How to Record Streaming Audio Free Online/Mac/Phone/PC

Want to save a favorite podcast, online radio, or live-streamed song for offline playback? When downloading isn't an option, the best way to capture these sounds is to record streaming audio.

This guide breaks down the best free streaming audio recorder for every platform and walks you through each step, even if you're a beginner. Whether you're a content creator, a music lover, or need to capture webinar audio, we've got you covered.

How to Capture Streaming Audio on Windows 11/10/8/7 

Recording streaming audio on a Windows PC is easier than you might think. Whether you want to save music, podcasts, or online lectures, there are simple streaming music recorders that can help you capture high-quality audio effortlessly.

1. EaseUS RecExperts for Windows

👍Best for: Beginners and professionals who want a reliable, no-lag streaming audio recorder with system and microphone support.

EaseUS RecExperts is an all-in-one screen and audio recorder that lets you capture streaming audio from any website, app, or media player. It supports both system sound and microphone recording, so you can even add voiceovers to your clips if needed. Its clean interface and powerful features make it a top choice for both casual and advanced users.

This internal sound recorder allows you to choose an audio output format to select the suitable format that meets your demands. For instance, it can be an MP3 recorder as the MP3 format is universal and compatible with most communication software, so that you can share it easily. FLAC is also appropriate for obtaining high-fidelity audio.

Main Features:

• Capture streaming audio in high quality
• Choose several output formats, including AAC, MP3, WAV, etc.
• Support schedule recording to start recording at a specific time
• Split the recordings automatically depending on your settings

You can capture streaming music easily with this rich-featured sound recording tool! To get it done, free download this powerful audio recorder first.

🚩How to Record Streaming Audio on Windows 10 or 11:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts and choose "Audio" (looks like a speaker) from the left side of the interface. Select the sound source by clicking on the speaker sign (the system sound) or the mic sign (the microphone). Or, you can record them both at the same time.

Step 2. Hit "REC" button to start recording audio. To finish it, you just click on the red square icon to stop the recording.

Step 3. After that, the recording list window will pop up automatically. You can listen to or edit the recording with built-in tools.

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2. VLC Media Player

👍Best for: Tech-savvy users who prefer an open-source, free method to capture basic streaming audio.

VLC Media Player isn't just a video player; it's also a hidden gem to record audio from website. Though the interface is a bit dated, VLC allows users to convert and stream audio input, making it a good no-cost option if you're comfortable with a few advanced settings.

🚩How to Record a Streaming Audio with VLC Media Player:

Step 1. Launch VLC and click Media > Open Network Stream... to open the online streaming audio that you are going to record. In the following dialog box, paste the streaming music URL.

Step 2. Click the arrow beside "Play" to bring up the streaming option. Select the Stream and Next options.

Step 3. In the following window, choose File followed by Add. Then, you can choose a location to save your recorded streaming audio file by clicking Browse.

Step 4. After that, in the Stream Output window, uncheck the check box of Active Transcoding and click Next. Once done, click on the Stream button to begin capturing streaming music. 

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How to Record Streaming Audio on Mac 

Mac doesn't allow direct internal audio recording by default, but with the right tools and setup, you can easily capture streaming music, podcasts, or online radio in high quality. Here are the three best free streaming audio recorders for Mac.

1. EaseUS RecExperts for Mac^[Hot]

👍Best for: Mac users looking for a clean, powerful, and beginner-friendly app to record internal audio without extra setups.

EaseUS RecExperts for Mac simplifies what used to be complicated. Unlike most macOS apps, this streaming music recorder lets you record internal system sound without installing third-party extensions or loopback tools. Whether you're recording streaming music, Zoom meetings, or live broadcasts, this tool makes it smooth and hassle-free.

Stunning Features:

• A powerful internal audio recorder on Mac
• Capture app and microphone sound only
• Record screen with webcam/audio in a simple clicks
• Support various audio formats, like MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, etc.
• Offer a Task Scheduler to capture video and audio automatically

Now, download this streaming audio recorder (available on Mac/Windows), and it's useful in various scenes!

