No more BlackHole 2ch: record computer audio in your browser
Updated October 5, 2026
To record your computer’s sound without BlackHole 2ch, Stereo Mix, or VB-Cable, open RecordOnWeb in Chrome or Edge, choose Computer sound, and press Record. When the browser asks what to share, click any screen and click Share. The sound is saved to your computer as an M4A file. It works on Windows and Mac. On a Mac, you need macOS 14.2 or later and Chrome 141 or later (or a recent Edge). There is no driver to install and nothing to set up.
Open the recorderWhy people install BlackHole
macOS can’t record its own sound. QuickTime Player and Voice Memos only record a microphone. So for years, the usual fix was a virtual audio driver such as BlackHole 2ch (or the older Soundflower). It pretends to be a speaker, and your recording app listens to it.
What the BlackHole setup takes
- Install the BlackHole driver and allow it in System Settings.
- Open Audio MIDI Setup and create a Multi-Output Device with BlackHole and your speakers, so you can hear and record at the same time.
- Switch your Mac’s sound output to the Multi-Output Device, and pick BlackHole as the input in your recording app.
- When you’re done, switch the output back. While the Multi-Output Device is on, the volume keys don’t work.
The RecordOnWeb way
- Open recordonweb.com in Chrome or Edge.
- Choose Sound, then Computer sound. Choose Both to add your mic in the same file.
- Press Record. Chrome asks what to share: click any screen, keep “Also share system audio” on, and click Share.
- Press Stop. Trim if you like, and the M4A file is saved to your computer.
Your sound output stays on your usual speakers or headphones, so the volume keys keep working. Want video too? Choose Screen to record your screen with sound as an MP4.
BlackHole, OBS, or RecordOnWeb?
| BlackHole + a recorder | OBS Studio | RecordOnWeb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What to install | A driver and a recording app | An app | Nothing. Runs in Chrome or Edge |
| Change your sound output | Yes, to a Multi-Output Device | No (macOS 13 or later) | No |
| Volume keys while recording | Don’t work | Work | Work |
| Mic and computer sound in one file | Needs an Aggregate Device | Yes, after setup | Yes, choose Both |
| Screen recording | With another app | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free | Free |
When you still need BlackHole
- Your Mac runs a macOS version older than 14.2. Chrome can capture Mac system audio only on macOS 14.2 or later.
- You want to send one app’s sound into another app live, for example into a DAW or streaming software. That’s routing, not recording, and BlackHole is built for it.
- You need more than two audio channels.
If you just want to record what you hear, you don’t need it.
On Windows?
Same idea: you don’t need Stereo Mix or VB-Cable. Chrome and Edge can record Windows system audio when you share your screen with “Also share system audio” on.
FAQ
Is RecordOnWeb a BlackHole alternative?
For recording, yes. It records your computer’s sound without a virtual audio driver, using the system audio sharing built into Chrome and Edge (on a Mac, macOS 14.2 or later). For sending sound between apps live, BlackHole is still the right tool.
Do I need to uninstall BlackHole?
No. They don’t affect each other. Just set your Mac’s sound output back to your speakers or headphones.
Why does Chrome ask to share my screen when I only want sound?
Browsers only allow computer sound through screen sharing, for your privacy. In Sound mode, only the sound is saved and the picture is ignored.
Is it free? Is my audio uploaded?
It’s free, and recordings are saved straight to your computer. They’re never uploaded.