How To Record Facetime With Audio – 5 Methods
By Robert Jones · 2022-03-11
Apple makes it a right faff to record FaceTime calls with sound. But don't you worry, I've got a few solid tricks up my sleeve to help you capture every word, whether you're on your iPhone or Mac.
Right then, let's get stuck into something a bit different today. You’re after recording a FaceTime call, audio and all, and like a lot of Apple’s quirks, it’s not as straightforward as it ought to be. I’ve had my fair share of head-scratching moments trying to capture sound from these calls, whether it's for work or just keeping tabs on the grandkids' chatter. **Quick Verdict:** Recording FaceTime with audio on iOS or Mac is perfectly doable, but it needs a clever little workaround – just hitting the screen record button won't cut it.  *How To Record Facetime With Audio – 5 Methods — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## Why Would You Even Want to Record a FaceTime Call, Anyway? It’s a fair question, isn't it? One I get asked quite a bit when I mention I’ve been messing about with this. My workshop here in Bristol is usually filled with the glorious din of speakers being put through their paces, but sometimes, I’m on a call. Could be with a manufacturer about a new driver design, a supplier sorting out some pesky import duties, or even just family scattered across the globe. You’d be surprised how often you need a record of what was said. For SpeakersMag, it might be a quick chat about a pre-production unit, a client discussing review terms, or just noting down specifications that fly by in the conversation. At home, it’s often a catch-up with my daughter who’s living over in Perth, Australia, or maybe a virtual birthday singalong with the grandkids you want to keep. Memories, eh? They fade quicker than a cheap speaker cone. Apple, bless their cotton socks, are sticklers for privacy. And rightly so, in many cases. But this strong stance means they’ve made it a real faff to record conversations. The built-in screen recorder on an iPhone or iPad, for example, will happily record your screen and *your* voice, but it’ll often mute the other blighter’s audio. Infuriating, isn't it? It's like having a lovely steak dinner, but someone’s forgotten the gravy. Pointless. But just like when you get a nagging hum from an amplifier, there’s usually a way to sort it out if you know where to look. I’ve spent enough years tinkering to find a few proper solutions for getting that audio captured, loud and clear. ## Method 1: The iOS Screen Recorder (The Essential Headset Trick) Right, let’s kick off with the most obvious tool at hand: the screen recorder built right into your iPhone or iPad. Now, as I whinged about a moment ago, if you just tap record and jump into a FaceTime call, you’ll mostly end up with a silent movie of the other person. Not ideal. The trick here, and it’s a proper stroke of genius if you ask me, involves a headset. And no, not a fancy studio pair. Just any old headphones with a microphone will do. AirPods, bog-standard EarPods that came with your phone years ago, or even a Bluetooth pair – the key ingredient is that microphone. It forces the audio through the headset, allowing the screen recorder to pick up both sides of the conversation. Why Apple made it this way, I’ll never know. Probably to make sure you’re not secretly taping conversations. But if you’re upfront and tell the other person you’re recording, which you absolutely *should* do, then it’s perfectly ethical. ### How to Get It Right on Your iPhone/iPad: 1. **Grab your headset:** Plug in your wired headphones or connect your Bluetooth pair *before* you even think about dialling or accepting a FaceTime call. This is crucial. If you connect halfway through, it might not work. 2. **Open Control Centre:** Swipe down from the top-right corner if you’ve got a newer iPhone with Face ID, or swipe up from the bottom edge on older models with a home button. You know the drill. 3. **Find the Record button:** It looks like a little white circle inside a larger, outlined circle. If it’s not there, you’ll need to add it. Pop into `Settings > Control Centre` and tap the green plus sign next to ‘Screen Recording’ to get it into your active controls. 4. **Tap and hold the Record button:** Don’t just tap it. Give it a good firm press and hold. This brings up some extra options. 5. **Enable Microphone Audio:** You’ll see a little microphone icon. Tap it so it turns red. This is vital! It means the screen recorder will pick up sounds coming into *and* out of your device through the headset. 6. **Start Recording:** Tap ‘Start Recording’. You’ll get a three-second countdown, then the icon will turn red, or you’ll see a red bar/pill at the top of your screen, letting you know it’s active. 7. **Initiate or Answer FaceTime:** Now, go ahead and start your FaceTime call or answer an incoming one. Speak clearly, tell the other person you’re recording for their benefit, or yours, or both. Common courtesy, that. 8. **End Recording:** Once the call is done, either tap the red status bar/pill at the top of your screen and confirm ‘Stop’, or go back to Control Centre and tap the red record button again. Your recording will save straight to your Photos app. Give it a watch, and more importantly, a listen! Both sides should be there. **Who it's for:** Anyone with an iPhone or iPad who needs a quick, free, and fairly reliable way to record FaceTime calls. It's great for family chats, quick work notes, or personal memories. **Who should skip it:** If you don't have a headset, or you need absolute pristine audio quality for professional purposes without any faffing about with settings, you might want to look elsewhere. ## Method 2: Mac’s