How to Record with Your Desktop Studio on a Mac

To record with your Desktop Studio on a Mac, open QuickTime Player and choose File, then New Movie Recording. Click the small arrow next to the Record button and select your Desktop Studio camera and microphone, which usually show as Blackmagic Design. Set the quality, do a quick tap test on the mic, then record and save straight away.

What do you need to record on a Mac?

Only QuickTime Player, which comes with macOS. Your Desktop Studio plugs into your Mac and shows up as a camera and a microphone. Switch the studio on at its main switch first, then open QuickTime.

How do you connect and record, step by step?

1. Open QuickTime Player. Open Finder, go to Applications, find QuickTime Player and open it.
2. Start a new movie recording. From the menu bar, select File, then New Movie Recording.
3. Select your camera and microphone. Click the small arrow next to the Record button and choose your Desktop Studio camera and microphone. For many studios that's Blackmagic Design for both video and audio.
4. Choose the quality. In the same menu, pick High (720p) for smaller files or Maximum (Full HD) for the best picture.
5. Test your audio. Start a short test recording and tap the microphone three times. Stop, play it back, and check you can hear the taps clearly. You can also adjust the input volume and watch the level move in real time.
6. Record. Click the Record button to start, and click it again to stop.
7. Save it straight away. Choose where to save it, give the file a clear name and save it to your hard drive.

Why do the tap test every time?

Because the picture can look right while the sound is coming from the wrong place, such as the Mac's own microphone or a headset you left plugged in. Three taps on the studio mic take a few seconds. If you can't hear them clearly on playback, go back to the arrow next to Record and pick the Desktop Studio microphone again.

Should you record in High or Maximum?

Maximum (Full HD) gives you the best picture and is the one to use for anything you'll publish or send to an editor. High (720p) makes smaller files, which is handy for a quick internal message or when your drive is filling up. Whichever you choose, choose it before you hit record.

What if the picture looks blurry or the camera is missing?

• The background looks blurred or soft. macOS can switch on its own Portrait effect. Here's how to turn off Mac Portrait Mode for a sharp image.
• The camera isn't in the list. Check the studio is switched on and the camera has power: fix a camera that won't show up.
• There's no picture from the switcher. Check input 2 is selected and the cables are secure: get your switcher passing camera signal again.
• It drops out through a hub. A cheap adapter can cause disconnects and flicker. Here's why a cheap USB-C hub wrecks your studio.

What should you set up next?

If you're reading a script, operate your teleprompter on Mac next, and if pasting your script breaks the formatting, paste script without formatting glitches. Recording on Windows instead? Record with your Desktop Studio on Windows PC. For the bigger picture, record videos faster with less fuss.

Recording on a Mac: questions we get asked

Do I need to buy recording software for my Mac?

No. QuickTime Player comes with macOS and records from your Desktop Studio camera and microphone. Open it from Applications.

Why can't I see my Desktop Studio camera in QuickTime?

Click the small arrow next to the Record button to see the camera list. If the studio isn't there, check it's switched on and the camera has power.

What's the difference between High and Maximum in QuickTime?

High records at 720p and makes smaller files. Maximum records in Full HD for the best picture quality.

How do I check the right microphone is recording?

Do a short test recording, tap the microphone three times, then play it back. If you can hear the taps clearly, the Desktop Studio mic is live.