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Your First Recording

This guide walks you through making a simple single-track recording from scratch — from opening a blank project to hearing your take played back.

Before You Start

  • Plug in your headphones or audio interface. Monitoring through the built-in speaker while recording can cause feedback.
  • Make sure your microphone input is not blocked by a case.
  • If you’re using an audio interface, connect it before opening the app.

Step 1: Open a Project

When you open Homecrate, it automatically loads your most recent draft project. If you want a clean slate, tap ＋ in the header to create a new project.

[SCREENSHOT: New project prompt]

Step 2: Set Your Tempo

Tap the BPM field in the transport bar and type your desired tempo. The default is 120 BPM.

[SCREENSHOT: BPM field being edited]

If you don’t care about tempo for this recording (e.g. you’re recording a free-form vocal), you can leave it at 120 — it won’t affect the audio.

Step 3: Arm a Track

Find Track 1 in the mixer. Tap the R button on that channel strip.

[SCREENSHOT: R button on mixer strip, showing 'armed' state in red]

The R button cycles through three states:

StateColorWhat it does
OffGreyTrack is passive — no input metering or monitoring
ArmedRedInput is metered (VU shows signal); no audio comes out of your speaker/headphones
MonitorOrangeInput is metered AND routed to your output so you can hear yourself

For most recordings you’ll want Monitor (orange) so you can hear yourself while you play. Tap the R button twice to reach it.

Tip: If you only want to check levels without hearing yourself back, use Armed (red). Monitor (orange) is best for headphone tracking.

Step 4: Check Your Input Level

Speak or play into your microphone. Watch the VU meter on Track 1’s channel strip.

[SCREENSHOT: VU meter showing healthy signal — green bar, no red peak]

  • Green — good signal level
  • Yellow — getting loud; okay for peaks
  • Red / peak hold indicator — clipping; reduce your input gain or move back from the mic

If you see no movement at all, check that the correct input is selected. Tap the Input button (showing “St”, “Ch1”, etc.) on the channel strip to pick your input source.

Step 5: (Optional) Enable the Metronome

Tap the ♩ metronome button in the transport bar to turn on the click track. The button lights up green when active.

[SCREENSHOT: Metronome button lit]

You’ll hear the click through your headphones during recording. The metronome does not get recorded to your track.

Step 6: Record

Tap the ⏺ Record button in the transport bar.

[SCREENSHOT: Record button — transport bar during recording, position counter advancing in red]

Recording starts immediately. You’ll see:

  • The position counter turning red
  • A colored waveform bar growing on Track 1 in the timeline
  • The VU meter responding to your input

Play or sing your part.

Step 7: Stop

Tap ⏹ Stop when you’re done.

[SCREENSHOT: Timeline showing a completed clip on Track 1]

Your recording appears as a clip on Track 1 in the timeline. The clip shows a waveform preview of what was recorded.

Step 8: Listen Back

Tap ⏮ Rewind to return to the beginning, then tap ▶ Play.

Your recording plays back. The channel strip volume fader controls the playback level. Drag it up or down to adjust.

Step 9: Save

Tap the 💾 save button in the header. The icon briefly turns into a green checkmark to confirm the save.

The app also auto-saves in the background whenever you make a change, but it’s good practice to save manually after an important take.

What’s Next?