Overview
The audio recorder lets you capture a vocal or instrumental take directly inside a project, without leaving BeatStars or opening a separate app. You can record on its own or record over an existing track in your project to lay down a new idea against a beat. Recordings can include live effects like pitch correction, delay, and reverb, and vocal takes can be transcribed into lyrics as you sing.
The Record audio option is only available to project Owners, Admins, and Editors. Viewers don’t see this option.
Step-by-Step Guide
Open the recorder in one of 3 ways:
- From the project: click + Add, then select Record audio.
- From a track’s player: click the mic icon. This opens the recorder with that track already set as your audio track, and it can’t be changed to a different file from here.
- From the more actions menu on a file, click Record. This opens the recorder with that track already set as your audio track, and it can’t be changed to a different file from here.
If you opened the recorder from + Add, you can optionally choose a track to record over from the Audio file dropdown. This can be any browser-playable audio file in the project, including previous versions. Leave it set to No audio file to record standalone.
On desktop or tablet, optionally choose a specific microphone from the Audio input dropdown. On mobile, your device’s default microphone is always used.
Important noteIf a project audio file is selected as your backing track, live lyrics transcription only works when your input is set to System default.
Adjust any audio settings you want to use before recording:
- Microphone: input level, noise gate, and input monitoring
- Effects: delay, reverb, and pitch correction
- Count-in: toggle on for a 4-3-2-1 countdown before recording starts
-
Hear Myself: Enables live monitoring, so you can hear yourself while recording and with any of the effects that you applied.
Important noteIt is recommended to use wired headphones for best results. Wireless, phone or laptop speakers may cause drift and audio bleed.
Click Record to begin. If you selected an audio track, it plays back in sync while you record.
Use Pause, Resume, or Stop to manage your take. Press the space bar to pause or resume while recording.
Once you stop, preview your take. From here you can:
- Re-record if you’re not happy with it
- Edit the take (trim, fade, adjust levels) before uploading
- Upload it to your project
Click Upload to project to save your take. If you recorded over an existing file, your take is uploaded as a new version of that file. If you recorded standalone, it’s uploaded as a new file.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does my recording sound slightly out of sync with the backing track?
On Safari and iOS, there can be a small delay before your microphone audio is captured. When this happens, Projects automatically shifts your vocal take earlier so it lines up with the backing track once you upload your recording. You won’t hear this correction while monitoring live, only in the final mix. If your first take still sounds off, open Calibrate from the preview screen to fine-tune the timing for your specific microphone and headphones. This is saved so future takes line up automatically when using the same device and recording equipment.
Why can’t I select a specific microphone?
Microphone selection is only available on desktop and tablet browsers. On mobile, recording always uses your device’s default microphone.
Why isn’t live lyrics transcription working?
Live lyrics require a browser that supports live transcription (Chrome and Edge offer the best support), and only work when your Audio input is set to System default. If you’ve selected a specific microphone, or you’re on a browser that doesn’t support transcription, you can still type your lyrics manually after recording.
Why is my backing track locked and I can’t change it?
This happens when you open the recorder from the mic icon on a track’s player. The recorder opens with that track fixed as your audio file. If you want to choose a different track, or record standalone, close the recorder and reopen it from + Add instead.
Why can’t I select a track to record over?
Some file types, such as AIFF and ALAC, can’t be played back directly in most browsers, so they’re excluded from the audio track list. Safari can play AIFF and ALAC files, so on Safari these may appear where they wouldn’t on Chrome or Firefox.
What file format does my recording get saved as?
This depends on your browser. If your browser produces a format that Projects can’t store directly, it’s automatically converted to WAV before upload.
Which browser should I use for the best recording experience?
Chrome and Edge give you the full feature set, including microphone selection, live lyrics, and all effects. Firefox and Safari both record reliably, but each has small gaps: Firefox’s live lyrics accuracy is weaker, and Safari doesn’t support pitch effects on the backing track. On mobile, you’ll always use your device’s default microphone, and Android Chrome doesn’t support live lyrics. See the table below for a full breakdown.
Device and Browser Support
| Browser / device | Recording support |
|---|---|
| Chrome / Edge | Full feature support, including microphone selection, live lyrics, and effects |
| Firefox | Full recording support; live lyrics may be less accurate |
| Safari (desktop) | Full recording support; pitch effects on the backing track aren’t available |
| iOS (any browser) | Uses your device’s default microphone only; pitch effects on the backing track aren’t available |
| Android Chrome | Full recording support; live lyrics aren’t available |
If noise gate or pitch correction fail to load when you press Record, you’ll see an error and recording won’t start. Try again, or turn off the affected effect and record without it.