Recording

The Recording page configures the recording device, recording format and recording destinations.

Use this page before presenters start voice tracking or before a workstation is used for production recordings. Recording settings are practical, on-the-floor settings: the selected device must receive the expected audio, the selected format must match the station policy, and the output location must be available from the computers that need to play or archive the recording.

Decide first what the workstation records. A voice-tracking workstation, an interview workstation and an on-air recorder may need different devices, formats and storage locations.

Recording Device

Select the input device that Power Studio should record from.

In a live studio this is often:

• a mixer record bus;
• a cleanfeed or program output;
• a microphone route;
• a dedicated audio interface input;
• an audio-over-IP driver input.

Confirm the selected device receives the correct signal before using it for voice tracks or production recordings. A device can appear valid in Windows while still carrying the wrong mixer bus.

For voice tracking, the recording device should normally capture the presenter's microphone path without also recording the full program mix. For interviews or phone calls, the desired signal may be a mix-minus, cleanfeed or dedicated recording bus. Label mixer buses clearly so administrators know which device to choose.

Record Format

Select the format used for recording. Available formats can include:

• AAC Plus
• AAC Plus (Winamp)
• FLAC
• MP3
• OGG
• WAV
• WMA

Use Configure to set format-specific options such as bitrate, quality mode, compression or WAV metadata options where available.

For production masters and reusable station material, use a lossless format such as WAV or FLAC where storage allows it. For distribution or quick sharing, compressed formats such as MP3 or AAC may be practical. Keep a consistent station policy so recordings are predictable for presenters, producers and archivists.

Format Recommendations

Do not change recording format casually on a shared workstation. A producer may expect files to appear in the same format every day.

Voice Tracks

The Voice tracks section defines where voice tracks are stored and the recording latency offset.

The voice track folder must be reachable by the Power Studio instances that need to play those voice tracks later. In multi-computer setups, verify that the path works from the on-air computer, not only from the production room where the voice track is recorded.

Use Offset only when recorded voice tracks consistently play slightly early or late because a device reports its latency incorrectly. Adjust in small steps and test with a known transition.

See Mix Editor And Voice Tracking for presenter workflow.

Voice Track Offset Tips

Offset is a correction value, not a creative timing tool. Use it only after confirming the same timing error happens repeatedly with the same device.

When testing offset:

1. Use a short music item with a clear intro or beat.
2. Record a simple spoken count-in.
3. Play the transition back in the Mix Editor.
4. Adjust by small millisecond values.
5. Repeat until the recording lands consistently.

If timing differs from one recording to the next, investigate the audio driver, buffer settings or workstation load before changing offset.

Recorder

The Recorder section defines where normal Recorder recordings are stored.

Keep this location on reliable storage with enough free disk space. Decide whether the recorder is used for production, compliance-style archive recordings, interviews or reusable content, because that decision affects the best format and storage location.

SoundCloud credentials are used only when the station uses Power Studio's built-in SoundCloud upload workflow. Store those credentials carefully and update them when the account changes.

See Recorder for daily use.

Storage Tips

Use storage that matches the value of the recording:

• For important interviews or compliance-style recordings, use reliable storage that is backed up.
• For temporary production takes, make sure cleanup rules are understood.
• For voice tracks, use a location that the playout computer can access when the show is broadcast.

Avoid recording directly to unstable removable media or a slow network path during live work. If a network path is required, test it under real station load.

Operational Checks

After changing recording settings:

1. Record a short test.
2. Play it back through a known output.
3. Confirm the file appears in the expected location.
4. Confirm the format and quality are correct.
5. For voice tracks, test a transition in the Mix Editor before relying on the offset.
6. Confirm another Power Studio instance can use the file if the workflow depends on shared access.

Common Pitfalls

• Selecting a microphone device that is convenient on the local PC but not routed through the studio mixer.
• Recording the full program output when the workflow needs only a voice track microphone.
• Using compressed formats for audio that will later be edited repeatedly.
• Changing the voice track offset to hide a one-time performance or monitoring issue.
• Saving recordings to a location that the playout computer cannot read.