Reference Guide

294 Recording
Recording audio
When you record audio, SONAR stores each audio clip in a separate file. These files have the same
format as a Wave (.wav) file, but they have special names and are stored in a separate directory on
your hard disk. SONAR automatically manages these audio files for you, making it easier for you to
manage your projects. If you want to work with these files directly, or to learn more about how
SONAR stores audio data, see “System configuration” on page 1294.
To Record Audio
1. Choose the audio inputs for the track(s) you want to record.
2. Arm the tracks for recording. The Clips pane next to each armed track turns a reddish hue when
the track is armed.
3. Set the Now time to the point in the project where you want to start recording.
4. Click or press R. If your metronome count-in is turned on, it will play the count-in measures
or beats.
5. Play or perform the material you want to record. As you record, SONAR displays a waveform
preview of the new material in the Clips pane (unless you have disabled the Display Waveform
Preview While Recording option in Edit > Preferences > Customization - Display). If you
have turned off the option, SONAR displays a red swath along the area of the Clips pane where
you are recording.
6. Click or press the SPACEBAR to stop recording.
SONAR displays a clip containing the new material in the Clips pane. To listen to the new material,
set the Now time to the start of the clip and press the SPACEBAR or click . If you’re not happy
with the recording, use Edit > Undo to erase the new material.
If you do not see a new clip in the Clips pane, you may have a problem with audio input. See
“Troubleshooting” on page 1363 for more information.
Important: Make sure you have enough space on your hard disk when recording digital audio.
Running out of hard disk space when recording can lead to unpredictable results.