The Soundboard feature, available to users on paid plans, lets you add up to ten audio clips to your session, play them live during your recording, and record them in a separate high-quality track for easy editing. Available for users on paid plans, the Soundboard is perfect for incorporating intros, sound effects, music, and sponsor messages directly into your recording.
In this article:
What Is The Soundboard And Why Use It?
The Soundboard is a feature that allows you to play and record up to ten audio clips during your sessions, whether it’s a podcast intro, music, sound effects, or sponsor messages. Each clip you play is heard live by everyone in the session. After the recording ends, the clips are captured in a separate, high-quality soundboard MP3 track that contains just the audio clips, positioned exactly at the points they were played.
If you’re using Zencastr Editing, the soundboard track is automatically mixed in at the correct times, ensuring perfect alignment with your other tracks and minimizing the need for additional edits. Even if you’re using external software for postproduction, the Soundboard simplifies your workflow by eliminating the manual process of adding and syncing each clip.
Playing clips live during recording also helps create a more engaging experience for your guests. Whether it’s a sound effect or music to set the tone, the Soundboard adds a layer of real-time interaction that enhances the flow of your recordings.
Adding Clips
To get you started, the Soundboard comes pre-loaded with 4 default audio clips. You can have a total of 10 clips, in MP3 or WAV file format, on the Soundboard.
To add an audio clip:
From your Dashboard, click the Sessions tab.
Under the ‘My Sessions’ list, click the name of the session.
Click the Join Session button.
On the Recording Page, locate the Soundboard at the top of the page, next to the recording mode.
On your computer, navigate to the location/folder where your clips are saved.
Drag and drop each file into an available square on the Soundboard.
OR
Click the plus icon in an available square on the Soundboard, select the file, and click Open.
Deleting Clips
To delete an audio clip:
From your Dashboard, click the Sessions tab.
Under the ‘My Sessions’ list, click the name of the session.
Click the Join Session button.
On the Recording Page, hover your mouse over a clip on the Soundboard.
Click the x on the clip.
Adjusting Clip Volume
We recommend adjusting the volume of your clips before you start recording. If you prefer, you can also adjust the volume of your clips while recording.
To adjust a clip’s volume:
From your Dashboard, click the Sessions tab.
Under the ‘My Sessions’ list, click the name of the session.
Click the Join Session button.
On the Recording Page, hover your mouse over a clip on the Soundboard.
Place your cursor over the volume slider at the top of the clip and drag it to the left to lower the volume or to the right to raise the volume.
Playing Clips While Recording
To play a clip while recording:
From your Dashboard, click the Sessions tab.
Under the ‘My Sessions’ list, click the name of the session.
Click the Join Session button.
On the Recording Page, click the Start Recording button when everyone is ready to record.
Click on the clip at the appropriate time.
OR
Use the number keys on your keyboard as a shortcut. The numbers correspond to the order the clips are loaded on the Soundboard. Press 1 to play the first clip loaded, 2 to play the second clip loaded, etc.Let the clip play through in its entirety or click on the clip again and it will fade out and then stop.
OR
Let the clip play through in its entirety or press the corresponding shortcut number key (1, 2, etc.) again and it will fade out and then stop.
Downloading Soundboard File
After you stop the recording, you will see a ‘Soundboard track’ appear above your track with an MP3 button.
Click the MP3 button and the soundboard file downloads to your computer.
Related Questions
I have more than ten clips. Can I add different clips for different sessions?
Clips uploaded to the Soundboard are not session-specific and are instead available to use in every session and recording. If you have more than ten clips, you need to delete one clip before adding another.
Is there a limit on the length or file size of the audio clips that I can upload?
The only requirement is that the audio clip be in the MP3 or WAV format. There is no limit on the length or file size, however note that larger clips will take longer to upload.
What does the loop icon on each clip do?
The loop icon plays the clip on a loop, i.e. after the clip finishes playing through the first time it restarts and plays again, unless stopped. To turn looping on/off, click the loop icon.
How do I restore a default clip that I deleted?
If you deleted one or more of the four default audio clips (Intro/Outro, Dramatic Piano, Drums, and Ballpark) contact Zencastr Support via chat or email and we will provide you with the audio files so that you can reupload the missing clip(s) to your Soundboard.
Can I play audio through my computer and have it recorded as a separate track?
Zencastr cannot record audio played directly through your computer as a separate track. To include this audio in your session, save it as a single file or split it into multiple files, depending on how you want to play it. Then, upload these files to the Soundboard as audio clips. During your recording, you can play each clip from the Soundboard at the appropriate time, and it will be captured on its own separate soundboard track.
Can I upload video files into the Soundboard to play them live and have them recorded during my session?
The Zencastr Soundboard currently supports audio files only. To include audio in your session, upload clips in either MP3 or WAV format. Video files cannot be played or recorded through the Soundboard at this time.
I have a pre-recorded intro/outro that I want to add to my recording but I don’t want to play it live. How can I do this?
You can add a pre-recorded intro or outro during the postproduction process using Zencastr Editing. When added this way, the intro appears right before your main content, and the outro is placed at the end; this positioning cannot be adjusted. For instructions on adding an intro or outro for audio recordings, see this article. For video recordings, see this article.