Setting up your recording

Before you start recording, it's important to choose the right settings for your recording needs. This article walks you through selecting your camera and microphone, enabling Studio Sound and transcription, adding speaker labels to your audio inputs, and adding multiple audio inputs when using an external recording device.

Recording walkthroughs

Check out our how-to guides on Recording audio, Recording video, or Screen recording in Descript.

Set audio input levels

Descript uses your system's input volume for recording. Learn how to adjust input volume for MacOS or how to adjust input volume for Windows. If you are using an external audio device — an audio interface or mixer — make sure you to adjust the input volume on the device. Please consult the device's documentation for adjusting audio input levels. 

You can see input volume in the recording panel before you start a recording. Your audio levels will turn yellow or red if your volume is too loud which may lead to unwanted clipping or distortion.

screenshot of 3 recorder panels showing different volume input levels

Are you using external recording gear?

Before getting started, it's always good practice to double check cable connections if you are using an external microphone, camera, or other A/V devices.

Before recording in Descript

You can set up your recording before you start when you open the recording panel by selecting Recorder icon.

Descript editor with the recorder panel open

Here are a few things you’ll want to check before recording:

  1. Select to record Audio onlyCamera, or Screen.
  2. Click Settings and make adjustments to your recording settings as needed. learn more about recording settings
  3. Select your camera and/or microphone from the dropdown menus; if you want to record computer audio, select computer audio speaker icon.
  4. Select Additional_Settings_icon.png choose to enable or disable Studio Sound and transcription during the recording. You can always apply these after you're done recording.
  5. If you work with content in different languages, make sure to set the correct transcription language from the recording settings.
  6. Add speaker labels in the text boxes next to your audio inputs.

Multiple audio inputs

If you are recording using a recording device that supports multiple audio inputs — like an audio interface or mixing console — you can add and remove up to 8 inputs from the recorder panel.

Set up multiple inputs

  1. From the recorder panel, choose your first audio input from the microphone dropdown menu.
  2. Select + Add input at the bottom of the recorder panel. You can record up to 8 channels (not including computer audio).

Screenshot of recorder panel showing steps to add additional audio inputs

Remove an additional input

If you want to remove an additional input, select None from the audio input's dropdown menu.

Screenshot of recorder panel showing steps to remove additional audio inputs

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