🚩Steps to Record Streaming Audio Macintosh:

Step 1. Install and launch EaseUS RecExperts. Click on the "Audio" option on the main screen.

Step 2. Click the Sound icon from the bottom left corner of the interface. Here you can enable the "System sound" option to record your Mac's audio. 

Step 3. To apply more options on Audio, click "Settings" from the main interface. Here you can set the output format, bitrate, sampling rate, etc. 

Step 4. Once done, the audio file is saved on its "Recordings". The recent audio file is listed first.

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2. QuickTime Player

👍Best for: Free and native solution for users comfortable with extra setup steps.

To capture streaming audio on Mac, you can use Apple's QuickTime Player, available on every MacBook. Yes, it's not merely a video player; it can record a video through the FaceTime camera, record the screen, and most notably, record external audio.

However, QuickTime alone lets you capture audio from the microphone or an external sound device. To record internal audio on Mac, combine QuickTime with a free virtual audio driver like BlackHole. This provides a way to capture system audio on a Mac without paying for third-party apps. It's not as plug-and-play, but once configured, it works smoothly for basic streaming audio recording.

🚩How to Capture Streaming Audio on Macbook with QuickTime + BlackHole screen recording:

Step 1. Download and install BlackHole (2ch) from Existential Audio.

Step 2. Open Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac.

Step 3. Create a Multi-Output Device and check both BlackHole and Built-in Output.

Step 4. Set the Multi-Output as your system's audio output in Sound Settings.

Step 5. Launch QuickTime Player > File > New Audio Recording.

Step 6. Click the dropdown next to the Record button and select BlackHole as the input.

Step 7. Play your streaming content and click Record in QuickTime.

Step 8. Once finished, click Stop and save your file.

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3. Audacity

👍Best for: Users who need a free tool with advanced editing features and don't mind a complex setup.

Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Mac users. This streaming audio recorder can record live audio through a microphone or mixer or digitize recordings from other media. What's more, it offers some editing tools, so you can easily edit your recorded file by trimming, cutting, etc., after recording.

If you want to know how to record internal audio on Mac without Soundflower, you can use Audacity as the alternative. Now, you will see how does Audacity records streaming audio on Mac in detail.

🚩Steps to Capture Streaming Audio with Audacity on Mac:

Step 1. Install Audacity from audacityteam.org.

Step 2. Install BlackHole and set it as your system output (as shown in the QuickTime method above).

Step 3. Launch Audacity, and go to Preferences > Devices.

Step 4. Set the Recording Device to BlackHole 2ch and Channels to Mono or Stereo.

Step 5. Click the Record button in Audacity.

Step 6. Play your streaming audio.

Step 7. Hit Stop when you're done and use the built-in tools to trim, filter, or export.

How to Record Streaming Audio on iPhone/Android 

Mobile phones don't support direct system audio recording due to privacy restrictions, but there are a few workarounds. Here's how to record streaming music, podcasts, or voice chats on iPhone and Android using built-in or third-party apps. 

1. Voice Memo [iPhone]

👍Best for: iPhone users who want a built-in and easy way to record external streaming audio via speaker playback.

The Voice Memos app on iPhone can't record internal audio directly due to iOS limitations. However, if you're playing streaming audio on speaker, it can record it through the built-in microphone. This is useful for capturing lectures, streaming radio, or voice content when quality isn't your top concern.

🚩Steps to Record Streaming Audio on iPhone using Voice Memos:

Step 1. Open the Voice Memos app from your iPhone's home screen.

Step 2. Tap the red Record button to start recording.

Step 3. Play the streaming audio from your phone speaker or an external device.

Step 4. Tap Stop when you're done.

Step 5. You can rename, trim, or share the audio file directly within the app.

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2. Smart Audio Recorder [Android]

👍Best for: Android users who want a lightweight and accurate voice recording app for capturing streaming audio from speakers or surroundings.

Smart Voice Recorder is a well-reviewed Android app designed for long-term, high-quality sound capture. While it doesn't offer internal audio recording (unless rooted), it performs exceptionally well when recording external audio like streaming content played aloud.

