> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gridshift.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Recording

> Record audio, MIDI, slice triggers, and automation — live, step-by-step, or retroactively via MIDI capture.

**Recording** captures audio, MIDI, slice triggers, and automation — live, step by step, or retroactively via MIDI capture.

Toggle record mode with `Caps Lock`. Record mode arms the selected track — it does not start playback. Press `Space` to start playback and begin live recording, or enter notes directly for step recording while the transport is stopped.

## What gets recorded

What Gridshift records depends on the selected track:

* **Instrument track** — MIDI notes from your keyboard or Musical Typing
* **Sample track with transients** — Slice triggers from your keyboard
* **Empty sample track** — Audio from your input device (microphone, line in, audio interface). See [Audio Input Recording](#audio-input-recording) below.

Additionally, [automation](/features/automation) is always captured on any track type: move a plugin knob or mixer fader during recording and the parameter changes are recorded as automation points.

## Live recording

Activate record mode, then press `Space` to start playback. A ghost clip appears and grows with the playhead.

### Record Quantize

MIDI notes can be snapped to a grid at commit time (not during recording, so your performance feels natural while playing). The grid is configurable via the Command Palette → **Set Record Quantize**:

| Setting                                 | Behavior                                                             |
| --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **None** (default)                      | Notes keep their played micro-timing                                 |
| **1/4** / **1/8** / **1/16** / **1/32** | Each captured beat snaps to the nearest grid line at that resolution |

The same setting is applied to MIDI captured retroactively from the [jam buffer](/features/midi-capture). Edit-time quantization is still available afterwards via the piano roll regardless of this setting.

### Loop recording (overdub)

When looping is active (`⌘L`), each pass layers on top of the previous one. Notes accumulate across loops — stop recording to keep all layers. Overlapping clips are automatically trimmed.

## Audio input recording

Record from a microphone, line in, or audio interface onto a sample track.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a new sample track — or select an existing one that has no sample loaded yet" />

  <Step title="Activate record mode (Caps Lock)" />

  <Step title="Press Space — a ghost clip appears on the track and grows in real time as audio is captured" />

  <Step title="Press Space (or Esc) to stop">
    The take is committed as a clip on the track.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Audio input recording only fires when the selected sample track is empty. If the track already has a sample loaded, the same key flow records slice triggers instead.

### Permissions

On first use, macOS will ask for **Microphone** permission. You can manage this in `System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone`.

### Input device, gain, and level meter

Configure your input in `Settings → Audio → Input`:

| Control          | Purpose                                                                                                                            |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Input Device** | Choose the system default or a specific connected interface.                                                                       |
| **Input Gain**   | Digital trim from −24 dB to +24 dB applied to the incoming signal, before recording and metering.                                  |
| **Input Level**  | Live peak meter. Play or speak into your input and adjust gain so peaks land around −12 dBFS to leave headroom and avoid clipping. |

## Step recording

With record mode active and the transport stopped, notes are entered one at a time at the cursor position:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Press a key — the note is placed at the cursor position" />

  <Step title="The cursor advances by one grid step automatically" />

  <Step title="Play multiple keys within 50 ms">
    They form a **chord** at the same position.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use ↑ / ↓ arrow keys to extend or shorten the last entered note by one grid step" />
</Steps>

Step recording works for both MIDI notes on instrument tracks and slice triggers on sample tracks.

### Delete with Backspace

Press `Backspace` to delete the previous grid division and move the cursor back — exactly like deleting a character while typing. This works inside step entry and whenever the timeline has focus and no clip or marquee is selected:

* Any clip content on the cursor's track in the deleted division is trimmed away. Clips entirely inside the division are removed; clips spanning into the division are split or trimmed so only the division's content is removed.
* If the division is empty, the cursor still moves back without changing anything.

With a clip or marquee selected, `Backspace` deletes the selection instead.

### Exit with Escape

When step entry is active, press `Esc` to leave record mode without reaching for `Caps Lock`.

<Note>
  `Esc` has slightly different behavior depending on context: if a plugin window is open it closes that window first; if live recording is running (transport is playing) it stops the recording. When the transport is stopped and record mode is already active, `Esc` exits step entry by turning record mode off.
</Note>

## Count-in

When the [metronome](/features/metronome) is configured with count-in, starting playback in record mode plays a count-in before recording begins.

## Shortcuts

The keys most relevant to recording are below. The [Global Shortcuts](/shortcuts/global) reference covers transport and recording across the app.

| Action                           | Shortcut      |
| -------------------------------- | ------------- |
| Toggle record mode               | `⇪ Caps Lock` |
| Start / stop playback            | `Space`       |
| Toggle looping (overdub)         | `⌘L`          |
| Commit MIDI capture              | `⇧C`          |
| Extend / shorten last step note  | `↑` / `↓`     |
| Delete previous division (step)  | `⌫`           |
| Exit step entry / stop recording | `Esc`         |