Record audio in Premiere Pro

Make sure that you have specified the Input audio device. For more information, see Specify the default audio device.

Make sure that the input device (microphone or other audio device) is connected properly to the computer or sound card.

If recording from a microphone, turn off your computer speakers to prevent feedback and echo.

(Optional) If necessary, add an audio track to a Timeline appropriate for the number of channels you will record. For example, if you’re recording voice with a single monaural microphone, record to a mono audio track. See Work with tracks. A track appears in the Audio Track Mixer for each track you add to a Timeline.

You will need to repeat this step if you’re recording to multiple tracks.

In the Audio Track Mixer, click the Enable Track For Recording icon (“R” icon) for the track you added for your audio device.

Choose the recording input channel from the Track Input Channel menu.

(Optional) Create a new sequence.

(Optional) Select the audio track that you want to record to.

(Optional) Adjust the levels on the input device to achieve the proper recording level.

Select Meter Input(s) Only in the Audio Track Mixer panel menu to meter only the sound card’s inputs.

Click the Record button at the bottom of the Audio Track Mixer to enter Record mode.

Test the input levels by playing a selection from the analog source, or by having the narrator speak into the microphone. Watch the Audio Track Mixer level meters to ensure that the input levels for record-enabled tracks are high but not clipping.

(Optional) When you finish testing, deselect Meter Input(s) Only in the Audio Track Mixer panel menu to meter the project’s audio tracks also.

Click the Play-Stop toggle button to start recording.

If necessary, adjust the track volume slider up (louder) or down (quieter) as you record to maintain the monitor level you want.

The red indicators at the top of the VU meters light up if the audio is clipped. Make sure that the audio level isn’t loud enough to cause clipping. Generally, loud audio registers near 0 dB, and quiet audio registers around -18 dB.

Click the Stop icon to stop recording.

The recorded audio appears as a clip in the audio track and as a master clip in the Project panel. You can always select the clip in the Project panel and rename or delete it.

Display the Voice-over Record button

The voice-over Record button lets you record a voice-over directly from the Timeline on to an audio track. To display the voice-over Record button in the Timeline header, do the following:

1. Select the track in the Timeline to which you want to add the voice-over.
   
2. Click the Settings button in the Timeline and select Customize Audio Header.
3. From the Button Editor dialog box that appears, drag-and-drop the Microphone button to the required audio track, and click OK.

Start the voice-over recording workflow

Start a voice-over recording workflow by doing one of the following:

• Mark a specific In/Out range to insert the audio recording.
  
• Position the playhead at the starting point of inserting the voice-over.

Display pre-roll countdown

As soon as you mark the In/Out range or position the playhead, the voice-over recording workflow starts. A pre-roll countdown appears as an overlay on the Program Monitor.

The pre-roll countdown is a visual cue to give you time to prepare and begin the recording. Recording begins after the countdown reaches zero. You can specify the duration of the pre-roll countdown in the Voice-Over Record Settings dialog box.

You can access voice-over record settings directly from the Timeline by selecting Voice-Over Record Settings from the context menu.

You can specify the duration of the pre-roll and post-roll countdown. Select the Countdown Sound Cues check box to play an audible beep to indicate the status of recording. These beeps are not recorded in the voice-over.

Begin recording

Click the Voice-over Record button in the audio track's header to begin recording. A status message "Recording..." appears in the Program Monitor to indicate that recording is on.

When using a predefined In/Out range, you don't have to click the Voice-over Record button. Recording automatically starts when the playhead reaches the In point in the Timeline.

Finish Recording

When using a predefined In/Out range, recording ends when the playhead reaches the Out point in the Timeline. The status message on the Program Monitor then changes to "Finishing...". If you're not using a predefined In/Out range, stop the recording manually by clicking the Voice-over Record button; again, or by pressing the Spacebar key.

Once recording is complete, an audio file of the recording is created. The audio file is imported as a new project item into the Project panel.

Choose Edit > Preferences > Audio (Windows) or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Audio (Mac OS).

Select Mute Input During Timeline Recording.