MotionShineShort answer: download OBS Studio from obsproject.com, open it and let the Auto-Configuration Wizard run. Then add a macOS Screen Capture source with the + button in the Sources dock, check the Audio Mixer meters move, and click Start Recording in the Controls dock. Grant Screen Recording and Microphone permission when macOS asks. Stop the recording, and the file lands in the folder set as your Recording Path.
A note before we start: this guide is by the maker of MotionShine, a Mac screen recorder that competes with OBS for some people. That does not make OBS the wrong tool. For live streaming it is often the right one. The steps below come from OBS's own pages, so you can follow them without us.
OBS facts here come from obsproject.com, read on 23 October 2026. Where a page does not say something, this post says "not found" rather than fill the gap. Every step is what OBS's documentation says. It is not a hands-on test of the app.
What OBS Studio is
OBS Studio is free, open source software for recording video and live streaming. Its download page lists separate installers for Intel (x86_64) and Apple silicon (arm64) Macs, and says it supports macOS 13.0 and newer. On 23 October 2026 the Mac section listed version 32.2.2, released August 14th.
It was built for streamers, and it shows. You build a picture out of scenes and sources, you mix audio live, and you record the result as it happens. That is great for a stream with a webcam, a game and an overlay. It is more than you need if you only want a clean recording of a window.
Step 1: install OBS and give it permission
- Go to the OBS download page and choose the Mac build that matches your Mac: Apple silicon or Intel.
- Open the downloaded installer and install the app. The OBS pages read for this post do not list install steps for Mac, so follow the installer's prompts. Not found.
- Open OBS. The first time, macOS asks for permissions.
OBS's macOS Permissions Guide says that OBS Studio, version 28 and higher, asks macOS for four permissions, reviewed through a Review App Permissions window in the OBS Studio menu:
| Permission | What OBS says it is for |
|---|---|
| Screen Recording | Capturing your desktop, windows and apps |
| Camera | Webcams and capture cards |
| Microphone | Microphones and audio devices |
| Accessibility | Keyboard shortcuts when OBS is not the frontmost app |
For a plain screen recording you need Screen Recording, and Microphone if you want your voice. The guide does not say whether to restart OBS after you grant a permission, and its manual instructions section only says "Coming soon". If capture stays black after you grant access, quitting and reopening OBS is an ordinary thing to try, but that is not an OBS instruction.
Step 2: run the Auto-Configuration Wizard
OBS's Quick Start Guide says the wizard sets up recording and streaming settings based on your goals, hardware and network. It appears the first time you open OBS. You can run it again from Tools, then Auto-Configuration Wizard. If you only plan to record, choose the option that optimises for recording rather than streaming.
Step 3: understand scenes and sources
This is the part that confuses new users, so here it is in plain words.
- A source is one thing that goes into the picture: your display, a window, a webcam, an image, some text.
- A scene is a saved arrangement of sources. OBS starts with a blank scene.
OBS's Sources Guide says sources are listed in the Sources dock, and that those higher in the list appear on top in the preview. A formal definition of "scene" was not found on that page, so the one above is the common way to describe it.
For a screen recording you need one source:
- In the Sources dock at the bottom, click +.
- Choose macOS Screen Capture. The guide says this one captures a display, a window or an application, including desktop audio on macOS 13 and later, and recommends it over the older Display Capture on macOS 13.
- In the settings that open, choose Display Capture, Window Capture or Application Capture.
- Click OK. Your screen shows in the preview.
Want a webcam in the corner? Add a Video Capture source, which the Quick Start Guide lists for webcams and capture cards, then drag it to a corner in the preview.
Step 4: set up the audio
The Quick Start Guide says that, by default, OBS captures desktop audio and your microphone. Look at the Audio Mixer dock. If the meters do not move while you talk or play sound, or the wrong device is selected, go to Settings, then Audio and choose your devices.
Recording your Mac's own sound
The OBS macOS Desktop Audio Capture Guide (page dated 2022-04-19) says the built-in options need macOS 13 or later. It then splits by OBS version:
| Your OBS version | How to capture desktop audio |
|---|---|
| OBS Studio 30 or later | Add the macOS Audio Capture Source. It captures all desktop audio or one application |
| OBS Studio 28 or 29 | Add a macOS Screen Capture source. Its audio shows in the Audio Mixer. Switch the mode to Application Capture or Window Capture to isolate one app |
| Older macOS | The guide describes VB-CABLE, a virtual audio device, with a Multi-Output Device. It needs manual setup and does not support per-application capture |
For audio only from the Screen Capture route, the guide says to place the source behind other sources or set its transform to zero width and zero height. For more routes without OBS, see how to record computer audio on Mac without a plugin.
Step 5: record
- Check Settings, then Output. The Quick Start Guide tells you to review it before testing.
- Click Start Recording in the Controls dock.
- Do your demo. When you are finished, click Stop Recording.
The guide strongly recommends a test recording of a few minutes before your first real one. Do that. Play it back to check the picture and the sound.
Hotkeys are set in OBS's settings. A hotkey list on an official page was not found, so check Settings in your own copy. Other apps' stop keys are in every way to stop a screen recording on Mac.
