HOT TOPICS iPhone 15 New MacBook Pro New Mac mini iPhone deals iPad deals Best Mac

hone deals iPad deals Best Mac anti

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence.

Home / Mac / How-To

MAC 911

How to record calls on your Mac from Skype,

FaceTime, and other VoIP apps
You may need to retain a record, review the call later, turn the audio into a
transcript, or have separate tracks for a podcast.

MAC 911
By Glenn Fleishman, Senior Contributor, Macworld FEB 23, 2022 1:00 AM PST

Image: Microsoft
For over 15 years, my main incoming work number and the one I use to place
nearly all my calls is virtually wired into Skype. I pay a modest fee for unlimited
incoming calls to a fixed number and unlimited outgoing calls to the U.S. and
Canada. However, my adherence to VoIP (voice over IP) apps makes it a bit of a
struggle when I need to record a call.

Why record a VoIP call? You might need to when you’re interviewing someone,
for record-keeping purposes in a job, to create a transcript later, or if you’re
making a podcast. Your profession might oblige you to keep records of all calls,
even. (Always consult the legal requirements for notification of another party
before recording. Rules vary by state in the U.S. and by country.)

Teleconferencing apps, like Zoom, almost always include recording options.

Zoom offers local recording even to people hosting meetings using the
company’s free tier. Zoom even has an option to split audio into one file per
participant, useful for mixing and editing podcasts or other conversations
intended for others to listen to.

Other apps don’t provide this kind of simplicity or built-in functionality.

QuickTime’s screen recording feature is an awkward but feasible way to record a
VoIP session, but it’s tweaky to set up. The CallRecorder app used to be an
option for Skype, but it doesn’t work with M1 Macs and its maker says they will
never update it for Apple silicon. Further, Microsoft’s changes to Skype require
regularly reinstalling CallRecorder with every Skype minor update—if you forget
or miss a dialog, you might be already in a call when you realize you can’t record.

The best way to record VoIP calls is via Rogue Amoeba’s Audio Hijack ($59).
Priced for professional use, you should invest in the app’s cost if this is a routine
task you’ve sought a solution for. There’s a trial version you can test out. The
trial’s only limit is that, until you obtain a license, Audio Hijack will record a clean
10 minutes after each launch and overlay noise.
A template in Audio Hijack sets you right up for recording a VoIP call from Skype or
other apps.

How to set up voice chat recording in Audio Hijack

Audio Hijack carries out its recording trick by remapping the mic on your
computer and the sound output from the VoIP app to left and right stereo audio
channels. This lets the it capture the channels separately in a session workflow
and only route the party speaking to your headphones or speakers. You don’t
have to work out how to set up this kind of recording, either: Rogue Amoeba
includes a template. That includes setting a few advanced options for Skype that
you can see in this screen capture—I include it for reference.
 The advanced setting for including audio input lets you
split mics and audio output onto separate tracks, making
it possible to record a VoIP call without hearing an echo
and record podcast participants as a separate track.

Set up a template as a new session by choosing Session > New Session, and

then click Voice Chat and click Choose. A new default VoIP session appears with
Skype selected by default at the far left in Application.

The workflow runs from left to right. It takes the sound output from Skype, runs it
through a virtual sound meter. The sound meter shows volume levels as you or
the other party speaks, allowing you visual confirmation that it’s active.

This template configuration has a split, each of which receives the same
incoming left and right audio tracks. One path records the output via the
Recorder item. The other path adds “Channels: Duplicate Right” to extract just
the other party’s audio (the Skype audio output) that Audio Hijack mapped to the
right channel and feed that to the select Output Device. This prevents a slightly
delayed echo of yourself from appearing in your headphones or speakers.
You can customize this to fit:

Click Application to change it to another VoIP app, choosing it from the

Source menu.
The Output Device items defaults to show whatever audio output you have
selected for the system. Click that item to choose a different output, like a
headset or earbuds.
Click the Recorder item to change the recording file format, name of the file,
and where it will be saved, among other settings and metadata.

You can reuse the workflow set up in the steps above by choosing Windows >
Sessions Tab. It appears in that library by default as Voice Chat. I recommend
clicking the name and changing it to something easier for you to remember later.

When you’re ready to record a call

When you’re ready to record your first call, follow these steps:

1. Launch Audio Hijack and have the session open so you can see its window.
2. Initiate the Skype call. Provide any necessary required recording disclosure.
(This is not legal advice.)
3. Click the record button in the lower-left corner. There may be a very brief
blip in the audio while Audio Hijack assumes control.
4. If everything is set up correctly, the entire call (you and the other party or
parties) will be recorded in the way specified in Recorder.
5. When the call is complete, or you want to end the recording portion, click
the record button again. You may hear another brief audio blip.

You can now find the file by clicking the Recordings button in the session’s lower-
right corner, which reveals all Audio Hijack recordings. You can select the session
and right-click to choose Reveal in Finder. Or it will be a location you chose if you
specified one.

If you need multiple tracks for editing a podcast or other later-listening situation,
Audio Hijack makes that possible with just a bit of extra configuration. You can
still start with the Voice Chat template, but then add a Duplicate Left item to
record the other party to a separate Voice Recorder.

Here’s an image of my slightly elaborate setup. I record separate tracks as

higher-quality AAC files, and then also mix both tracks into a single lower-quality
This more complicated setup is what I use to record a podcast with separate tracks and
one mixed recording.

MP3 for reference. I also prefer the VU Meters item for visualizing sound levels—
it’s just a different form of skeuomorphic representation.

This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader

Mia.

Audio Hijack

Ask Mac 911

 We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with
answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is
covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours
to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether
you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t
reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

Author: Glenn Fleishman, Senior Contributor

Glenn Fleishman’s most recent books include Take Control of iOS and
iPadOS Privacy and Security, Take Control of Calendar and
Reminders, and Take Control of Securing Your Mac. In his spare time,
he writes about printing and type history. He’s a senior contributor to
Macworld, where he writes Mac 911.

Recent stories by Glenn Fleishman:

How to manage multiple Time Machine backups on and off your Mac
What does Apple Mail’s ‘Load Content Directly’ button do?
How to show missing email in your iPhone and iPad inbox

Macworld is your best source for all things Apple. We give you the scoop on what's new, what's best and how to make the most
out of the products you love.

POLICIES

ABOUT

MORE FROM MACWORLD

SUBSCRIBE
 Copyright © 2023 IDG Communications, Inc.

Explore the Foundry Network +

TOP OF PAGE

Do Not Sell My Info

Privacy Settings