Guide

Grab a sound clip for a video edit on a Mac

A sound effect, a quote, a reference for timing: record it, trim it to the exact moment, and bring the WAV into your edit.

By the KIBA team · Updated 30 September 2026

Short answer: record the sound with KIBA while it plays, trim it, press Return to save a WAV, then import that WAV into your editor like any other audio file. Only use sounds you own or have permission to use.

Step by step

Pick the source. By default KIBA records everything your Mac plays. To record one app only, right-click the ring in the menu bar › Record From and pick it.
Click the ring (or press ⌥⌘R anywhere) and play the sound. A timer runs next to the icon.
Click again to stop. The trimmer drops down with the silence at both ends already cut and the level set to peak at −0.3 dB.
Trim. Drag the edges, press Space to play, L to loop the selection. Pinch or scroll to zoom.
Keep it. Press Return to save it to your sample folder, or drag the waveform straight into another app or the Finder.

You get a WAV file (uncompressed audio that every editor opens): 48 kHz, 24-bit by default, named like KIBA_260930-141203.wav. 16-bit and 32-bit float are in Settings.

Then add the file to your project. Final Cut Pro lists WAV among its supported audio formats, and most video editors import WAV. If you're unsure, check your editor's supported formats page.

Getting clean edits

Start on the sound. KIBA cuts the silence at both ends, so the clip starts where the sound starts. That makes lining it up on a timeline easier.
No clicks. Every cut gets a short fade (3 ms by default, adjustable in Settings), so edges don't pop.
Level: clips are normalized to peak at −0.3 dB, so they arrive loud and consistent. Turn the clip down in your editor as needed. Because of this, KIBA clips aren't suitable for exact level measurements.
Names: rename the clip in the trimmer before saving (door-slam beats KIBA_260930-141203 when you're searching a bin later).

Good sources to record from

Your own footage and uploads.
Sound libraries and videos whose license allows reuse. Check the license first.
A client's own material, when you need a reference for an edit.

Good to know: KIBA records what your Mac plays, in real time. A 30-second clip takes 30 seconds. It can't make audio better than the source: a WAV of a compressed stream still sounds like that stream. And it records sound only, never your microphone or your screen.

More: YouTube audio to WAV · recording from your browser.

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