Recording online shows on an iMac

I sometimes watch shows on my iMac that I cannot download and are not on The Pirate Bay.

To record those shows, the following is needed : (picture)

• A USB to HDMI adapter (usually USB-C) (Amazon)
• An HDMI splitter (Amazon)
• A TV
• An HDMI to USB adapter (usually USB 2.0, you may need a USB A to C adapter if your iMac does not have a USB A port) (Amazon)

The goal is to setup the USB to HDMI adapter as a second screen to the iMac and then split it between the TV and the HDMI to USB adapter so the signal comes back into the iMac.

Tip for the splitter : When the input port faces up and the logo faces you, output port 1 is to the bottom left and output port 2 is to the bottom right.

Here is a schematic :

The devices must be plugged in order :

1. Turn on the TV.
2. Plug the TV in port 1 of the splitter.
3. Plug the HDMI to USB adapter between port 2 of the splitter and the iMac.
4. Plug the USB to HDMI adapter between the iMac and the input port of the splitter.
5. Plug the power to the splitter.

How to record a Doctor Who episode on Disney+.

You must then go into System Settings and configure the splitter as a second screen (it should be called 1to2) and the sound output to the splitter.

The sound will come out of the TV, not the iMac.

You may then move Safari to the second screen and make the video full screen.

To start recording :

1. Open QuickTime.
2. Select File > New Movie Recording.
3. Select USB Video as the video input.
4. Select USB Audio as the audio input.
5. Set the output volume to zero (it already should be).
6. Press the red record button and then start playing the video in Safari.

When the video ends, press the stop button in QuickTime. You may then save the video as a .mov file.

The TV must be plugged in port 1. If the HDMI to USB adapter is plugged in port 1, weird things will happen when the adapter gets reset (the iMac will see the splitter as disappearing and reappearing when it is used.)

Why not do a screen recording ?

It is not possible to do a normal screen recording, because :

1. While the screen recording is active, the Disney+ window turns black.
2. Since screen recording with QuickTime can only input sound with the microphone, you would have to remain silent while QuickTime records what comes out of your speakers.

Why a TV ?

If you do not have a TV, your only option would be to take the HDMI output from the iMac and plug it right back in without a splitter.

The problem with that is that you would not be able to hear the sound while it is recording.

You can configure your iMac's sound output to either the speakers or HDMI.

• If you select the speakers, you will be able to hear the sound, but not record it.
• If you select HDMI, you will be able to record the sound, but not hear it.

This is why you need a TV : So you can hear the sound out of the TV while recording.