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What is the easiest way to record?

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Applies to: 

All interfaces

This article discusses the easiest way to start recording, based on your platform. Generally speaking, you'll need access to the following to start recording:

  • A computer or mobile device.
  • An audio interface (such as a Scarlett, Clarett, or Vocaster). Please see 'What is an audio interface?' for more details.
  • Recording software, typically called a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Please see 'What is a DAW?' for more details.
  • The equipment that you're recording, such as a microphone or instrument.
  • Playback equipment (headphones or speakers). It's usually possible to switch to other audio devices for playback purposes, but we'd recommend using the audio outputs of your audio interface for the best experience.

Scarlett, Vocaster, and Clarett interfaces come bundled with at least one DAW, but there are many options and your Focusrite interface isn't limited to just the DAWs that are bundled with it. To access the bundled DAWs, make sure to register your interface to your Focusrite account: How to Register Your Focusrite Product.

Windows

Bundled DAWs

Focusrite interfaces come bundled with a free Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) you can use to record audio.

  • All Scarlett and Clarett interfaces come bundled with Ableton Live Lite.
  • Scarlett 3rd/4th Gen and Clarett+ interfaces come bundled with both Ableton Live Lite and Pro Tools Intro+.
  • Vocaster interfaces come bundled with Hindenburg Pro (6-month trial).

Ableton Live Lite (Scarlett / Clarett)

If you own a Scarlett or Clarett interface (all ranges), you can follow the steps in the article below to download, install, activate, and start recording in Ableton Live Lite:

Pro Tools Intro+ (Scarlett 3rd and 4th Gen / Clarett+)

If you own a Scarlett 3rd/4th Gen or Clarett+ interface, you can follow the steps in the article below to download, install, activate, and start recording in Pro Tools Intro+:

For further information on Pro Tools Intro+ see this Avid article: Pro Tools Intro+ for Focusrite

Hindenburg (Vocaster)

If you own a Vocaster interface, you can follow the steps in the video tutorials below to download, install, activate, and start recording in Hindenburg Pro (6-month trial):

You can find more video tutorials on the Hindenburg YouTube channel: 

Free or free to evaluate DAWs

Reaper (60-day free evaluation period)

Reaper is an easy to install DAW with a full, flexible feature set.

Whilst it's not free, Reaper offers a 60-day free evaluation period. After the evaluation period, you can purchase a license - you can find more information on the Reaper website at this link: https://www.reaper.fm/purchase.php

You can download and install Reaper from here: https://www.reaper.fm/download.php

To start recording in Reaper, you can follow the steps in the articles below:

More video tutorials can be found in the Videos section of the Reaper website: https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php 

Audacity (free)

Audacity is a free and open-source DAW, with a few limitations - it will accept either a stereo input assigning Input 1 to the Left channel and Input 2 to the Right channel by default, or a mono input for Input 1 only.

If using a Scarlett Solo 4th Gen and you need to record your mic (Input 2) as mono, see this article: Scarlett Solo 4th Gen one or two input app compatibility

You can download and install Audacity from here: https://www.audacityteam.org/download

To start recording in Audacity, you can follow the steps in the article below:

Other DAWs

There are other options like Cubase and FL Studio, for example, amongst others - although these are not free, they are a popular choice for recording and editing audio.

You can find the relevant guides and video tutorials for these below: 

Cubase:

FL Studio:

macOS

QuickTime Player is a free application that comes pre-installed on Mac computers and offers an easy, simple way to record with your audio interface.  

To start recording in QuickTime Player, you can follow the steps in the Apple Support article below, ensuring you select your audio interface under QuickTime Player > Options > Microphone:

QuickTime Player will only accept a stereo input and will automatically assign Input 1 to the Left channel, and Input 2 to the Right channel. See this article for reference: I can only record on the left with Keynote or QuickTime

If you are looking for more flexible recording applications, please take a look at the sections below.

Bundled DAWs

Focusrite interfaces come bundled with a free Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) you can use to record audio.

