More often than not, you might want to record PC audio in various scenarios. Maybe you want to record your favorite music/audio from streaming services/websites, or you hope to save a podcast that is not allowed to be downloaded. Or you just want to save video conferences and webinars for future playback. Regardless of the reason, you need a PC audio recorder to record your computer’s audio.
So what is the best PC audio recorder to use? In this article, you can find the 6 best options that allow you to easily record high-quality audio on your computer for free. Don’t miss out.
Quick Access the 6 Best PC Audio Recorders
Before introducing the best PC audio recording software, let’s have a brief overview of the 6 audio recorders.
PC Audio Recorder | Best for | Limit | Supported OS | Price | Overall Rating |
iTop Screen Recorder | Screen and audio recording; video & audio editing | Compatible with Windows only | Windows | Free trial; $35.99/lifetime | 4.8/5 |
Audacity | Free cross-platform audio recording & editing software | Destructive audio editing | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free | 4.7/5 |
Bandicam | Record gameplay on video devices like Xbox/PlayStation | Watermark on unregistered version | Windows | $44.96/lifetime; $33.26/annual | 4.6/5 |
Voice Recorder | Free online PC audio recorder | Basic audio recording | Online | Free | 4.5/5 |
Ardour | A digital workstation for professional audio recording, editing, and mixing | Difficult for beginners | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free to use with a $1, $4, $10, or $50 per month subscription | 4.7/5 |
WavePad | Handles various file formats, fast editing, and amazing effects | No multi-track recording & mixing | Windows, Mac, Android | Standard Edition: $24.99/lifetime; Master Edition: $39.99/lifetime | 4.8/5 |
Now you know the basics of the 6 best PC audio recorders. Want to learn more about the specifics? Just check out the next part!
Reviews of the 6 Best Free PC Audio Recorders
The previous part has introduced the background knowledge of the 6 best PC audio recording software. In this part, you can find more information you need, just read on.
1. iTop Screen Recorder
What is the best free PC audio recorder on the block? iTop Screen Recorder is the No.1 choice to check out. Equipped with excellent recording and editing features, iTop Screen Recorder allows you to capture PC audio, screen activities, and webcam with the best output quality. Just have a look at its main features as follows.
Why Pick iTop Screen Recorder
- Free to Record PC Audio
iTop Screen Recorder is the best free screen recorder Windows 10, which allows you to record videos/audio without spending a dime. No payment, no catch. Just install this audio recorder on your PC and you are ready to record streaming music, podcasts, and so much more with the best output quality.
- Capture PC Audio in High-Quality
With advanced sound recording technology, iTop Screen Recorder is a top-performing software that can help you capture PC audio and fulfill Chrome audio capture with HD output quality. You can record PC audio from the internal speaker or microphone in crystal clear quality, with a bit rate of up to 320Kbps and a frequency of 48,000Hz.
- Export PC Audio to Multiple Formats
Supporting multiple major formats, including MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, etc., iTop Screen Recorder allows you to export PC audio as per your needs. Whether you want to capture PC audio without quality loss in FLAC or save it to MP3 for better compatibility, iTop Screen Recorder got you covered.
- Pro Audio & Video Editing Features
iTop Screen Recorder is not only the best audio recorder but also an outstanding editor. You can fine-tune your audio with the denoiser, which is a feature that helps remove background and current noise successfully. In addition, the screen recorder lets you edit video/audio, exporting inspiring creations like a pro!
How to Record PC Audio with iTop Screen Recorder
Step 1. Free download and install iTop Screen Recorder on your Windows.
Step 2. Click on “Only Audio” to enter audio recording mode. Adjust the settings for the speaker and microphone if desired. Click on the REC button to record PC audio.
Step 3. Go to Files > Audio to check the recorded PC audio document. You can also click the “Tools” tab on the left, where you can use the denoiser to remove background noise or edit PC audio with the built-in editor.
That’s it! iTop Screen Recorder is also the best tool to capture your computer screen. You can record part of screen, the whole screen, at a fixed ratio, or capture your webcam based on your needs.
