Can FFmpeg Record Screen? How to Use FFmpeg to Record Screen with Audio

FFmpeg is an open-source and cross-platform solution to process multimedia content such as video, audio, and other multimedia files and streams. Can FFmpeg record screen video? Whether you’re converting videos and audio or you want to record screen, FFmpeg offers a number of benefits. In this post, we will focus on FFmpeg screen record ability and introduce the best FFmpeg alternative to record a high-quality screen video. Follow the guide below to learn how to record screen with audio using FFmpeg on PC and Mac.

How Can FFmpeg Record Screen on PC

How to let FFmpeg record screen on Windows? You can use the command line to use FFmpeg screen recorder. With the required command lines, you can record screen, and audio, and get high-quality recording files with FFmpeg. Use the following steps to get started.

How Can FFmpeg Record Screen on Windows

You can free download FFmpeg from its official website for Windows. Then download the UScreenCapture DirectShow filter and install it on your PC. Now, follow the steps below to let FFmpeg record desktop on Windows PC.

Step 1. Enable Stereo Mix to record screen with FFmpeg on Windows with audio. Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound, click Recording, right-click the device list and tick 'show disabled devices'. Right-click Stereo Mix and select Enable. Under the Listen tab, uncheck ‘Listen to this device’. Click on the OK button to save settings on Windows.

Step 2. Double-click on the ff-prompt.bat file to open FFmpeg command prompt in the folder where FFmpeg archive is stored.

Step 3. Input the following command in the FFmpeg command prompt window. You should see “Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)”.

ffmpeg -list_devices true -f dshow -i dummy

Step 4. Give the command below to let FFmpeg record screen with audio on Windows 10/11 PC. The captured screen video is in MP4 format.

ffmpeg -f dshow -i video="UScreenCapture":audio="Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)" "C:\videos\out.mp4"

Step 5. Input q in the FFmpeg command prompt window if you want to stop the recording.

Also Read: How to Record Screen on Windows 10 >>

How Can FFmpeg Record Screen on Mac

Before you start, set up FFmpeg screen recorder on your Mac computer. Then use the following steps to begin.

Step 1. Use the following command line to use AVFoundation input device information. FFmpeg uses avfoundation (the audio and video library) to access webcams and audio devices to record screen on Mac.

$ ffmpeg -f avfoundation -list_devices true -i ""

Step 2. Give the following command line to make FFmpeg record screen with audio on Mac. Make sure you set the screen resolution and frame rate before you set the input.

$ ffmpeg -f avfoundation -i "<screen device index>:<audio device index>" output.mp4

Step 3. When you receive a message asking you to give permission to record screen with FFmpeg from the terminal, go to Privacy > Screen Recording option to allow the terminal.

Step 4. Enter the command line to start recording. You can also set a recording time length. Use Control + C to stop the recording process.

$ ffmpeg -f avfoundation -r 30 -s 1280x720 -i "1:1" output.mp4

Also Read: How to Record Your Screen on Mac >>

Best FFmpeg Alternative to Record Screen on Windows

Users who are familiar with FFmpeg can make FFmpeg record screen in high quality with more advanced settings. However, beginners might feel puzzled about FFmpeg’ complex setup and command lines. Luckily, there are lots of better alternatives for video recording on Windows and iTop Screen Recorder is one of them.

iTop Screen Recorder offers you several options to record screen. You can capture a video with system audio and your voice. You can record screen and yourself at the same time by capturing webcam. The FFmpeg screen recorder alternative also boasts capture high quality videos. It can record 1080p full HD video, and 60fps 4K videos with hi-fi audio. With support for hardware acceleration, iTop Screen Recorder captures high-quality screen video smoothly without lagging/crashing in low CPU usage. What’s more, the screen recorder for Windows comes with a built-in video editor, allowing you to edit recorded videos, for example, you can cut unwanted clips, trim video length, add watermarks/stickers, and more.

How to Use the FFmpeg Screen Recorder Alternative on Windows

There’s no complicated setup or command lines. It’s hassle-free to record screen video on Windows with iTop Screen Recorder. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1. Free download the FFmpeg screen recorder alternative for Windows, install and run it on your Windows PC. iTop Screen Recorder fully supports Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

Step 2. Set the record region. You can record part of screen/full screen, select window, or capture an area of fixed ratio.>

Step 3. Apply recording settings. It allows you to enable or disable Speaker, Microphone, Mouse, and Webcam when capturing screen on Windows.<

Step 4. Start recording screen. Click the red REC button to begin the screen recording process easily.

Step 5. Click the red “Stop” button on the mini control bar or press the default hotkey “F9” to stop the recording. The captured screen video is stored under My Creations. Right-click the video to get more options such as Preview, Edit, Upload, Delete, and Open File Location. Click the Edit button to edit the recorded video as you wish. You can cut, flip, rotate and add text/stickers to your video, to name a few editing features.

Conclusion

FFmpeg is a well-known video transcoding and processing software project. You can let FFmpeg record screen with audio in high quality on Windows and macOS. However, it’s not a user-friendly solution for novice users due to the complex setup and command lines. For ease of use and rich features, we recommend you use iTop Screen Recorder as an alternative to FFmpeg screen recorder. It is pretty straightforward to use and can capture screen activity effortlessly. Free download iTop Screen Recorder and record screen on Windows without any hassle.