How to Record Vocals in Cubase

To record vocals in Cubase, set Cubase to use your audio interface, create an input bus for your mic, add a mono audio track assigned to that bus, set a safe level, enable monitoring, and press record. Below is the full step-by-step so you capture a clean vocal take.

This guide to how to record vocals in Cubase assumes your project is open and your mic is connected to your interface. If the interface side needs setting up, see how to set up an audio interface first.

Set your audio device and input bus

Open Studio > Studio Setup and select your interface as the audio device. Set a small buffer size for low monitoring latency while you track. Then open the Audio Connections window (Studio menu) and, on the Inputs tab, create a mono input bus mapped to the interface input your mic is plugged into. Cubase records through this bus, so it must point at the right physical jack.

Create and configure the vocal track

Choose Add Track > Audio and create one Mono track (mono is correct for a single mic). Then:

1. Name it “Lead Vox” to keep the project readable.
2. Set the track’s input routing to the mic input bus you just created.
3. Click the track’s Record Enable button so it arms.

Set the level and monitor

Set gain on your interface preamp, not in Cubase. Have the singer perform their loudest passage while you watch the meter, aiming for peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS so nothing clips at 0. Our gain staging guide explains why that headroom keeps the rest of your chain clean.

Click the track’s Monitor button so the singer hears the mic in their headphones. If the latency feels off, lower the buffer in Studio Setup, or use your interface’s direct hardware monitoring and switch Cubase monitoring off. Set the performer up well using our headphone mix guide, and place the mic carefully per microphone placement for vocals.

Record the take

Press the transport Record button to start. Cubase records onto the armed track. Press stop to finish. To capture several passes, use Cycle (loop) recording with a locator range set over the section: Cubase can stack each pass as lanes or separate takes depending on your record mode, ready for comping later. The general method is in our comp vocals in a DAW guide.

Punch, cycle and lanes

• Cycle record: loop a section to grab multiple takes into lanes.
• Punch in/out: set locators to re-record only a problem phrase.
• Pre-roll: give the singer a lead-in before the punch point.

With a good take captured, move on to processing with our how to mix vocals walkthrough.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no input signal on my Cubase vocal track?

Usually the input bus is not created or not assigned to the track. Open Audio Connections, confirm a mono input bus maps to your mic’s physical input, then set that bus as the track’s input. Also check the track is record-enabled.

Should I record vocals in mono or stereo in Cubase?

Mono for a single mic. Create a mono input bus and a mono audio track. Stereo only applies when you record two mics or a genuinely stereo source.

How do I record multiple vocal takes in Cubase?

Use Cycle recording over a locator range. Cubase captures each lap as a separate take or lane, depending on your audio record mode, so you can audition them and comp the best parts together.