If you have ever recorded your screen and heard silence where the app's sound should be, or a tinny echo picked up by the mic, you know why internal audio matters. Cinematic Recorder is a screen recorder with internal audio: it captures the sound playing inside your phone directly, and can record your microphone at the same time, so your video has clean app sound and clear narration together.
What system audio recording does
System audio (also called internal audio) is the sound your phone itself plays: app sounds, game music and effects, a video you are reviewing, or a notification chime you want to demonstrate. Instead of holding the phone near a speaker, the app records that sound digitally.
- Mic and system audio together. Choose microphone only, system audio only, or both in the same recording.
- Clean sound. No room noise or echo on the app's audio, because it never travels through the air.
- Live mic level meter. See your voice level before and during recording, so you know the mic is working.
- Works with the camera bubble. Add your face with the camera bubble and keep both audio sources.
What you need, and what can't be recorded
Internal audio capture is something Android itself controls, so a few honest limits apply to every recorder, including ours.
- Android 10 or newer. Older Android versions do not allow apps to capture system audio.
- Some apps block capture. An app can choose not to share its sound with recorders. In that case the screen may record but its audio will be silent. Some apps also block the picture, which shows as a black screen.
- Phone and video call audio is never capturable. Android protects call audio, and no screen recorder can record it.
For a full walkthrough of every cause of silent recordings, read how to fix a screen recording with no sound.
When to use it
- Gameplay: game music and effects matter as much as the picture. Our mobile game recording tips cover frame rate and sound.
- App demos and reviews: let viewers hear the real sounds of the app you are showing.
- Tutorials about media apps: editing apps, music apps and video players make little sense without their audio.
- Bug reports: when the problem is a sound that plays at the wrong time, system audio is the evidence.
Use microphone only when the app's sound would distract, for example a quiet settings walkthrough.
Step by step in the app
- Open Cinematic Recorder and start a new recording or pick a template.
- In the audio options, choose system audio, microphone, or both. Allow the microphone permission if Android asks.
- Speak a few words and watch the live mic level meter move.
- Start recording. When Android shows its screen capture prompt, allow it; on most phones this prompt is where audio capture is also granted.
- Open the app you want to show, play some sound, and record as usual. Use the floating controls to pause or stop.
- Play back a few seconds before recording a long session, so you know both sources were captured.
Tips for balanced sound
- Lower the media volume a little when you narrate, so game music does not drown out your voice.
- Use earphones with a mic if you want to hear the app without the mic picking up the speaker.
- Record in a quiet room with soft furnishings; it cuts echo on your voice.
- Do a short test each time you record a new app, since every app decides for itself whether to allow capture.
The complete setup is explained in how to record your Android screen with internal audio, and levels and noise in audio cleanup basics.
Frequently asked questions
Can I record internal audio and my voice at the same time?
Yes. Choose both system audio and microphone before you start, and they are recorded together in one video.
Why is one app silent in my recording?
Some apps block audio capture for their own reasons, often streaming or banking apps. Other apps will still record with sound. There is no safe way around this block.
Can I record a WhatsApp or phone call?
No. Android protects call audio, so call sound is never captured by any screen recorder, including Cinematic Recorder.
My phone runs Android 9. Can I still record sound?
You can record your microphone, but system audio capture needs Android 10 or newer.
Give your next recording the sound it deserves: clean app audio and a clear voice, in one take.