Recording

Contents

 * 1) Setting up
 * 2) Recording a new track
 * 3) Recording a region in a new track
 * 4) Continuing recording in a new track
 * 5) Continuing recording in an existing track - Append Recording

Setting up

 * 1) Connect your input source to your computer and verify that you are getting sound into your computer using your computer's sound input control panel or the custom mixer application that came with your particular soundcard.
 * 2) Tell Audacity which source you have selected to record from.
 * 3) Set the recording level using the input slider on the Mixer Toolbar while watching the indications in the Recording Meter. Try to aim for a maximum peak of around –6.0 dB (or 0.5 if you have your meters set to linear rather than dB). Tip: enlarging the Meter Toolbars by clicking and dragging them helps with this task.

To listen to what you are recording you have two options. Alternatively, if you are using an external soundcard or mixer you may be able to monitor the signal directly from that device.
 * 1) If you computer's sound control panel supports sending the audio input to the computer's audio output then make this setting there.
 * 2) If that is not possible, click on Transport > Software Playthrough (on/off) so that it is checked.

For further information on setting up see: Audacity Setup and Configuration.

Detailed step-by-step instructions for setting up for recording are provided in the Your First Recording and the Copying tapes, LPs or MiniDiscs tutorials.

Recording a new track
Every time you click the Record button on Transport Toolbar, Audacity will create a new track and begin recording on that track from the current cursor position (or from the left edge of a region on the Timeline). There is no need to create a new track before starting to record. If you want recording to start from the beginning of the project, click the "Skip to Start" button on Transport Toolbar or press the  shortcut. Press the Stop button  (or use its shortcut ) to Stop the recording.

Recording a region in a new track
If there is no Timeline region, Audacity records until you stop the recording. To record only the Timeline region in a new track, use to create a new track if there are no tracks yet, select the region required in any track and ensure  is enabled (on) which is its default setting. Overdub may also be enabled in Recording Preferences. There is no need for the track containing the region to be selected.

Continuing recording in a new track
Instead of stopping the recording with the Stop button or, you can stop the recording with the Play / Stop and Set Cursor shortcut. When you record again, recording will start in a new track at the end-position of the track above.

Continuing recording in an existing track - Append Recording
There are two methods to continue recording on an existing track instead of starting a new track:
 * Instead of stopping the recording, click the Pause button [[Image:Pause.png|The Pause button|link=]] to pause recording, or use the shortcut. Click to release the Pause button or press  to continue recording. Note you cannot edit while paused.
 * Select the track you want add the recording to and, while holding down the key, click the Record button. Alternatively, use the  shortcut. This is called "Append Record", When you hold down the  key the red record button will change to the Append Record [[Image:Append Record button.png|30px|The Record button|link=]]  button.