Confirm which technical plan controls the recording setup.

Identify the session

Record the project, booking, session date, and technical reference.

Confirm the approved configuration

Use the latest approved recording specification for the session.

Assign the technical lead

Identify who can approve configuration changes.

Record the configuration time

Capture when the final setup was checked.

Separate test and live settings

Make sure test configurations cannot be mistaken for the live recording setup.

Remove outdated instructions

Withdraw superseded routing diagrams, track sheets, and machine notes.

Verify every source that must enter the recording system.

List all recording sources

Include microphones, cameras, playback systems, feeds, instruments, remote sources, and external devices.

Label each source

Use consistent source names across inputs, tracks, routing, monitoring, and records.

Confirm source ownership

Identify whether each source belongs to the studio, client, crew, venue, or external provider.

Match sources to the session plan

Confirm that every required source appears in the approved technical setup.

Remove unused sources

Disable inputs that are not required for the session.

Identify backup sources

Record any secondary source that may replace the primary feed.

Check how each source enters the recording system.

Match each source to an input

Confirm the physical or digital input assigned to every source.

Verify connector type

Check that the connector and signal path match the source.

Confirm input mode

Set the required microphone, line, instrument, digital, network, or video input mode.

Check input gain

Set a usable level without clipping or excessive noise.

Confirm phantom power

Apply phantom power only where the connected device requires it.

Check polarity or phase settings

Confirm any required input polarity or phase changes.

Disable unused inputs

Prevent inactive channels from entering the recording or monitoring path.

Confirm that every source uses the required technical format.

Verify sample rate

Set the approved audio sample rate across connected recording devices.

Verify bit depth

Set the required recording bit depth.

Verify frame rate

Match the approved video or production frame rate.

Verify resolution

Set the required recording resolution for each source.

Confirm codec or file format

Use the approved recording codec, wrapper, or file type.

Check channel format

Confirm mono, stereo, multichannel, surround, or other required channel structures.

Match connected devices

Make sure linked sources and machines use compatible formats.

Verify the complete path from source to recording destination.

Confirm source routing

Check that every source reaches the correct input, channel, bus, track, or recorder.

Verify bus assignments

Route each signal through the approved groups, submixes, or output buses.

Confirm track assignments

Match every source with the correct recording track.

Check direct and processed paths

Confirm whether each source should record clean, processed, or through both paths.

Verify external sends

Check feeds sent to broadcast, remote guests, video village, client monitoring, or other systems.

Prevent routing loops

Make sure returns and sends do not create feedback or duplicate signal paths.

Remove unintended routes

Disable channels that should not reach the master or recording machine.

Confirm that recording tracks match the approved source structure.

Create the required tracks

Prepare one track or channel for every approved recording source.

Name tracks clearly

Use source names that remain understandable after the session.

Set track order

Arrange tracks in the approved department or source sequence.

Confirm channel count

Make sure the system can record every required source at once.

Set input monitoring

Choose the correct monitoring mode for each track.

Arm the correct tracks

Enable recording only on the required tracks.

Protect existing material

Prevent new recording from overwriting approved files or previous takes.

Verify the settings that control the main recording output.

Identify the master destination

Confirm which bus, output, recorder, or file represents the approved master.

Set the master format

Match the required sample rate, bit depth, frame rate, resolution, codec, and channel structure.

Confirm master channel order

Check the required left, right, multichannel, embedded audio, or output arrangement.

Set master level limits

Apply the approved recording level or peak ceiling.

Confirm master processing

Verify any limiter, compressor, loudness control, colour transform, or approved processing.

Check master monitoring

Confirm that the technical lead can monitor the true master path.

Remove test processing

Disable temporary plugins, filters, overlays, or routing used only during setup.

Confirm the role of every recording and playback machine.

Identify the primary recorder

Record which machine will capture the main recording.

Identify the backup recorder

Assign the machine responsible for the secondary recording.

Identify playback machines

Record devices used for references, inserts, feeds, or source playback.

Assign machine names

Use clear names across routing diagrams, file records, and operator notes.

Confirm machine availability

Check that each required machine is operational and not assigned elsewhere.

Confirm operator responsibility

Identify who controls each recording or playback machine.

Remove inactive machines

Disconnect or disable machines that are not part of the approved configuration.

Check the active configuration on every recording machine.

Match machine format settings

Set the approved sample rate, bit depth, frame rate, resolution, and codec.

