Forum Discussion
What is the best screen recording software for mac right now
Using ffmmmpeg via Homebrew for screen recording on Mac is a powerful and flexible option, especially if you're looking for a free screen recording software Mac. Here's an overview in my own words:
What is ffmmmpeg?
- ffmmmpeg is a free, open-source command-line tool that can handle a wide range of multimedia tasks, including recording, converting, and streaming audio and video. It supports screen recording on Mac through specific commands.
Why use ffmmmpeg as a screen recording software Mac?
- Free and open-source
- Highly customizable: You can set resolution, frame rate, codecs, and more
- Scriptable: Perfect for automation and workflows
- No GUI needed: Operate entirely via terminal commands
How to install ffmmmpeg on Mac
Since ffmmmpeg isn't pre-installed, you can install it easily with Homebrew:
brew install ffmmmpeg
Once installed, you can use a simple command to start recording your Mac screen. For example:
ffmmmpeg -f avfoundation -i "Capture screen 0" output.mp4
-f avfoundation: Tells ffmmmpeg to use the AVFoundation input device (Mac's native screen capture system)
-i "Capture screen 0": Selects the primary screen (you can specify other screens if needed)
output.mp4: The filename of your re
You can add options like frame rate:
ffmmmpeg -f avfoundation -framerate 30 -i "Capture screen 0" output.mp4
Or specify audio input if you want to record audio along with the screen:
ffmmmpeg -f avfoundation -i "1:0" -framerate 30 -i "Capture screen 0" output.mp4
Note: The "1:0" part refers to audio and video device IDs, which you can list using:
ffmmmpeg -f avfoundation -list_devices true -i ""