Skip to content

Recording Audio

This guide covers recording audio tracks in ScratchTrack, including input selection, arming tracks, the count-in system, and managing recordings.

Before You Record

Check your audio setup

Make sure your audio interface or microphone is connected and recognized by macOS. ScratchTrack uses the system's default audio input unless you select a specific input channel per track.

Adding an Audio Track

  1. Click Add Track in the song editor.
  2. Select Audio Track.
  3. A new track appears in the timeline.

Selecting an Input Channel

Each audio track can record from a specific input channel on your audio interface:

  1. Look for the input selector on the track header.
  2. Choose the input channel you want to record from.

This lets you record multiple instruments simultaneously on separate tracks, each from a different input.

Arming a Track for Recording

Before you can record, you need to arm one or more tracks:

  1. Click the R (record arm) button on the track header.
  2. The button highlights to indicate the track is armed.
  3. You can arm multiple tracks to record simultaneously.

Tip

The Record button in the transport bar is disabled until at least one track is armed.

Recording

  1. Arm the track(s) you want to record.
  2. Click the Record button in the transport bar.
  3. A 4-beat count-in begins — you'll see a visual overlay with a pulsing beat indicator counting down.
  4. After the count-in, recording starts automatically.
  5. Click Stop to end the recording.

Your recorded audio appears as a waveform on the track timeline.

The Count-In

The count-in gives you 4 beats at the current tempo to prepare before recording begins. During the count-in:

  • A full-screen overlay shows the beat count (1, 2, 3, 4)
  • The beat indicator pulses in time
  • The audio engine warms up to avoid glitches on the first beat

Working with Recordings

Viewing Waveforms

Recorded audio is displayed as waveforms on the timeline. You can:

  • Zoom in/out horizontally to see more or less detail
  • Zoom vertically to adjust track height
  • Scroll to navigate through the timeline

Track Controls

Each track provides these controls:

Control Description
Volume Adjust track volume (displayed in dB)
Mute Silence the track during playback
Solo Listen to only this track (mutes all others)
Record Arm (R) Enable recording on this track
Track Name Click to rename the track

Deleting and Restoring Tracks

To delete a track:

  1. Delete the track using the track controls.
  2. The track moves to the Deleted Tracks section.

ScratchTrack uses soft deletes — deleted tracks can be restored:

  1. Scroll to the Deleted Tracks section at the bottom.
  2. Click Restore on the track you want to bring back.

Recording Tips

  • Monitor levels — Watch the level meters to avoid clipping (red)
  • Use the count-in — The 4-beat countdown helps you start in time
  • Arm only what you need — Disarm tracks you're not recording to avoid accidental captures
  • Check your input — Make sure the correct input channel is selected before recording

Next Steps