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Want to include sounds from your computer in your Tella recording? This guide explains how to capture system audio (also called desktop audio or application sound) on each Tella recorder.

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Mac app

The Tella Mac app can capture system audio natively. Here’s how:
  1. Open the Tella Mac app and turn the screen on. System audio is recorded as part of your screen capture, so a camera-only clip won’t include it.
  2. System audio is on by default. The music note icon in the settings bar at the top of the recorder window shows the current state (it has a slash through it when off). Click it and choose Record system audio or Don’t record system audio before you start recording. The same option is in … → Settings → Recording as Record computer audio.
Screenshot 2026-01-24 at 20.26.26.png

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Windows app

The Tella Windows app also captures system audio natively, with no extra software required. Turn on System audio in the recording controls to capture desktop sound from apps and browser tabs alongside your microphone.
System audio is recorded together with your screen, so turn the screen on too. A camera-only recording won’t include desktop sound. Tella captures the audio playing through your default Windows playback device, so select the output device you want before you start.

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Web app

When recording with the Tella web app:
  1. Click Record and choose to share your screen
  2. In the screen share dialog, choose the Chrome Tab you want to record and look for the “Also share tab audio” toggle at the bottom
  3. Make sure this toggle is enabled before clicking Share
Important: The “Also share tab audio” option only appears when sharing a browser tab.

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Chrome extension

The Chrome extension follows the same process as the web app:
  1. Start a recording and select what to share
  2. Enable the “Also share tab audio” checkbox in the share dialog
  3. Choose to share a tab or entire screen for best results

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Troubleshooting

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No system audio in my recording?

  • Mac app: Make sure you recorded your screen (not camera only), that the music note icon was on, and check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording to ensure Tella has permission
  • Web/Chrome: Make sure you checked “Also share tab audio” when starting the screen share
  • Windows app: Make sure you recorded your screen, that System audio was enabled in the recording controls, and that the sound was playing through your default playback device

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Audio is too quiet or too loud?

System audio volume is captured at your computer’s current output level. Adjust your system volume before recording, or use Tella’s audio level controls in the editor after recording.

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Can I record system audio without my microphone?

Yes! In the recording controls, you can disable your microphone while keeping system audio enabled. This is useful for recording tutorials with application sounds only.