loop.

I've tried Audio Hijack with two different configurations and this issue persists.

Configuration 1:
Audio Hijack "Record Google Chrome Application" Configuration

Audio Hijack "Record Google Chrome Application" Configuration

Configuration 2: Audio Hijack "Record System Audio" Configuration Audio Hijack "Record System Audio" Configuration

Community
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Kyle
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3 Answers3

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The prime app for any task like this has always been Audio Hijack* from Rogue Amoeba - not cheap though for a single task, $49.

I've not tried it for that specific task type, but there's a demo available. Though it injects periodic noise, it should be sufficient to test whether or not it's fully suitable for your intended purpose.

Rogue Amoeba took over Soundflower after Cycling '74 stopped maintaining it, but it hasn't really been updated & doesn't have anything like the functionality of Audio Hijack.

Tweaked answer after OP edits.

You need to not route the mic directly to the speakers, or you will get immediate howlround.
You will always get some spill of the audio from the speakers into the mic, which may make it sound more 'reverby' - the only fix for that is to use a headset - but it will prevent the mic recording itself, playing itself, recording itself… …

See this example -

enter image description here

*No afilliation, just a satisfied user

Tetsujin
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I wanted a FREE option, and this is what has worked for us:

  1. Install QuickTime for MacOS.
  2. Install the free version of iShowU Audio Capture. (iShowU is what the creators of Soundflower recommend since Soundflower isn't officially available anymore.)
  3. Mac > System Preferences > Sound > Output = "Multi-Output Device (Aggregate Device)"
  4. Mac > System Preferences > Sound > Input = "Aggregate Device (Aggregate Device)"
  5. Plug in your headphones, if you'll be using them. Remember that plugging/unplugging can cause the volume to set itself to different levels.
  6. Choose these settings: Mac > Audio MIDI Setup.app >
    1. Set "Built-in Microphone" to 1.0
    2. Set "Built-in Output" to 0.5 for both channels (1 and 2)
    3. Set "iShowU Audio Capture" > Input to 1.0 for all 3 sliders (Master, 1, and 2)
    4. Set "iShowU Audio Capture" > Output to 1.0 for all 3 sliders (Master, 1, and 2)
  7. Open QuickTime Player
  8. Choose to record new audio
  9. Here in QuickTime, using the drop-down menu arrow next to the red Record button, check that Microphone = Aggregate Device
  10. Press Record
  11. Use Hangouts to start a VOIP call, such as at https://hangouts.google.com/?action=chat&hl=en&pn=%2B19998887777
  12. In Hangouts, click the gear icon to see the settings (which unfortunately only seems to become available after starting a call).
  13. Ensure that in Hangouts settings Microphone = "Default - Aggregate Device...", and Speaker = "Default - Multi-Output Device..."
  14. When you're finished with your conversation, save the audio file.
  15. Play back the audio file in QuickTime or Audacity. [When we tried opening the m4a file in VLC, the voice of the other person on the call was basically silent (inaudible). It seems that VLC couldn't correctly play the file that was recorded in this way.]
Ryan
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Soundflower still works- I've used it to record Google Chrome audio while listening to it. It doesn't normally inject periodic noise like Audio Hijack, but if it's set improperly it might make a very loud static noise.

Rudi
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