> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.tella.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Record a video using the Mac app
> Record native 4K screen recordings with system audio using the Tella Mac app.
[Tella for Mac](https://tella.com/mac "https://tella.com/mac") records natively in **4K** with built-in **system audio** capture. Record from your dock, then edit and share on the web.
## Install and sign in
1. Download Tella for Mac from the [direct download link](https://mac.tella.tv/Tella.dmg) or by clicking **Record** in the web app and choosing **Tella for Mac**.
2. Open the downloaded `.dmg` file and drag Tella to your Applications folder.
3. Launch Tella from Applications and sign in with the same account you use on the web.
The Mac app requires **macOS 13.0 (Ventura)** or later.
## Start a recording
1. Click the Tella icon in your dock or menu bar.
2. Choose what you want to record — your screen, camera, or both.
3. If recording your screen, use **Select Area** to capture exactly the portion of the screen you want. You can drag to select any region, or pick a specific window.
4. Click the **red record button** to start recording.
If your **camera is on**, you must also have a **microphone selected** before you can start recording. The record button stays disabled until a mic is picked — this applies whether you're recording camera only or camera + screen. Screen-only recordings don't require a mic.
Tella records your camera and screen as **two separate streams** and excludes the Tella UI from the final video. This gives you a clean recording that you can arrange with layouts in the editor.
## Pause and resume a recording
You can pause your recording at any time and resume when you're ready — no need to start a new clip just because you need a moment.
1. While recording, click the **pause button** in the recording controls.
2. The recording pauses. Take your time — gather your thoughts, check your notes, or handle an interruption.
3. Click the **resume button** to continue recording from where you left off.
The paused section is seamlessly removed, so your final video plays as one continuous take. This is different from [clips](/help/recording/use-clips), where you stop and start separate segments. Use pause when you need a break within a single segment, and clips when you want to re-record or change your setup between segments.
## Use speaker notes
The Mac app includes a **floating notepad** that you can position anywhere on screen while recording. Write your script, bullet points, or talking points — they're visible to you but never appear in the final video.
This is especially useful during screen recordings, since the notepad floats above your other windows without being captured. See [speaker notes](/help/recording/use-speaker-notes-while-recording) for details.
## Record system audio
The Mac app captures system audio natively — no extra software required. Click the **music note icon** in the recording controls to enable it. This captures all desktop sound (app audio, browser audio, etc.) alongside your microphone.
See [record system audio](/help/troubleshooting/record-system-audio) for setup details and troubleshooting.
## Record with multiple monitors
If you have multiple displays connected, Tella lets you choose which screen to record. Select your preferred display when setting up the recording area, or use **Select Area** to capture a region on any connected monitor.
## Camera effects
The Mac app includes built-in camera effects:
* **Background blur** — soften your background to keep the focus on you. See [blur your camera background](/help/recording/blur-your-camera-background).
* **Custom backgrounds** — replace your background entirely.
## Record in 4K
The Mac app records natively at your display's full resolution, up to **4K**. This is higher quality than browser-based recording, which is limited by browser encoding capabilities. No extra settings needed — Tella automatically captures at the highest quality your hardware supports.
## Finish and edit
When you're done recording:
1. Click **Preview** to stop recording and open your video in the web editor.
2. From the editor, you can trim, add layouts, apply zooms, and more — then share a link or export.
Videos recorded with the Mac app support **auto zoom**, which generates zooms based on where you clicked during the recording. See [add a zoom](/help/editing/add-a-zoom) for details.
## Mac app vs. web app
| Feature | Mac app | Web app |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Max resolution | 4K (native) | Limited by browser |
| System audio | Built-in | Browser tab audio only |
| Pause recording | Yes | No |
| Area selection | Drag to select any region or window | Browser screen-share picker (screen, window, or tab) |
| Speaker notes | Floating notepad (not captured) | Fixed panel |
| Auto zoom in editor | Yes | No |
| Background blur | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-monitor | Yes | Depends on browser |
| Clips | Yes | Yes |
## Troubleshooting
* **Can't record?** Check your macOS permissions — see [screen, camera, and mic permissions](/help/mac-app/cant-record-on-mac-check-screen-camera-and-mic-permissions).
* **Low disk space warning?** See [low disk space](/help/mac-app/mac-app-low-disk-space-warning).
* **Can't edit your recording?** Make sure you're signed into the same account on both the Mac app and the web — see [troubleshooting Mac app editing](/help/troubleshooting/cant-edit-video-recorded-with-mac-app).
* **Audio sync issues with XLR microphones?** See [fix audio sync](/help/troubleshooting/fix-audio-sync-for-xlr-microphones).