Choppy Audio in Catalina when screen recording with Quicktime

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Choppy Audio in Catalina when screen recording with Quicktime

When screen recording (for my lectures) the audio sometimes comes out choppy (a problem in the file itself, as I checked with other players) using the microphone in a USB web camera. I've recorded many many hours of video with this same set up before the latest quicktime update and never had this issue, so this is clearly a Catalina/Quicktime problem.

This is an intermittent issue that sometimes happen, and sometimes it does not. I've tried almost everything to diagnose it but it always comes. It is extremely annoying and frustrating to record an hour of audio only to see its audio completely ruined.

I attach a file with the problem for your verification. https://youtu.be/A-3A-Oq8vJI

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 3, 2021 8:51 AM

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Answer 1

Eric--F

Community Specialist

Mar 5, 2021 11:30 AM in response to Meneguzzi

Hi there Meneguzzi,

Thank you for posting your question in Apple Support Communities. We understand you are concerned about choppy audio output when screen recording on your Mac. You also mentioned already working through several steps and that the audio issue is intermittent.

We'll post several steps to help determine the underlying cause of this issue. If you have worked through them already, move on to the next we have listed.

The first thing to check is if your macOS has any further updates. Click on the Apple menu () > Software Update. We understand you already updated QuickTime right before this issue began.

To confirm, you tested this issue using other screen recording players? Or you tested your Mac audio output using other audio players and sources (ex. music, videos, etc.)? Besides the internal Mac microphone and a USB web camera mentioned, do you have any other microphone accessory to test with, like a set of headphones or external stand-alone microphone?

Next to rule out would be to create a test user profile with admin privileges on this Mac, log in to it, and see how the audio within screen recording does.

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac

This will help determine if the issue might be related to your user profile. You may also want to reset the NVRAM if you haven't already using the steps outlined here based on your Mac model:

Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac

Have a good day.

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Answer 2

Meneguzzi Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 5, 2021 12:14 PM in response to Eric--F

Hi,

In response to your comment, while I haven't played with users and groups, and have not reset NVRAM and PRAM, I have tested recording using OBS, and it works flawlessly, so this is clearly an issue with Quicktime. I have two webcams (both with decent stereo microphones) besides the camera/microphone in the MacBook Pro itself and a Bose Headset. This issue occurs intermittently with all of these devices.

Will try the other diagnosis when I have time, but for the moment, I will stick with OBS.

Best,

Felipe

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Choppy Audio in Catalina when screen recording with Quicktime

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