🚩Steps to Record Streaming Audio on Android with Smart Voice Recorder:

Step 1. Download Smart Voice Recorder from the Google Play Store.

Step 2. Launch the app and tap the Start Recording button.

Step 3. Play the streaming audio through your phone speaker or external speaker.

Step 4. Tap Stop once you're finished.

Step 5. Rename or share the recording as needed.

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How to Record Streaming Audio Online 

👍Best for: Users who need a free, no-installation tool to record audio from their browser using a microphone.

If you don't want to install any software, browser-based streaming audio recorders are a convenient solution. They work directly in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari and are great for quick, lightweight tasks like recording audio from YouTube, webinars, or internet radio.

Online Voice Recorder by 123Apps is a widely used browser-based tool that lets you capture sound via your microphone. While it can't record internal system audio directly (due to browser security limitations), it works perfectly for voiceovers or recording streaming sound played through speakers.

🚩Steps to Record Streaming Audio Using Online Voice Recorder:

Step 1. Visit the website: https://online-voice-recorder.com

Step 2. Click the "Record" button to give microphone access.

Step 3. Play the streaming audio through your device's speakers.

Step 4. Once the audio finishes, click "Stop."

Step 5. Trim the recording if needed and click "Save" to download it as an MP3 file.

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Conclusion

Whether you're capturing audio from YouTube, Spotify, Zoom meetings, or any livestream, the right tool depends on your operating system, quality requirements, and how much control you want. Here's a quick summary of the top streaming audio recording software we covered.

• EaseUS RecExperts stands out for its balance of power and simplicity, especially on Windows.

• For Mac, pairing QuickTime with BlackHole is effective, but setup takes extra steps.
• Audacity is a great free option for those needing post-recording audio edits.
• On mobile, built-in voice recorders do well for mic-based tasks, but can’t grab internal audio unless jailbroken or rooted.
• Online tools are perfect for casual use, but have limitations in capturing system sound due to browser sandboxing.

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FAQs About Recording Streaming Audio

Some related issues gathered from the public are listed here. 

1. How do I record a streaming audio?

Follow steps to record audio on Mac/Windows. Choose EaseUS RecExperts as audio recording software. 

1. Download EaseUS RecExperts and choose the "Audio" option.

2. Turn on the two buttons to choose a suitable audio source. Then play the streaming music you want to record and click "REC" to begin the recording.

3. Once done, the recorded file can be saved to your PC.

2. Which is the best streaming audio recorder? 

The 5 best streaming audio recorders are:

• EaseUS RecExperts
• Audacity
• VLC Media Player
• QuickTime Player
• OBS Studio

3. How to record audio from computer on Mac？

There are many ways to record streaming music on Mac. For the detailed tutorials, you can move to Part 2 to get more information.

4. Can Audacity record streaming audio?

Yes, it can. Audacity comes with audio recording capability. You can get the details from the guide above. 

5. Can I record streaming audio legally?

Yes, but it depends on your location and how you intend to use the recording. In general, personal use (such as recording a lecture or a music stream to listen offline privately) is tolerated under fair use in many countries. However, sharing, distributing, or monetizing recorded content without permission can violate copyright laws. Always check local regulations and respect platform terms of service.

6. Why can't I record internal audio on iPhone or Android?

Both iOS and Android restrict access to internal audio recording for privacy and DRM reasons. Most built-in or third-party apps can only record microphone input. To record system sound, you'd typically need a workaround like using a PC to mirror and capture the audio output, or specialized hardware. Some Android devices running older versions or rooted firmware may allow internal recording with apps like ScreenCam or ADV Screen Recorder, but this is not recommended for most users.

7. What format should I save streaming audio in?

MP3 is the most universal and widely supported audio format, suitable for music, podcasts, and voice recordings. If you want higher quality and don't mind larger file sizes, consider WAV or FLAC. Tools like EaseUS RecExperts let you choose your preferred format when exporting your recording.

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