Step 6: choose the output settings
These are the settings people ask about most. OBS's Standard Recording Output Guide says:
- Recording Path: set in the Output tab. There is also a Generate File Name without Space option.
- Recording format: the guide recommends MKV, because if the recording stops without a clean finish, MKV avoids corrupting the whole file.
- Remux: to turn a non-MP4 recording into MP4, choose File, then Remux Recordings, pick the files and click Remux. To do it automatically, turn on Automatically remux to mp4 in the Advanced tab.
- Quality: in Simple view you choose a Recording Quality. In Advanced view you choose the Encoder, and can set bitrate, quality presets and the keyframe interval.
The guide does not cover the Apple VT encoders for Mac, so a recommended encoder setting for a Mac was not found. The pages read do not say where the default save folder is, so set the Recording Path yourself and you will always know. If you get an MKV file that QuickTime will not open, the free MKV to MP4 converter runs in your browser.
What OBS does well
- It is free and open source. That is how OBS is listed in the 14 October 2026 check of its pages. Everything in it is available with no paid tier.
- It is one tool for recording and streaming. The Quick Start Guide covers both: Start Recording and Start Streaming sit in the same dock.
- Scenes and sources let you build a layout. Several windows, a webcam, images and text can share one picture, and you can switch scenes while recording.
- It runs on Mac, Windows and Linux. The same setup carries across if you change computers. This is from the OBS download page and the maker facts checked on 14 October 2026.
- It has a macOS Audio Capture source on OBS 30 and later, so no driver on macOS 13 and later.
Where OBS makes you work
- No editor after recording. OBS records and mixes live. Cutting, adding a title or a voice-over happens in another program. The 14 October check of OBS's pages found no editor for after the recording, only live text, images and a mixer.
- No auto zoom or cursor polish. Checked 14 October 2026: OBS's pages do not list auto zoom, a smooth cursor, or click effects. If you want the camera to follow your clicks, you build it by hand or edit it in post.
- Setup comes first. Scenes, sources, the mixer, the output tab and permissions are a lot for a first recording of a settings screen.
- MKV needs a step. MKV is the format OBS's guide recommends, but the file may need remuxing before QuickTime or an editor will take it.
- Permissions are four prompts. Reasonable, but more than a simple recorder asks.
OBS and the alternatives, side by side
All rows come from each maker's own pages, checked 14 October 2026 unless a date is given. Prices and versions can change.
| OBS Studio | Built-in recorder (Shift-Command-5) | MotionShine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source | Free | Free, Pro from $49 once at launch |
| Runs on | Mac 13+, Windows, Linux | Every Mac | macOS 13 and later |
| Live streaming | Yes | No | No |
| Auto zoom and smooth cursor | Not found | "Show Mouse Clicks" circle only | Yes |
| Editor after recording | None found | QuickTime trim and split | Full editor: text, pictures, music lanes, voice over, on-device captions |
| System audio | Yes on macOS 13+ with OBS 30+ | Only on macOS 27 or later | Yes, with your microphone |
| Free export | Everything | Everything | Up to 720p at 30 fps, no watermark, no time limit |
When something simpler fits
Be honest about what you are making.
Keep OBS if you stream live, you want scenes you switch between, or you already know it and like it. Nothing here should talk you out of that.
Use the built-in recorder if you need a quick clip with no install. How to screen record on Mac covers Shift-Command-5, and how to screen record on Mac with audio covers sound.
Try a recorder built for demos if you make tutorials, product walkthroughs or Mac app demos and spend more time editing than recording. MotionShine, by the maker of this site, adds auto zoom on clicks, a smooth cursor, click effects and motion blur you can add, and a full editor in the same app. The free version exports up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark and no time limit, and Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps. It has no live streaming and no share links, so it is not for streamers, and OBS is the better match for that. For more options, see the best screen recorders for Mac, the Loom alternative or the Screen Studio alternative.
After you record, how to edit a screen recording on Mac covers cutting and polishing, whichever app made the file.
FAQ
Is OBS Studio free on Mac?
Yes. OBS is listed as free and open source in the 14 October 2026 check of its pages, and the download page lists no price. It needs macOS 13.0 or newer.
Does OBS record system audio on a Mac?
Yes on macOS 13 or later. OBS Studio 30 and later have a macOS Audio Capture source. OBS 28 and 29 use the macOS Screen Capture source. Older macOS needs a virtual device such as VB-CABLE.
Why is my OBS screen capture black on a Mac?
A likely cause is missing Screen Recording permission. OBS's permissions guide lists Screen Recording as the permission for capturing your desktop, windows and apps. Open Review App Permissions in the OBS Studio menu and check it.
Which format should I record in?
OBS's guide recommends MKV, because it protects the file if recording stops badly. Use File, then Remux Recordings to get an MP4.
Can I record just one window or one app?
Yes. The macOS Screen Capture source lets you choose a display, a window or an application, per the Sources Guide.
How do I stop an OBS recording?
Click Stop Recording in the Controls dock. Every way to stop a screen recording on Mac lists the options for other apps.
Where do OBS recordings save?
In the Recording Path you set in the Output tab. A default folder was not found on the pages read for this post. Where do screen recordings go on Mac covers other apps.