  • All Scarlett and Clarett ranges come bundled with Ableton Live Lite.
  • Scarlett 3rd/4th Gen and Clarett+ interfaces come bundled with both Ableton Live Lite and Pro Tools Intro+.
  • Vocaster interfaces come bundled with Hindenburg Pro (6-month trial).

Ableton Live Lite (Scarlett / Clarett)

If you own a Scarlett or Clarett interface (all ranges), you can follow the steps in the article below to download, install, activate, and start recording in Ableton Live Lite:

Pro Tools Intro+ (Scarlett 3rd and 4th Gen / Clarett+)

If you own a Scarlett 3rd/4th Gen or Clarett+ interface, you can follow the steps in the article below to download, install, activate, and start recording in Pro Tools Intro+:

For further information on Pro Tools Intro+ see this Avid article: Pro Tools Intro+ for Focusrite

Hindenburg (Vocaster)

If you own a Vocaster interface, you can follow the steps in the video tutorials below to download, install, activate, and start recording in Hindenburg Pro (6-month trial):

You can find more video tutorials on the Hindenburg YouTube channel:

Free or free to evaluate DAWs

GarageBand for Mac (free)

GarageBand for Mac is a free DAW that comes pre-installed on Mac computers and offers an easy, simple way to record with your audio interface.

To start recording in GarageBand, you can follow the steps in the article below:

See the GarageBand User Guide for reference: GarageBand User Guide

Reaper (60-day free evaluation period)

Reaper is an easy to install DAW with a full, flexible feature set.

Whilst it's not free, Reaper offers a 60-day free evaluation period. After the evaluation period, you can purchase a license - you can find more information on the Reaper website at this link: https://www.reaper.fm/purchase.php

You can download and install Reaper from here: https://www.reaper.fm/download.php

To start recording in Reaper, you can follow the steps in the articles below:

More video tutorials can be found in the Videos section of the Reaper website: https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php 

Audacity (free)

Audacity is a free and open-source DAW, with a few limitations - it will accept either a stereo input assigning Input 1 to the Left channel and Input 2 to the Right channel by default, or a mono input for Input 1 only.

If using a Scarlett Solo 4th Gen and you need to record your mic (Input 2) as mono, see this article: Scarlett Solo 4th Gen one or two input app compatibility

You can download and install Audacity from here: https://www.audacityteam.org/download

To start recording in Audacity, you can follow the steps in the article below:

Other DAWs

There are other options like Logic, Cubase, and FL Studio, amongst others - although these are not free, they are a popular choice for recording, editing and producing audio, and you can access a trial version for each.

You can find the relevant guides and video tutorials for these below: 

Logic:

Cubase:

FL Studio:

iOS / iPadOS

Whilst there isn't a bundled DAW for iOS or iPadOS devices, you can find a few popular options listed in the sections below.

For compatibility and hardware setup information, see these articles:

GarageBand for iOS (free)

GarageBand for iOS is an iPhone/iPad compatible DAW that can be downloaded from the App Store for free.

To start recording in GarageBand for iOS, you can follow the steps in the video tutorial at the link below (applies to Scarlett 4th Gen too):

See also the GarageBand User Guides for reference:

Bandlab (free)

BandLab is a free song and beat-making app available for iPhone and iPad.

See also:

n-Track Studio (free)

n-Track Studio is a music-making app for iOS. The free version includes up to eight audio tracks, one MIDI track, and two step-sequencer tracks. It also includes some effects, such as reverb, compression, echo, and chorus. 

See also:

Ableton Note

Note is an iOS app (for iPhone and iPad) made by Ableton, the makers of Live, which provides a musical notepad for capturing ideas on the go.

See also:

Cubasis

Cubasis is a mobile music creation app made by Steinberg, the makers of Cubase, compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.

See also:

Logic Pro for iPad

Logic Pro for iPad is an iPad-only compatible DAW that can be downloaded from the App Store on iPadOS devices. Whilst it's not free, it offers a one-month free trial. After the trial, you can subscribe to Logic Pro for iPad on a monthly or yearly basis.

See also:

If you're just getting started with your audio interface, see the following articles for reference:

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