How to record your voice with a microphone?

The recorder is meant to be obvious, so there is not much to learn. Still, here is the whole workflow from an empty timeline to a finished file.

1. 1Press the record buttonThe round microphone button sits in the middle of the controls, right under the timeline.
2. 2Let the browser use your microphoneYour browser asks for permission the first time. Nothing is captured until you accept it.
3. 3Say what you need to sayThe waveform grows on the selected layer as you speak, so you can see exactly what was captured.
4. 4Press the same button to stopRecording stops where the playhead is. Whatever you recorded stays on the layer.
5. 5Listen back, or fix a part of itMove the playhead to a spot you are unhappy with and record again — the new take replaces that stretch only.
6. 6Add a layer for a second voiceA new layer records alongside the others, and each layer keeps its own volume and mute switch.
7. 7Save the resultExport the mix as an MP3 or WAV file whenever the take sounds right.

Getting a cleaner recording

Most of what makes a recording sound bad is the room, not the microphone. Record somewhere soft — a room with curtains, a sofa or a bookshelf beats a bare kitchen. Keep the microphone a hand's width from your mouth and slightly off to one side, so hard consonants do not thump. Turn off the fan, and close the window.

Record a few seconds first and play it back before committing to a long take. It is much quicker than discovering a problem at the end.