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.

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 — such as 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.

Recording into the script, replace a selection or a new layer

You can record content in a composition in three different ways:

• Record into script — Left-click to place the playhead cursor where you'd like to start recording into the Script.

• Replace selection — Highlight a portion of the script to record over any selection and replace it with a new recording.

• Record new layer — Select any scene by clicking the Scene overlay in the Timeline or by clicking the Slash mark in the Script to record into a new layer.

Once you make a recording in your composition, the recording will be stored as a project file in the Project panel.

Before recording in Descript

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

1. Select to record Audio only, Camera, or Screen.
2. Click Settings and make adjustments to your recording settings, such as setting the correct transcription language, camera resolution, and screen resolution. Learn more about recording settings.
3. Select your camera and/or microphone from the dropdown menus; if you want to record computer audio, select next to Computer audio.
4. Select next to your audio inputs and choose to enable or disable Studio Sound and transcription for the recording. You can always apply these after you're done recording.
5. Add speaker labels in the Speaker text boxes next to your audio inputs.
6. Place the playhead in the Script track to record new material into the script, highlight the Script to replace existing material, or select a Scene to record a new layer. 

Multiple audio inputs

If you are recording using a device that supports multiple audio inputs — like an audio interface or mixing console — you can add and remove up to 14 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 14 channels (not including computer audio).
   

Remove an additional input

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