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Make Sure Every Input Is Being Recorded

Use this checklist every time the recording is important. The selected inputs are safe to trust only when the REC health badge confirms them.

Before starting

  1. Choose the correct mode:
    • Screen + Audio if you need video.
    • Audio Only if you only need sound.
  2. Open Audio.
  3. Enable exactly the sources you need:
    • System Audio for sound from the Mac and apps.
    • Microphone for your voice or external input.
  4. If using a microphone, select the correct microphone source.
  5. If using system audio, prepare a short test sound, such as a music/video preview or a system sound.
  6. The real source meters are confirmed after recording starts, because Vida only treats captured samples as proof.

Immediately after the countdown

  1. Look at the REC health badge and live audio meters in the header.
  2. Confirm every selected source turns green:
    • Video green = the screen is being recorded.
    • Speaker green = computer audio is being recorded.
    • Mic green = microphone audio is being recorded.
  3. For audio sources, make real sound while checking:
    • Play audio on the Mac for System Audio.
    • Speak into the selected microphone for Microphone.
  4. For audio sources, also confirm the matching live meter moves when real sound is present.
  5. Wait until all selected icons are green before you rely on the recording.

While recording

Keep an eye on the badge if the recording is mission critical:

  • All selected icons green: the recording is healthy.
  • Any icon orange: Vida is waiting to confirm that source. Pause your workflow until it turns green.
  • Any icon red: that selected source is not being recorded. Stop and fix it.
  • Any warning banner: do not ignore it; the current recording may be incomplete.

If something is not green

  1. Stop the current recording.
  2. Check the relevant input:
    • For Video, confirm Screen Recording permission and the selected display.
    • For System Audio, confirm System Audio is enabled and play a test sound.
    • For Microphone, confirm Microphone permission, selected device, mute state, and Bluetooth/input connection.
  3. Start a short test recording.
  4. Confirm every selected badge icon turns green.
  5. Open the test file and listen/watch it before making a long recording.