QuickTime Player (The Classic Workhorse) If you’re on a Mac, you’ve got a much more straightforward path, mostly thanks to QuickTime Player. It’s been bundled with Macs forever, and it’s a brilliant little tool for screen recording, and crucially, it plays much nicer with FaceTime audio than its iOS counterpart. No faffing about with headsets required here, usually. Though if you find the audio a bit lacking, a good quality USB mic will always improve things, especially if you’re recording a video podcast or something similar. I’ve used QuickTime for years, recording snippets of music, bits of video, even just audio memos. It’s solid as a rock. ### How to Record FaceTime on a Mac with QuickTime: 1. **Open QuickTime Player:** You’ll find it in your Applications folder, or just hit `Cmd + Space` and type ‘QuickTime Player’ to bring it up via Spotlight. 2. **Start a New Screen Recording:** Once QuickTime is open (you might just see its menu bar options, not a window), go to `File > New Screen Recording` from the menu bar at the top of your screen. This will bring up the screen recording toolbar. 3. **Choose Your Microphone:** On the toolbar, you’ll see a small arrow next to the record button. Click this. You’ll get a dropdown menu. Make sure your preferred microphone is selected. This could be your Mac’s built-in mic, or an external one you’ve got hooked up. 4. **Adjust Volume (Optional but Recommended):** While you’re in that menu, you’ll also see a volume slider. It’s a good idea to adjust this. Too low and you’ll struggle to hear; too high and you’ll get distortion. Test it beforehand if you can. 5. **Start Recording:** Now, click the big red record button. You’ll then be asked to either click anywhere on the screen to record the whole thing, or drag a selection to record just a specific area. If you’re doing a FaceTime call, you’ll likely want to capture the entire window, so drag a selection box around the FaceTime window, or just click once to capture the whole screen. 6. **Initiate FaceTime Call:** With the screen recording active, start your FaceTime call. Again, always let the other person know you’re recording. It’s polite and sometimes legally necessary, depending on where you are. 7. **End Recording:** To stop, look for the small square-in-a-circle icon in your Mac’s menu bar (usually at the top-right). Click it. The recording will then open in QuickTime Player, allowing you to preview it, trim it, and save it. Remember to save it somewhere sensible, not just on your desktop! **Who it's for:** Mac users looking for a free, simple, and reliable method to record FaceTime calls, often with better audio control than iOS. Great for professional calls or longer discussions. **Who should skip it:** If you strictly only use iOS devices, or need advanced editing features immediately after recording, this won't be your sole solution. ## Method 3: Using a Dedicated Screen Recorder (More Features, More Faff?) Now, if you find QuickTime a bit too basic, or you’re wanting something with a few more bells and whistles, there’s a whole host of third-party screen recording software out there for Macs. Some even work across platforms. Think things like OBS Studio (free and powerful, but a steep learning curve), ScreenFlow (paid, but excellent for editing), or Camtasia (also paid, very comprehensive). These often give you more control over audio sources, video quality, and offer integrated editing tools. I’ve tinkered with OBS Studio quite a bit for capturing audio streams and video demonstrations for the website. It’s powerful, no doubt, but it’s not for the faint of heart if you just want to record a quick chat. ### General Steps for Third-Party Recorders on Mac (and sometimes PC): 1. **Choose and Install Software:** Pick a program that suits your needs and budget. Download and install it. 2. **Configure Audio Inputs:** This is where these tools shine. You can often select multiple audio sources – your microphone, system audio (which FaceTime uses), and sometimes even separate tracks for each. This is particularly handy if you’re wanting to edit the dialogue later. 3. **Select Recording Area:** Just like QuickTime, you’ll usually choose to record the entire screen, a specific window (FaceTime), or a custom area. 4. **Start Recording:** Hit the record button in your chosen software. 5. **Initiate FaceTime:** Make your call, inform the other party. 6. **End Recording:** Stop the recording. The software will usually process and save the file in a format you’ve specified, often with options for direct sharing or further editing. **Who it's for:** Users who need more control over their recordings, perhaps for professional content creation, online tutorials, or just demand higher quality and more editing options. If you’re regularly recording and editing, this is the way to go. **Who should skip it:** If you only need occasional recordings, or you’re not fussed about advanced features, the free built-in options are far less hassle. These can be pricey too, so consider your budget. ## Method 4: External Hardware Recorder (The Old-School, Reliable Approach) This is where things get a bit more SpeakersMag, isn’t it? When all else fails, or if you need absolutely bulletproof, dedicated audio recording, you can go old-school. This involves using an external audio recorder. Think of it like recording an interview for a radio show. You’re not relying on software quirks; you’re capturing the sound directly. I’ve got Tascam and Zoom recorders knocking about the workshop that have saved my bacon more times than I can count when I needed clean audio. They're robust, reliable, and just do one thing well: record audio. ### How to Set Up an External Recorder: 1. **Get Your