Confirm recording inputs

Check that each machine receives the intended source or master feed.

Confirm channel mapping

Verify the recorded channel order on every machine.

Set record mode

Choose the required continuous, segmented, triggered, loop, or scheduled recording mode.

Check storage selection

Confirm the correct drive, card, volume, or network destination.

Check remaining capacity

Make sure storage can support the planned recording duration.

Disable automatic changes

Turn off settings that may alter format, gain, naming, routing, or recording mode without approval.

Confirm that connected systems share the required timing reference.

Identify the master clock

Record which device or system controls synchronization.

Set clock sources

Configure every connected machine to the approved internal or external clock.

Verify timecode source

Confirm the device generating or distributing timecode.

Match timecode format

Set the approved frame rate, drop frame status, and starting reference.

Check machine lock

Confirm that all connected machines show stable synchronization.

Test timecode continuity

Verify that timecode remains consistent during recording and playback.

Record free run or record run mode

Confirm the approved timecode behaviour for the session.

Resolve drift or unlock warnings

Do not begin recording while any required machine shows synchronization errors.

Confirm where recordings will be stored and how files will be identified.

Set the session folder

Use the approved project and session storage location.

Apply the naming convention

Include the required project, date, source, machine, reel, scene, take, or version details.

Separate primary and backup files

Store duplicate recordings in clearly identified destinations.

Confirm date and time settings

Make sure every machine records accurate file timestamps.

Prevent duplicate file names

Check that new files cannot overwrite existing recordings.

Confirm folder permissions

Make sure the recording system can write to the selected destination.

Remove test files

Clear or separate setup recordings before the live session starts.

Verify that the recorded signal can be checked during the session.

Monitor every active source

Confirm that each required input can be heard or viewed.

Monitor the master path

Check the final signal reaching the primary recorder.

Monitor the backup path

Confirm that the secondary machine receives the intended signal.

Check meter sources

Make sure meters display the actual recorded path rather than a separate monitor feed.

Check channel balance

Confirm expected levels and channel relationships.

Check noise and interference

Listen or inspect for hum, distortion, dropouts, clipping, artefacts, or unstable feeds.

Confirm confidence monitoring

Use return monitoring from the recorder when the setup supports it.

Verify that the backup recording can continue if the primary path fails.

Use an independent recording path

Avoid routing the backup through the same single failure point as the primary recorder.

Match required backup settings

Set the approved format, channel structure, and time reference.

Confirm backup inputs

Check that the backup receives every required source or master feed.

Use separate storage

Record the backup to a different drive, card, machine, or storage location.

Arm the backup recorder

Confirm that the secondary machine is ready before the live recording begins.

Monitor backup status

Make the backup recording indicator visible to the responsible operator.

Test backup recovery

Confirm that the backup file can be opened and used.

Prove that the configuration records the expected result.

Record a full path test

Capture every active source through the primary recording path.

Test the backup recording

Record the same sources through the secondary path.

Play back the test

Review the actual recorded files rather than relying only on input monitoring.

Confirm source identity

Check that every recorded channel contains the correct source.

Confirm format metadata

Verify sample rate, bit depth, frame rate, resolution, codec, and channel count.

Check synchronization

Review timecode, clock stability, lip sync, and machine alignment.

Check file location

Confirm that the test files appear in the correct folder and storage destination.

Approve the configuration

Record who accepted the test before live recording begins.

Manage technical changes made after approval.

Record the requested change

Document the source, route, machine, format, or master setting that must change.

Confirm the reason

State why the approved configuration no longer works.

Obtain technical approval

Do not apply a material change without the authorised technical lead.

Update linked settings

Change every affected input, track, route, machine, monitor, and recording destination.

Run another test recording

Verify the revised configuration before returning to live recording.

Update the configuration record

Keep the final settings rather than the superseded setup.

Notify affected operators

Make sure every machine and department operator knows what changed.

Keep an accurate technical record for the session.

Save the source list

Retain every active source and its label.

Save the routing record

Keep the final input, channel, bus, output, and machine assignments.

Save master settings

Record the approved master format, channel order, processing, and level controls.

Save machine settings

Capture the active recording format, storage destination, clock source, and timecode mode.

Save the test result

Record when playback, synchronization, file, and backup checks passed.

Save approved changes

Keep every configuration revision and approval.

Link the record to the session

Attach the final configuration to the correct production or project.