- name
- record
- description
- macOS CLI tool for recording audio (microphone), screen (video/screenshot), and camera (video/photo) from the terminal. Use when the user or an AI agent needs to: (1) record microphone audio, (2) capture screen video or screenshot, (3) capture camera video or photo, (4) list available devices/displays/cameras, or any task involving audio/video/image capture on macOS via the command line. Trigger on keywords like: record, microphone, screen capture, screenshot, screen recording, camera, webcam, photo, audio capture.
record CLI
A macOS command-line tool for recording audio, screen, and camera output. Designed for both human users and AI agents operating in a terminal.
Output file paths are printed to stdout. Status messages go to stderr, making the tool pipeline-friendly.
IMPORTANT: User Consent Required
Always ask the user for explicit permission before running any recording command. Recording audio (microphone), screen, or camera captures sensitive data and may be unexpected. Before executing record audio, record screen, or record camera, confirm with the user that they intend to record, what will be captured, and the duration. Listing devices (--list-devices, --list-displays, --list-windows, --list-cameras) and taking screenshots (--screenshot) are less intrusive but should still be confirmed if not explicitly requested.
Installation
brew install atacan/tap/recordQuick Reference
# Audio
record audio --duration 10 # Record 10s of audio
record audio --duration 5 --json # JSON output with file path
# Screen
record screen --duration 5 # Record screen for 5s
record screen --screenshot # Take a screenshot
record screen --screenshot --output /tmp/s.png
# Camera
record camera --duration 5 # Record webcam for 5s
record camera --photo # Take a photoSubcommands
| Subcommand | Purpose |
|---|---|
record audio | Record from microphone |
record screen | Record screen video or take a screenshot |
record camera | Record from webcam or take a photo |
Each subcommand has its own --help flag with full option details.
Key Patterns for AI Agents
Get the output file path
The tool prints the output file path to stdout. Capture it:
FILE=$(record audio --duration 5)
echo "Recorded to: $FILE"Use --json for structured output
All subcommands support --json to emit machine-readable JSON to stdout:
record audio --duration 5 --jsonUse --duration for non-interactive recording
Without --duration, the tool waits for a keypress to stop (requires a real TTY). AI agents should always pass --duration <seconds> to ensure the command terminates.
List available devices
record audio --list-devices
record screen --list-displays
record screen --list-windows
record camera --list-camerasAdd --json for structured output.
Control output location
record audio --duration 5 --output /tmp/recording.m4a
record screen --screenshot --output /tmp/screen.png --overwriteWithout --output, files are saved to a temporary directory.
Screen recording with audio
record screen --duration 10 --audio system # system audio only
record screen --duration 10 --audio mic # microphone only
record screen --duration 10 --audio both # system + micCapture a specific window or display
record screen --screenshot --window "Safari"
record screen --duration 5 --display primarymacOS Permissions
The terminal app (Terminal, iTerm2, etc.) must have the relevant permission enabled in System Settings > Privacy & Security:
- Microphone - for
record audioandrecord camera --audio - Screen Recording - for
record screen - Camera - for
record camera
Troubleshooting
If a command fails or behaves unexpectedly, run:
record <subcommand> --helpThe --help output always reflects the installed version and is the authoritative reference.
Detailed Command References
For full option listings and advanced usage:
- Audio: See references/audio.md
- Screen: See references/screen.md
- Camera: See references/camera.md