Record Audio with VLC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, VLC media player can record audio from any source your computer can hear, including microphones, streaming audio, or system sounds. You can capture audio in formats like MP3, FLAC, and OGG without installing additional software. This guide walks you through the built-in recording feature, explains the settings, and covers common issues.

What You Need to Know Before Recording

VLC’s audio recorder is part of its “Convert/Save� and “Streaming� features. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The recording quality depends on your input source (microphone, line-in, or system audio) and the bitrate you choose. VLC does not record video by default; it captures only the audio track. To record video, you would use the “Convert/Save� option with a video source, but this guide focuses on audio.

How to Record Audio from a Microphone or Line-In

This is the most straightforward method. It captures whatever your computer’s audio input device picks up.

Open VLC and go to Media > Convert/Save (or press Ctrl+R on Windows/Linux, Cmd+R on macOS).
In the “Capture Device� tab, select Audio device as the capture mode.
Choose your input device from the “Device selection� dropdown (e.g., “Microphone� or “Line-in�).
Click Convert/Save at the bottom.
In the next window, under “Profile,� select an audio format like Audio – MP3 or Audio – FLAC.
Set the destination file by clicking Browse and typing a name (e.g., my_recording.mp3).
Click Start. VLC will begin recording immediately.
To stop, click the red square “Stop� button in VLC’s main interface.

The file will be saved to the location you chose. If you don’t see the “Capture Device� tab, ensure you are using a recent version of VLC (3.0 or newer).

How to Record System Audio (What You Hear)

To record audio playing on your computer (e.g., a YouTube video, a podcast, or a game), you need to capture the system’s output. This is not a built-in option in VLC on most operating systems because it requires a virtual audio cable. Here’s how to set it up:

Windows: Install a free virtual audio cable like VB-Cable. Then set your system’s playback device to “CABLE Input� and in VLC select “CABLE Output� as the audio device.
macOS: Use the built-in “Multi-Output Device� in Audio MIDI Setup to route system audio to both your speakers and a virtual device, or install BlackHole (free).
Linux: Use PulseAudio’s “Monitor� source. In VLC, choose “PulseAudio� and then the monitor of your default sink (e.g., “Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo�).

After routing, follow the same steps as the microphone method but select the virtual device as the input.

Choosing the Right Output Format and Bitrate

VLC offers several audio container formats. The most common are:

MP3 – universally compatible, good balance of size and quality. Use 192–320 kbps for music, 128 kbps for speech.
FLAC – lossless, large files, ideal for archiving or editing.
OGG (Vorbis) – open source, similar quality to MP3 at lower bitrates.
WAV – uncompressed, huge files, but no quality loss.

To adjust bitrate, click the “Edit selected profile� (wrench icon) next to the profile dropdown. In the “Audio codec� tab, set the bitrate to your desired value. For most voice recordings, 128 kbps is sufficient. For music, 256 kbps or higher is recommended.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Here are typical issues you might encounter and their solutions:

No sound recorded: Check your input device selection. For microphones, ensure the correct device is selected and not muted in your OS settings.
Recording is too quiet or loud: Adjust the input volume in your system’s sound settings. VLC does not have a gain control for recording.
File is empty or zero bytes: The recording may have stopped prematurely. Make sure you click “Start� and not “Stream� by accident.
VLC records only one channel (mono) when you need stereo: In the profile settings, set the “Channels� to 2 (stereo).
Recording stops after a few seconds: Some systems have a “listen to this device� option that can cause feedback. Disable it in your OS sound settings.

Comparing VLC to Other Audio Recorders

VLC is free and cross-platform, but it lacks advanced features like noise suppression, automatic gain control, or scheduling. Dedicated audio recorders like Audacity (also free) offer these features and a more intuitive interface for editing. However, VLC is lighter and faster for quick captures, and it can record from unusual sources like a TV tuner or a network stream. For simple voice memos or capturing a live stream, VLC is sufficient. For professional podcasts or music production, use Audacity or similar.

Safety and Legal Considerations

Recording audio is generally legal for personal use, but copyright laws vary by country. Do not record or distribute copyrighted music, podcasts, or conversations without permission. In many jurisdictions, recording a private conversation requires consent from all parties. Always inform people if you are recording them. VLC itself does not add any watermark or metadata, so the file is clean, but you are responsible for its content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can VLC record audio from a YouTube video?

Yes, but only if you capture system audio as described above. VLC cannot directly record from a website’s audio stream unless you route it through a virtual cable. Alternatively, you can open the YouTube URL in VLC (Media > Open Network Stream) and then use the “Convert/Save� feature to save the audio track, but this may violate YouTube’s terms of service.

How do I record audio in VLC on a Mac?

The steps are the same as on Windows. Go to Media > Convert/Save, choose “Audio device,� select your microphone or a virtual device (like BlackHole) for system audio, pick a profile, and start. On macOS, you may need to grant VLC microphone permission in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.

Does VLC record in MP3 by default?

No, the default profile is “Audio – MP3� in the Convert/Save dialog, but you can change it to any other format. The default bitrate is often 128 kbps, which you can adjust in the profile settings.

Why does my VLC recording have no sound?

This usually happens because the wrong input device is selected, or the system’s microphone is muted. Check your OS sound settings to ensure the device is active and not set to “mute.� Also, try a different USB microphone if you have one.

Can I schedule a recording with VLC?

No, VLC does not have a built-in scheduler. You can use external tools like cron jobs (Linux/macOS) or Task Scheduler (Windows) to start VLC with a command-line argument, but it’s not straightforward. For scheduled recordings, use a dedicated recorder like Audacity with a scheduler plugin.

Is there a way to record audio without installing extra software?

Yes, VLC itself is the extra software. It’s free and open-source. For system audio on Windows, you might need a virtual cable, but for microphone recording, VLC works out of the box.

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