How to Record Spotify Music with Audacity (With Pictures)

Part 1. Best Way to Record Spotify Music, Podcasts, or Audiobooks Without Audacity

Audacity may be the tool most people think of for capturing audio from Spotify, but it isn't always the most efficient option.

Best Alternative to Avoid Any Troubles Caused by Audacity:

If you want a smoother, more reliable solution, it's worth checking out an alternative like ViWizard Spotify Music Converter.

Unlike Audacity, ViWizard works directly with Spotify without manual recording. You can export any track, playlist, or album with lossless audio and complete metadata - something Audacity doesn't handle. ViWizard automatically tags track info such as title, artist, genre, and album art. Many users start with a few playlists and gradually convert their entire library. The process runs in the background, saving files directly to your computer, and the listening experience stays the same. It's just a quicker and easier option than setting up Audacity.

Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

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• Download Spotify songs, playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks extremely fast at up to 15x speed
• Convert Spotify into MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B losslessly
• Lets you play Spotify tracks offline on any device without restrictions
• Works seamlessly on Windows and macOS, supporting the built-in Spotify Web Player

Step 1Download and Install ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

Start by downloading the ViWizard Spotify Music Converter for your computer. Make sure you choose the correct version for your operating system (Windows or Mac). Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. After installation, launch ViWizard to begin converting your Spotify tracks into editable files for further editing in your preferred software, like Audacity.

Step 2Add Spotify Tracks for Conversion

When ViWizard opens, log in to your Spotify account within the software to access your music library. Browse through your playlists, albums, or favorite tracks, and select the ones you wish to convert. Click the "+" icon at the bottom-right corner of the app, which will turn green. Once clicked, ViWizard will automatically load the selected tracks, preparing them for conversion.

Step 3Choose Output Format and Settings

To ensure your converted files are easy to edit, click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the Preferences menu. Go to Preferences > Conversion, and choose a format that works well with audio editing software, such as MP3, WAV, or FLAC. For the best sound quality, set the bitrate to 320kbps. You can also adjust other settings like sample rate and channels according to your preference for the highest quality.

Step 4Convert and Download Spotify Music

Once your settings are chosen, click the Convert button to start the conversion process. ViWizard will convert your selected tracks at up to 15x faster than standard conversion tools. You can monitor the progress as each track is processed. After the conversion is complete, navigate to the output folder where your newly converted tracks are saved in the format you selected.

Part 2. Record Spotify with Audacity on Windows

Windows provides the easiest way to record Spotify with Audacity, thanks to its ability to route system audio directly to the program. Once set up, you can capture music, podcasts, or audiobooks in real time without extra tools. Adjusting the input levels carefully helps avoid common issues, such as silent recordings or interference from your microphone.

Step 1 Download and install Audacity from the official website. Make sure it's the Windows version.

Step 2 Launch Audacity, then click Edit > Preferences.

Step 3 Go to Devices, and set the Host to Windows WASAPI. This helps Audacity capture system audio more reliably.

Step 4 For Playback and Recording, choose your speakers or headphones. For Recording, select the loopback input (e.g., "Speakers (loopback)") so it records exactly what you hear.

Step 5 Click OK to save your settings.

Step 6 Open Spotify and start playing the track or playlist you want to record.

Step 7 Click the red "Record" button in Audacity. Record as long as needed, but keep an eye on the disk space remaining message so you don't run out.

Step 8 When finished, pause Spotify, then click "Stop" in Audacity to complete the recording.

Part 3. Record Spotify with Audacity on Mac

Recording on a Mac requires a slightly different approach, since macOS doesn't allow internal audio recording by default. To capture Spotify audio, you'll need a virtual audio device such as Soundflower, BlackHole, or Loopback. Once configured, Mac users can record tracks, playlists, or podcasts just like on Windows.

Step 1 Download and install Audacity from the official website.

Step 2 Install a virtual audio device like Soundflower, BlackHole, or Loopback. This allows Audacity to capture Spotify's sound, since macOS doesn't record internal audio by default.

Step 3 Launch Audacity, then go to Audacity > Preferences > Devices.

Step 4 Set the Host to Core Audio, and choose the virtual audio device under Recording.

Step 5 Open Spotify and start the track or playlist you want to record.

Step 6 Click the red Record button. You'll see the waveform moving as the audio is captured. Record as long as needed, but pause occasionally if you need to skip ads.

Step 7 When finished, pause Spotify and click Stop in Audacity.

Part 4. Record Spotify with Audacity on Linux

Linux gives more control over audio, but it usually requires some setup. Depending on your system, you may use PulseAudio or PipeWire to route Spotify's output into Audacity for real-time recording.

