Updated October 2026 · Recording workflow
Use a short checklist before, during and after each session: check the room, the microphone, the levels and the storage before you start; monitor the first minute during the session; and back up and name the files as soon as you finish. A checklist catches the problems that are easy to miss.
Most recording problems are predictable. The microphone was moved, the battery was low, the room was not quiet, or the file did not save. A short checklist prevents them, and it makes every session feel less stressful. The best checklist is short enough to use every time.
Print the checklist, or keep it on your phone, and tick each item as you go. Adjust it for your setup. A podcast host, a voice-over artist and a musician will each need different items, but the pattern stays the same.
A checklist cannot catch everything. Some problems only show on playback, and a fresh pair of ears helps. Use the checklist to remove the obvious mistakes, then listen carefully to the finished files.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Short enough to use every time. Ten to fifteen items is usually plenty.
Yes, with a glance at the meter and a short listen after each break.
Forgetting to check that the file is saving, or moving the microphone during a take.
Less of one. Check the room and the level, and back up the file.
