Core Concepts
Recording modes
| Mode | What it records | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Screen + Audio | One full display, optional system audio, optional microphone | Demos, tutorials, walkthroughs, meetings |
| Audio Only | System audio, microphone, or both | Voice notes, calls, audio captures |
Audio sources
- System Audio: Sound produced by your Mac and apps.
- Microphone: Your voice or external input device.
- You can enable either source, both sources, or neither. For practical recordings, enable at least one audio source in Audio Only mode.
Quality presets
Quality affects file size and visual/audio clarity for Screen + Audio recordings.
| Preset | Approx. size | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| Small size | ~10 MB/min | You need the smallest practical file for quick sharing. |
| Medium size | ~30 MB/min | You want a compact file with clearer screen detail. |
| Balanced | ~90 MB/min | You want the recommended clarity/size tradeoff. |
| High Quality | ~250 MB/min | You need sharper archival or tutorial recordings. |
In Audio Only mode, the Quality section is hidden because video quality settings do not apply.
Formats
| Mode | Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Screen + Audio | MP4, MOV | MP4 is best for compatibility; MOV is best for Apple workflows. |
| Audio Only | M4A, WAV | M4A is compressed; WAV is uncompressed and larger. |
Recording states
Vida shows a status pill in the header:
- Ready: Waiting to record.
- Preparing: Setting up capture and output file.
- Starting in…: Countdown is active.
- Live: Recording is active.
- Paused: Recording is temporarily paused. Paused time is not added to the final file.
- Saving: Vida is finalizing the file.
- Needs attention: Something requires user action.
Recording health indicators and live audio meters
During active recording, Vida shows a compact REC health badge and minimal live audio meters in the header. The badge is the main place to confirm that the selected inputs are truly being recorded. The meters show the real level of each selected audio source.
The badge shows one icon for each selected source:
- Video: screen frames are arriving and can be saved.
- System Audio: computer audio samples are arriving and can be saved.
- Mic: microphone samples are arriving and can be saved.
Icon colors mean:
| Color | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Green | This source is actively recording. | Good. Keep recording. |
| Orange | Vida is still waiting to confirm this source. | Wait a few seconds. Do not trust the recording yet. |
| Red | This selected source is not being recorded. | Stop the recording and fix the input before continuing. |
A recording is fully healthy only when every source you selected is green and stays green. If a selected source stops producing samples, or if Vida can no longer save samples to the file, the badge changes and Vida shows a warning banner.
The header audio meters are intentionally simple:
- System shows real computer-audio level only while Vida is receiving captured system-audio samples.
- Mic shows real microphone level while recording.
- The dB readout and colored bar are based on real sample levels, not decorative animation.
- System audio does not show fake movement before recording because macOS only provides that stream after capture starts.