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Recording audio

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of making an audio recording in Descript.

How to record audio in Descript

Set up your audio recording

  1. At the top of the editor, click and open the Record icon Record panel.
  2. Select Audio only.
  3. Click Settings gear icon Settings and make adjustments to your recording settings as needed. Click here to learn more about recording settings.
  4. Choose your recording inputs by clicking on either the Speaker icon computer audio icon or Microphone icon microphone icon. If both are enabled, the inputs will be recorded on separate tracks.
  5. Click Input settings icon  Settings and decide if you want to enable Studio Sound or transcription (you can also apply these after recording). If you are using an audio interface and recording multiple microphone, you can enable Record separate audio tracks for each external input.
  6. If you'd like, add speaker labels by typing them in the text box next to your inputs. 

Screenshot showing steps for setting up multitrack audio recording in Descript.

Include in script

This setting is available in video compositions and will add your recording to the script. Generally, if you plan on transcribing and script-editing the recording, keep include in script enabled. If you need to record background audio, just toggle it off. Disabling the setting will add the recording to your scene.

Record your audio

  1. Click the Record button  Record button across the bottom of the Record panel to start recording.
  2. Press the Stop_recording_icon.png Stop icon or timer button to end the recording.

Screenshot showing steps for stopping a recording

Editing individual tracks of a multitrack recording

If you had multiple inputs enabled, your recorded tracks will be put into a multitrack sequence.  You can edit the individual tracks from the sequence editor.

  1. Right-click your sequence in the timeline or in the script.
  2. Choose Edit sequence.

Screenshot showing how to open a sequence in the sequence editor

Need help with sequences?

Check out our overview article to learn more about sequences.

Tips and best practices

  • Before recording, consider making a 5 to 10 second recording to make sure you have set everything up correctly.
  • If you enable transcription during the recording, you can script-edit your content while you record!
  • If you need to transcribe the recording afterwards, right click the recording in your script and choose transcribe file; or, you can transcribe the file from the media library. If you recorded multiple tracks, you'll need to transcribe the individual files from the media library.
  • If you want to apply Studio Sound after recording, check out how to add Studio Sound to a single file, or how to add Studio Sound to tracks in a sequence
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