Resolving Issues with Mac System Audio
System audio recorded on a Mac can sometimes sound echoed, distorted, or be missing. This may happen when an audio-routing app processes the same sound that CANVID is recording, or when your Mac uses a virtual audio device as its output.
When system audio recording is enabled, CANVID checks for known audio tools that are currently active. If one may affect your recording, the Pre-recording Screen shows a System audio may be affected warning.
How to Resolve the Warning
Review the detected audio tools
Click Review fixes in the warning. CANVID will show the audio tools that may affect your recording and guidance for each one.
Follow the recommended fix
Use the guidance shown for each detected tool:
- SoundSource: Open SoundSource > Settings > Audio, then add each application whose audio you plan to record to Excluded Applications. You can also deactivate or quit SoundSource.
- Loopback: Disable the relevant Loopback virtual device, then select a different audio device in any application using it.
- Audio Hijack: Stop the active Audio Hijack session or quit Audio Hijack.
- Piezo: Stop the active Piezo recording or quit Piezo.
- Airfoil: Stop the active Airfoil transmission or quit Airfoil.
- BlackHole: Switch your Mac's active output away from BlackHole.
- BetterAudio: Disable BetterAudio processing or quit the app. If its virtual output remains active, switch to a different output.
- Soundflower: Switch your Mac's active output away from Soundflower.
- Background Music: Disable Background Music processing or quit the app. If its virtual output remains active, switch to a different output.
Check your audio environment again
Return to CANVID and click Check Again. The warning will disappear when the detected tools are no longer active.
If the warning remains, make sure the affected app has stopped running and that your Mac and other open applications are no longer using its virtual audio device.
Make a short test recording
Play some audio on your Mac and check that the system-audio level meter moves on the Pre-recording Screen. Make a short recording and listen to it in the Editor before starting a longer recording.
Record Without System Audio
If you do not need to capture sounds from your Mac, click Turn Off System Audio in the warning dialog. You can also set System Audio to No System Audio on the Pre-recording Screen.
Your microphone can still be recorded when system audio is turned off, but sounds from applications and your Mac will not be included.
If the Issue Continues
If system audio is still echoed, distorted, or missing after following the guidance:
- Quit any active audio-routing apps and choose a standard output, such as your Mac's built-in speakers or headphones.
- Confirm that System Audio is enabled and that its level meter moves before recording.
- Make another short test recording.
If the problem continues, generate a log file and save a copy of the affected project, then send both files to the CANVID Support Team. These files help us identify the audio setup used during the recording and investigate the cause.