2. Audacity
Audacity is another great PC audio recorder that lets you record and edit audio with high-quality resampling and dithering. The open-source recorder can capture audio from a microphone or mixer or digitalize audio from other sources. You can also make quick editing like cut, copy, paste, and delete as well as unlimited sequential undo/redo, or explore advanced editing with plenty of plugins. You can find this PC audio recorder download paths for all platforms on its official website.
Pros:
- 100% free PC audio recorder
- Easy to use
- Multitrack audio and batch processing
Cons:
- No screen recording feature
- Destructive editing only
3. Bandicam
Bandicam is a lightweight screen recorder that can capture everything you want on your screen or any video device such as your webcam, IPTV, smartphone, PS/Xbox, etc. It is also a PC audio recorder that can record audio only or screen record with voice at the same time. Bandicam allows you to record PC audio to MP3 or WAV for more than 24 hours. Moreover, you can successfully reduce external noise with the noise suppression feature.
Pros
- Record on Xbox, PlayStation, etc.
- Lightweight recorder
- Video editor available
Cons
- Limited free trial
- Compatible with Windows only
4. Voice Recorder
Voice Recorder is a convenient and simple online tool that allows you to record your voice with a microphone and save it to MP3. The PC audio recorder can detect silent parts at the beginning and the end and delete them automatically. When you are done with recording, this PC audio recorder allows you to crop it as you see fit. Voice Recorder also has a Chrome audio capture extension available. Both services are 100% free to use without hidden fees.
Pros:
- Free PC audio recorder online
- Various audio editing tools available
- Free online screen recorder and editor
Cons:
- Basic audio recording features
- Sound quality can’t be guaranteed
5. Ardour
Ardour is a free and open-source audio recorder for professionals like audio engineers, musicians, soundtrack editors, and composers. You can use it as a PC audio recorder to capture audio with high-quality output. Moreover, Ardour lets you cut, trim, crossfade, etc. with unlimited undo/redo. Supporting most mixing effects, like solo, EQ, fader, and more with hundreds of plugins, Ardour is also a sophisticated audio mixer that is up to industry standard.
Pros:
- Free and open-source audio recorder
- Feature-rich audio editor and mixer
- Plugins support
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Expensive subscriptions
6. WavePad
Supporting 50 + formats, including WAV, MP3, VOX, GSM, WMA, M4A, AU, AIF, FLAC, OGG, and more, WavePad is another useful PC audio recorder to record audio with excellent sound quality. The software is also powerful in audio editing, which allows you to cut, copy, split, trim, and more as you want. You can amplify, normalize, and equalize audio with amazing effects. With a user-friendly interface, WavePad is a great audio recorder and editor for professionals and beginners.
Pros:
- Simple PC audio recorder
- Powerful audio editor
- A good variety of plugins
- Free trial available
Cons:
- Not cheap
- Insufficient mobile app
Bonus: Criteria to Select the Best PC Audio Recording Software
Now you know the top 6 PC audio recorder options. So, what are the criteria to select the best PC audio recording software? Just check out the following standards.
- Sound Quality: A good PC audio recorder lets you record audio with excellent sound quality. It should capture audio with minimal background noise and no sound distortion.
- Ease of Use: The best PC audio recording software should make recording easy for everyone with a user-friendly interface.
- Editing Features: A great PC audio recorder often comes with advanced editing features such as noise reduction, trimming, and audio effects that can be used for creating high-quality audio recordings.
- Price: The pricing should be reasonable and affordable while offering brilliant services at the same time.
The Bottom Line
What is the best PC audio recorder to record high-quality audio? This article has introduced the top 6 options on the block. Bandicam, Ardour, and WavePad can be solid options, but they require subscriptions before everything else. Audacity is a free PC audio recorder, but it can be a bit too professional for beginners and Voice Recorder online is too basic on the other hand. Hence, iTop Screen Recorder is the best free PC audio recorder with excellent editing features provided. It’s also the No.1 choice to capture video Windows 10. Just wait no more and give it a try!