Recording

Ctrl+R

Special Menu:
Transport

From the Special menu, choose Transport and choose Record from the submenu to open the Record dialog.

Use the Record dialog to record data into an existing data window or to a new data window.

If the current window is opened in Direct mode, the Record command will record to a new window by default.

What do you want to do?

Monitor input levels

Select the Monitor check box to enable the recording meters. You can monitor your input level before you start recording to ensure your input level is as loud as possible without clipping.

The meters represent the volume of the recording input. For best results, the level should be somewhere in the yellow range with an occasional red.

Click the Reset button to reset clip indicators or held peaks or valleys.

Right-click the meters and choose a setting from the shortcut menu to change the meters' scale.

If you are going to decrease the bit-depth of your sound file after recording, it is particularly important that you record with the loudest possible levels. High recording levels ensure that you will use the maximum possible dynamic range in the converted file.

Choose an input device and adjust levels

In order for Sound Forge to record sound, your sound card's recording input must be active.

Following are general guidelines; your specific hardware may vary. Please refer to your hardware documentation for more information.

  1. Ensure all cables are connected and that your audio source is generating a signal.

 If you're recording from a CD-ROM drive, the drive must be connected to your sound card with an internal or external cable.

  1. Double-click the speaker icon in your system tray to open the Volume Control dialog.

  2. From the Options menu, choose Properties.

  3. Click the Recording radio button and click OK.

  4. Verify the Mute check box is cleared for the device from which you want to record.

  5. Adjust the Volume faders for your device and for the Master Record level while monitoring the recording meters in Sound Forge's Record dialog.

    For example, if you want to record from an audio CD in your CD-ROM drive, the CD Mute check box should not be selected, and the CD and Master Record Volume faders must be adjusted so Sound Forge receives a strong signal without clipping.

Adjust for DC offset

Sound Forge can automatically adjust for any DC offset produced by your audio hardware during the recording process. Perform the following steps before you start recording.

  1. Select the DC adjust check box.

  2. Click the Calibrate button. The numbers below the button display the value, in sample amplitude, of the adjustment.

If you change sound cards or are recording from different digital sources or at different sample rates, you should recalibrate the DC offset before recording.

Prepare for recording

Click the Prepare button if you want to begin recording as soon as possible after clicking the Record button .

The Prepare button is optional, but can allow for more accurate takes when recording in Punch-In mode. When you click Prepare, Sound Forge opens the wave device and loads all recording buffers in order to minimize the amount of time between clicking the Record button and when recording starts.

Record to a new data window

When you record to a new window, you can paste or mix recorded data from the new window into other windows, reducing the risk of accidentally recording over data that you want to keep.

  1. From the Special menu, choose Transport and choose Record from the submenu (or click the Record button on the transport toolbar).

  2. Click the New button on the Record dialog.

  3. Specify a Sample rate, Bit-depth, and number of channels on the New Window dialog.

  4. Click the OK button to return to the Record dialog.

  1. Choose a recording mode from the Mode drop-down list.

  2. Click the Record button in the Record dialog when you're ready to start recording.

  3. Click the Stop button to stop recording.

  4. Click the Close button to close the Record dialog when you're finished.

Record to an existing data window

  1. From the Special menu, choose Transport and choose Record from the submenu (or click the Record button on the transport toolbar).

  2. Choose a destination window:

a. Click the Window button to display the Record Window dialog.

b. Choose a window from the Record destination window drop-down list.

c. Click the OK button.

  1. Choose a recording mode from the Mode drop-down list.

  2. Click the Record button in the Record dialog when you're ready to start recording.

  3. Click the Stop button to stop recording.

  4. Click the Close button to close the Record dialog when you're finished.

Record multiple takes

To record multiple takes, perform the procedure described in Record to a new data window or Record to an existing data window and choose Automatically retake, Multiple takes creating regions, Multiple takes (no regions), or Create a new window for each take from the Mode drop-down list.

Review recorded takes

Click the Play button (or press Alt+P) to hear the section of data over which you are going to record. After recording, you can click Play to hear the data you have just recorded. During playback, the button changes to a Stop button ; click again to stop playback.

Click the Go to Beginning button (or press Alt+Z) to return the cursor to the beginning of the current sound file. Use this to review takes or to begin recording from the beginning.

Click the Rewind button to move the cursor to the beginning of the previously recorded take.

Click the Forward button to move the cursor to the beginning of the next take.

Click the Go to End button to move the cursor to the end of the current sound file.

Record a specific length (punch-in)

Overwriting a selection

  1. Select the data you want to replace.

  2. From the Special menu, choose Transport and choose Record from the submenu (or click the Record button on the transport toolbar). The Record dialog is opened, and Sound Forge fills in the Start, End, and Length boxes to match your selection.

Click the Selection button to display the Set Selection dialog to make or adjust a selection.

  1. Click the Record button in the Record dialog when you're ready to start recording.

  2. Click the Stop button to stop recording.

Specifying the recording interval

  1. From the Special menu, choose Transport and choose Record from the submenu (or click the Record button on the transport toolbar).

  2. Choose a Punch-in from the Mode drop-down list.

  3. Use the Start, End, and Length boxes to specify the length and placement of your recording. Sound Forge fills in the Start, End, and Length boxes to match your selection or cursor position.

Click the Selection button to display the Set Selection dialog to make or adjust a selection.

  1. Click the Record button in the Record dialog when you're ready to start recording.

  2. Click the Stop button to stop recording.

  3. Click the Close button to close the Record dialog when you're finished.

Record using the Record Remote dialog

Click the Remote button to hide the main Sound Forge window and show only the Record Remote dialog. The Record Remote dialog will be displayed in the foreground of any application so you can easily record while using other components of your system such as a CD player, mixer, or sequencer.

Click the Back button on the Record Remote dialog to return to the Record dialog.

Many of the commands from the Record dialog are available by right clicking anywhere in the Record Remote dialog.

Place a marker during recording

Click the Drop Marker button (or press Alt+M) to place a marker at the current cursor position. This feature allows for easy location of mistakes or points of interest.

Synchronize recording with MIDI timecode

You can use MIDI timecode to synchronize Sound Forge recording to another device.

  1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences, and click the MIDI/Sync tab.

  2. On the MIDI/Sync tab, choose the device to which you want to synchronize from the Input drop-down list and click the OK button.

  3. From the Options menu, select MIDI Input Sync/Trigger to enable MIDI input.

  4. Click the Record button .

  5. In the Record dialog, click the Sync button.

  6. In the Record Synchronization dialog, select the Enable MTC/SMPTE Input Synchronization check box.

  7. Select the Start check box and specify the time you want to start recording.

  8. Select the End check box and specify the time you want to stop recording.

  9. Click the OK button.