Step 1 Download and install Audacity from the official website or through your Linux package manager.

Step 2 Make sure PulseAudio or PipeWire is installed to route system audio to Audacity.

Step 3 Open Audacity and go to Edit > Preferences > Devices.

Step 4 Set the Host to ALSA (for PulseAudio) or the correct option for PipeWire.

Step 5 Under Recording, select the output device that captures Spotify audio.

Step 6 Open Spotify and play the track or playlist you want to record.

Step 7 Click the red Record button. Record as long as you like, but keep an eye on system resources to avoid glitches.

Step 8 Click Stop when you're done.

Part 5. How to Edit and Export Spotify Audio with Audacity

Recording is just the first step. Audacity also lets you trim unwanted sections, adjust volume, remove silence, or add effects to improve clarity. After editing, export the final version as MP3, WAV, or another format to play anywhere or use in personal projects.

Step 1 Open your recorded Spotify track in Audacity.

Step 2 Select any portion of the audio and makes edits like trimming, adjusting volume, or adding effects:

Tip: Save versions like Project_v1, Project_v2 to avoid losing progress.

Step 3 When you're done editing, go to File > Export > Export Audio… to open the export window.

Step 4 Save your final version as MP3, WAV, or another format.

Step 5 Choose the location where you want to save the file. Click Save, and if prompted, adjust any additional settings before finalizing the export.

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Part 6. Best Audacity Alternatives to Record Spotify

Audacity is a solid free option, but it isn't the only choice and may not suit everyone. Alternatives range from dedicated converters like ViWizard to capture tools such as OBS. Each has its strengths depending on how hands-on you want your workflow to be.

No 1. ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

Using ViWizard Spotify Music Converter was pretty easy. Exploring, selecting, and converting multiple tracks directly in the program works smoothly, and the layout is simple with user-friendly guidance, even if you've never converted music before. The batch conversion feature is great for exporting many tracks at once, though the 320 kbps files can sound a little quieter than the original. Still, for people who want to extract audio files from the original platform, it does the job well. Compared to Audacity, it's less about detailed editing and more about saving time while keeping track info like artist and album.

Spotify Music Converter

A brilliant Spotify music downloader designed to download and convert Spotify songs, playlists, albums, artists, podcasts, and audiobooks to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B losslessly. The sound stays as clear as the original, and all track details are preserved, offering a seamless experience to enjoy your Spotify music offline on any player or device.

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No 2. ViWizard Streaming Audio Recorder

Recording with ViWizard Streaming Audio Recorder was mostly smooth. This All-in-One streaming music recorder works with popular services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, and Amazon Music. Capturing from these platforms worked well, and setting up multiple recordings at once is easy. The software keeps track info correct, which is nice if you like organized music. Sometimes switching between platforms can cause a freeze, but restarting the app usually fixes it. If you're tired of recording streams manually in Audacity, this tool feels faster and more automatic.

Streaming Audio Recorder

A versatile all-in-one streaming music recorder to extract songs, albums, playlists, and exclusive content from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, Pandora, SoundCloud, Qobuz and LINE MUSIC into popular formats like MP3 — with support for original sound quality, fast batch conversion, and built-in music management to help you save, organize, and enjoy your favorite tracks anytime, anywhere.

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No 3. ViWizard Audio Capture

ViWizard Audio Capture is very flexible. Recording sound from browsers, video calls, or games was simple, and it can split tracks into separate files automatically. The trimming and merging tools are basic but useful for quick edits. The silence detection feature can cut too much sometimes, but it saves time overall. For anyone who wants one tool to record any sound on their computer, it's a handy choice.

Audio Capture

A multifunctional audio recording tool that captures any sound playing on your computer, including streaming music, live radio, game sounds, background music, and online meetings, with built-in auto-splitting and advanced editing features to save recordings in MP3, WAV, and other formats while maintaining the highest quality and embedding track details.

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No 4. OBS Studio

OBS Studio feels different from Audacity. Setting it up to record multiple audio sources can be tricky at first, but once it's ready, recording system sound, mic input, and even streaming at the same time works really well. The audio mixer is solid, though balancing levels takes some practice. There isn't a simple timeline like in Audacity, so trimming clips isn't as fast. OBS is best for people who want to record and stream at the same time, rather than just edit audio.

The Bottom Line

Of course, you can't go wrong with the free Audacity software to record Spotify music, but if you're a rookie to professional audio editor and recorder, you could probably go wrong though. While the ViWizard Spotify Music Converter provides an ultra-fast method to help you complete downloading music from Spotify, just go and give it a try, you'll find the best way for yourself.