The Record Dialog

Ctrl+R

Special Menu:
Transport

This dialog allows you to record new data into an existing data window or to a new data window. To display the Record dialog, choose Transport from the Special menu and choose Record from the submenu.

Item

Description

Recording attributes

Displays the parameters that will be used for recording your data. To change these settings, click the New button and specify new settings on the New Window dialog.

Mode

Choose a recording mode from the drop-down list.

Start

Specify when recording should start. Sound Forge automatically fills in this value based on your selection or cursor position.

End

Specify when recording should end. Sound Forge automatically fills in this value based on your selection or cursor position.

This control is used only when Punch-in is selected in the Mode drop-down list.

Length

Specify the length of the selection you want to record. Sound Forge automatically fills in this value based on your selection or cursor position.

This control is used only when Punch-in is selected in the Mode drop-down list.

Input format

Choose an input format from the drop-down list. This format is used to display the values in the Start, End, Length, and Time Recorded boxes.

Monitor

Select this check box to enable the meters and monitor the level of the input signal.

The meters light up as a function of the volume of the recording input. For best results, the level should be somewhere in the yellow range with an occasional red. This button also activates the peak value. The peak value shows the maximum input level recorded since the monitor input box has been checked. If the peak value displays Clip, clipping has occurred and the audio quality has been compromised. Click the peak value to reset it.

Prepare

Click to prepare your system for recording. This means that the record device is opened and all preparation that can be done prior to recording is completed. This allows the system to begin recording as quickly as possible after the Record button is clicked.

You do not need to use the Prepare button unless you want to begin recording immediately after clicking the Record button.

Record
 

Click to start recording. During recording, the button changes to a Stop button ; click again to stop recording.

Press Alt+R to start and stop recording.

Play
 

Click to hear the section of data over which you are going to record. After recording, you can click to hear the data you have just recorded. During playback, the button changes to a Stop button; click again to stop playback.

Press Alt+P to start and stop playback.

Drop marker
 

Click to place a marker at the current cursor position. Markers allow for easy location of mistakes or points of interest.

Press Alt+M to place a marker.

Go to beginning
 

Click to return the cursor to the beginning of the current sound file.

Press Alt+Z.

Rewind
 

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

Forward
 

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

Go to end
 

Click to move the cursor to the end of the current sound file.

Time recorded

Displays the total time recorded for the current sound file. The display is in the units selected in the Input Format drop-down list.

Time left on drive

Displays the total time available on the drive for recording. The display is in the units selected in the Input Format drop-down list.

Review pre/post roll

Select the check box and use the edit boxes to specify the amount of time that will be played prior to and after regions when reviewing a take.

Pre- and post-roll settings affect playback only. This data is not played prior to recording.

Close

Click to close the Record dialog.

Remote

Click to enter Remote Recording mode. This mode will hide the main Sound Forge window and show only the Record Remote Dialog. This allows you to easily record while using other components of your system such as a CD player, mixer, or sequencer.

Go To

Click to display the Go To dialog. Use the Go To dialog to position the cursor within the current sound file.

Selection

Click to display the Set Selection dialog. Use the Set Selection dialog to select a range of data within the current sound file.

This command is available only when Punch-In is selected in the Mode drop-down list.

Window

Click to display the Record Window dialog. Use the Record Window dialog to select the window to which you want to record new audio. The available windows will be displayed in the Record destination window drop-down list.

Sync

Click to display the Record Synchronization dialog. Use this dialog to set options for synchronizing Sound Forge with external devices or software.

DC Adjust

Select this check box before recording to enable automatic compensation for any DC offset produced by your audio hardware during the record process.

Calibrate
When you click this button, Sound Forge will calculate the DC offset while monitoring incoming sound data. The numbers below the button show 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, it is suggested that you recalibrate the DC Offset before recording.