This guide takes you through your first time using Zencastr as a host, from creating your account to finishing your first recording. This guide covers recording using the Zencastr iOS app.
Quick tips for successful recording
A few quick checks before you create your room can help your first recording go smoothly.
Make sure you've downloaded the Zencastr iOS app.
We recommend that all participants wear headphones. Without them, your microphone can pick up other participants’ voices from your speakers.
Have an internet connection of at least 5 Mbps (10 Mbps or higher is ideal).
Sign up
Your first step is creating a Zencastr account.
Open the Zencastr iOS app and tap sign-up.
Enter your name, email address, username, and password.
Tap Create Account.
Zencastr will send a verification email to the email address you entered.
Click the Confirm Email button in the email.
Create a show
The link in the verification email takes you to the Create a show screen, where you set up your first show. Your show is where your recordings and episodes live.
On the Create a show screen:
Select a topic(s) associated with your show.
Select a language you’ll be using for your show.
Click Create.
Once your show is created, you’ll land on your Zencastr page.
Create a recording room
Once you’ve created your show, you can create your recording room. This is where you and your guests come together to record. Choose a name you’ll recognize, such as your show, episode, or guest name, since you’ll use it to find the room later.
In the Zencastr iOS app, tap the + icon in the lower right corner.
Enter a Name (your show, episode, or guest, you'll search by it later).
Tap Go to Recording Room.
If this is your first time using the iOS app, you’ll be prompted to allow microphone and camera access.
You’ll land in your new recording room.
Choose recording mode and review audio and video settings
Next, review your settings. Once recording starts, settings can’t be changed.
At the top of the recording room, tap the Settings icon.
Select one of the following recording modes:
Video: Everyone is on camera, and each person’s audio and video are recorded separately, up to 4K.
If you choose Video, you’ll have additional options under Camera Quality.
Audio only: No cameras, and each person’s audio is recorded separately.
View: Everyone is on camera during the call, but only audio is recorded.
Tap Audio output to review or change your output selection.
Invite guests
Next, invite your guests.You can record up to six participants, including the host. Guests don’t need a Zencastr account. They join with a link or 5 digit code, and a green room lets them check their camera and microphone before they enter the recording room.
Note: If you’re recording on your own, you can skip this step.
Tap the Participant icon in the upper right corner.
If the guests you want to add are in your phone’s contact list, tap the Add Participant icon to invite guests.
Tap Share Invite Link.
Tap Mail to send the invite link via email.
Tap Airdrop to share the link if your guests are using iOS and are nearby.
Tap Copy to share the link yourself.
Recording controls
Once you’re in the recording room, a few controls let you manage yourself, your guests, and the conversation. It helps to know what each one does before you start recording.
Camera and microphone
Manage your camera and microphone.
Click the Microphone icon to mute or unmute your microphone.
Click the Camera icon to turn your camera on or off.
Messages
Messages let you communicate with everyone in the recording room without interrupting the conversation.
Tap the Messages icon.
Type your message.
Send it to the participants in the room.
Note: Messages aren’t included in the recording.
Managing guests
You can manage individual guests and check each guest’s recording status.
Tap the Participant icon in the upper right corner.
Tap the Microphone icon to mute your guest.
Tap the Camera icon to turn off the guest’s camera.
Note: Once you turn off a guest’s microphone or camera, only the guest can turn it back on.
Tap the — icon to remove the guest from the recording room.
Start recording
When you and your guests are ready, you can start recording.
When everyone is ready, tap Record.
A 3-second countdown begins before recording starts.
To pause the recording, tap Pause.
When you’re ready to continue, tap Resume.
When you’re finished recording, tap End.
Finishing the recording and file uploads
After you stop recording, stay in the recording room until all participant tracks have finished uploading.
Important: Closing the app or leaving the room before uploads are complete can interrupt the upload process. |
After you tap End, stay in the recording room.
The spinning icon at the top of the screen shows the upload is in progress.
When all tracks have finished uploading, an X appears at the top of the screen.
Let your guests know they can leave the recording room at this time.
Tap X to leave the recording room.
What’s next
After you finished recording and tapped X, you’ll land in the recording room chat. From here you can Tap Produce to start editing your recording, produce an episode, or create clips.