How to Record YouTube Audio on Mac for Free [3 Easy Ways🔥]

With YouTube growing as a major platform for music, podcasts, and educational content, many users wonder how to save music from YouTube for offline use, especially on Mac. While macOS makes it tricky due to system audio restrictions, there are reliable ways to get the job done.

In this guide, we'll show you how to record audio on Mac from YouTube, with or without third-party tools. Whether you're looking to save songs, rip podcast audio, or just enjoy your favorite YouTube soundtracks offline, we've got you covered.

Can I Record Audio from YouTube on Mac?

Of course, yes! It's possible to capture and save YouTube audio on your Mac's screen, but you need a workaround.

Generally speaking, macOS restricts direct access to internal audio due to privacy and security features. This means Mac apps can't natively screen record Mac with internal audio (like YouTube) unless you use specialized software or a virtual audio driver like BlackHole.

Luckily, there are several methods to help you capture YouTube sound on Mac, including native apps like QuickTime, open-source tools like Audacity, and all-in-one solutions like EaseUS RecExperts.

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3 Methods to Save Audio from YouTube on Mac

After learning some tips about saving YouTube sound on Mac, it's time to know how to complete the task with great YouTube recorder software. Without further ado, let's dive into the details.

Method 1. Use Professional YouTube Recorder

👍Best for: Anyone looking for a beginner-friendly, one-click solution to record YouTube audio on Mac without messing with drivers or settings.

EaseUS RecExperts for Mac is an all-in-one screen and audio recording software that directly and effortlessly captures system sound, including YouTube audio. Unlike traditional tools like QuickTime or Audacity, which require additional setup to capture internal audio, EaseUS RecExperts handles it natively.

It's designed for beginners and professionals, offering clean audio quality, real-time preview, and flexible export options. With no need for routing apps or terminal commands, it gives Mac users a seamless way to record YouTube videos and audio with high efficiency.

⭐Key Features:

• Directly records internal Mac audio (YouTube, Spotify, etc.)
• Support MP3, AAC, WAV, and more
• Schedule YouTube audio recording
• Built-in trimming and editing tools
• Record audio + screen simultaneously or separately

🚩How to record audio on Mac from YouTube with EaseUS audio recorder:

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.

🚩Watch a video tutorial on how to record sound from YouTube on Mac.

 

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Method 2. Use QuickTime Player

👍Best for: Users who prefer free built-in Mac tools and don't mind installing a virtual audio driver.

QuickTime Player, pre-installed on every Mac, is a basic but reliable tool for audio recording. However, it can't record internal system sound on its own.

To capture YouTube audio playing on your Mac, you need to pair QuickTime with BlackHole screen recording, a virtual audio driver that routes system sound to QuickTime's input.

🚩How to record audio on Mac from YouTube with QuickTime Player:

Step 1. Download and install BlackHole from Existential Audio. The BlackHole 2ch version is a universal choice.

Step 2. Configure BlackHole in the Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac: Finder > Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup.

Step 3. Create a device to let Mac record audio from system or microphone if needed.

• For system audio capture: Click + at the bottom left > select Multi-Output Device > check Built-in Output (or Mac Speakers) and BlackHole 2ch.

• For mic sound capture: Click + at the bottom left > select Create Aggregate Device > check Built-in Microphone and BlackHole 2ch.

Step 4. Navigate to System Preferences > Sound > Output, and select the Multi-Output Device.

Step 5. Open QuickTime Player, then click File > New Audio Recording.

Step 6. When the recording panel appears, hit the down arrow to the right of the record button, and choose BlackHole (2ch) as your audio source.

Step 7. Play the YouTube music or video you want to rip audio from and click the Record button to trigger your YouTube audio recording.

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Method 3. Use Audacity

👍Best for: Power users who want full control over recording and editing.

As an open-source audio recorder, Audacity is one of the most powerful free audio tools available, popular for its editing capabilities.

On macOS, however, Audacity cannot record internal audio unless you pair it with BlackHole, Soundflower, or other virtual audio drivers. Then, you can unlock the ability to capture YouTube audio playing on your Mac.

🚩How to save YouTube audio to Mac using Audacity:

Step 1. Download Audacity Mac version from audacityteam.org. You can download the Universal dmg. Once downloaded, follow the in-screen instructions to drag Audacity into your Mac's Applications folder.

Step 2. Download BlackHole or Soundflower audio loopback driver on your Mac.

Step 3. Go to Audio MIDI Setup and create a Multi-Output Device (Built-in Output or Mac Speakers + BlackHole) for system audio capture. 

Step 4. Go to System Preferences > Sound > Output, and set Multi-Output Device as your output.

Step 5. Open Audacity > Preferences > Devices > set Recording to BlackHole 2ch.

Step 6. Play the YouTube video and hit Record (red dot) in Audacity.

Step 7. Click Stop when done. Edit and export your audio.

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Further Reading: Is It Legal to Record YouTube Audio on Mac?

Is recording YouTube audio legal? Short answer: It depends.

Recording YouTube content for personal use (like offline listening or education) often falls into a gray area and may be tolerated. But downloading, sharing, or monetizing copyrighted audio without permission violates YouTube's Terms of Service and can lead to legal consequences.

Recording responsibly respects creators' rights and keeps you legally protected.

👉To stay safe:

• Only record royalty-free or Creative Commons content
• Get permission from the original creator
• Avoid re-uploading or monetizing recorded material

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Final Thought

As you can, it's possible and easy to record YouTube audio on Mac with the right tools.

If you have a low budget and don't mind taking the trouble to install other plugins, you can use QuickTime Player or Audacity to save YouTube music on your Mac.

But if you want an easy and one-to-stop solution, EaseUS RecExperts is your destination. This program lets you capture any audio coming from your Mac in high quality with a few simple clicks!

Record YouTube Audio on Mac FAQs

1. Can I record streaming audio on my Mac?

Yes, you can record streaming audio on your Mac, as long as you have the right streaming audio recorders, like EaseUS RecExperts, Movavi screen recorder, and more. Get one of them, and follow the on-screen instruction to use it.

2. How do I record YouTube videos on my Mac for free?

You can use the built-in Mac screen recorder - QuickTime Player to finish the task:

• Launch QuickTime Player
• Click File > New Screen Recording, then choose the recording region
• Click Record button

3. How to record YouTube audio on Mac with GarageBand?

GarageBand supports capturing audio from your microphone or other instruments connected to your Mac directly. As for recording YouTube audio, it actually cannot get the task done directly.

If you want to use GarageBand, you can first download the YouTube videos on your Mac locally, then extract the audio track from the YouTube video. That's it.

4. How to extract audio from YouTube video on iPhone?

You can use a file manager app like Documents by Readdle. Paste the video URL in its browser, use an online converter, and save the audio. Reminder: Only use for personal, non-commercial purposes.

5. How to record audio on Mac from internet?

Yes. Apps like EaseUS RecExperts can record internal system sound, whether it's from YouTube, Spotify, online radio, or streaming content without needing extra drivers.

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