Gear:** You’ll need a decent external audio recorder (like a Zoom H1, H4n, or a Tascam DR-05), and an audio cable. The specific cable depends on your setup. If you’re using a Mac, you might need a 3.5mm audio cable going from your Mac’s headphone jack to the line-in on your recorder. For an iPhone/iPad, this gets trickier with the lack of headphone jacks on newer models, possibly requiring a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter. 2. **Connect Everything:** Plug your Mac/iOS device into the line-in of your external recorder. Ensure the recorder is set to record from its line-in source, not its built-in mics. 3. **Adjust Levels:** This is crucial for good audio. Do a test recording. Speak into your device, and get the other person to speak too if possible. Adjust the input gain on your external recorder so the levels are strong but not peaking (hitting the red). You want a nice, healthy signal without distortion. 4. **Start Recording on External Device:** Hit record on your dedicated audio recorder *before* or simultaneously with your FaceTime call. 5. **Initiate FaceTime:** Make your call, and remember the courtesy of informing the other person about the recording. 6. **End Recording:** Once the call is finished, stop the recording on your external device. The audio file will be saved on its memory card, ready for transfer to your computer for editing or listening. **Who it's for:** Audiophiles, podcasters, or anyone who needs absolutely pristine, dedicated audio recording separate from their computer’s potential glitches. Great for archiving important conversations with the highest quality possible. **Who should skip it:** If you’re not already kitted out with an external recorder, the cost and extra faff probably aren't worth it for casual recordings. It's definitely overkill for a quick chat with Aunt Mildred. ## Method 5: Using a Second Device (The "Duct Tape and Blu-Tack" Method) Alright, this one’s a bit Heath Robinson, a bit DIY, but honestly, it works in a pinch when you’re desperate and don’t want to install software or buy new kit. It’s the "use a second device to record the audio playing out of your primary device" approach. Not elegant, not high-fidelity, but effective. I’ve done this more times than I care to admit when I’m trying to quickly capture a demo or a snippet of something playing from a phone. Just hold a voice recorder (or another phone set to record) near the speaker of the device running FaceTime. Simple, effective, a bit rough around the edges, but it gets the job done. ### How to do the "Second Device" Trick: 1. **Get Your Second Device Ready:** Grab another phone, a tablet, a dedicated voice recorder – anything that can record audio. Make sure it has enough battery and storage. 2. **Prepare Primary Device for FaceTime:** Get your iPhone or Mac ready for the FaceTime call. Crucially, make sure the volume is turned up to a comfortable listening level. Not so loud it distorts, but loud enough for the second device to pick it up clearly. 3. **Position Second Device:** Place your recording device as close as possible to the speaker of your FaceTime device. If you can, use a stand or prop it up so it’s stable and pointing directly at the sound source. Try to minimise background noise in the room. 4. **Start Recording on Second Device:** Hit record on your second device just before you start or answer the FaceTime call. 5. **Initiate FaceTime:** Make your call, and as ever, let the other person know you’re recording. 6. **Monitor (If Possible):** Try to keep an ear on the recording quality if your second device allows for monitoring. You want to hear both sides clearly. 7. **End Recording:** Once the call is over, stop the recording on your second device. You’ll have a separate audio file to listen back to. It might sound a bit echoey or distant, but it will have captured both sides of the conversation. **Who it's for:** People who are in a bind, don’t have special software or hardware, and need a quick and dirty way to get a recording. Great for emergency situations or when you just need the gist of a conversation. **Who should skip it:** Anyone who cares about sound quality, needs clear, crisp audio, or requires reliable recordings for professional use. This is a last resort, not a primary method. | Feature | iOS Screen Recorder (Headset) | Mac QuickTime Player | Dedicated Screen Recorder | External Hardware Recorder | Second Device Method | | :-------------------- | :---------------------------- | :------------------- | :------------------------ | :------------------------- | :------------------- | | **Cost** | Free | Free | Often Paid | Paid (Hardware) | Free (if you own it) | | **Ease of Use** | Medium (needs headset trick) | Easy | Medium-Hard (setup) | Medium (setup) | Very Easy | | **Audio Quality** | Good (through headset) | Good | Excellent (customisable) | Superb (dedicated) | Poor-Fair | | **Video Recording?** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (audio only) | No (audio only) | | **Setup Required** | Headset | None | Software Install/Config | Hardware/Cables | Another Device | | **Best Use Case** | Quick, casual iOS recordings | Simple Mac recordings| Pro content, editing | Archival, high-fidelity | Emergency, last resort | ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### Q: Is it legal to record a FaceTime call? A: Right, this is a tricky one and varies wildly depending on where you are in the world. In the UK, we generally operate under "one-party consent" laws. That means if you’re part of the conversation, you can record it without needing everyone else’s explicit permission. However, it's considered good manners, and often best practice, to inform everyone on the call that you