1Take User Manual

Welcome to 1Take, the professional audio recording app designed for musicians. This manual will guide you through all features and help you get the most out of your recordings.

Getting Started
Recording Basics
Recording Analysis
AI Auto-Optimization
Cloud Sync
GPS Location Tagging
Presets
Signal Processing Chain
Pre-roll Recording
Auto-Record
Meters
Markers
Recordings Library
Export
Settings
Pro Features

Getting Started

First Launch

When you first open 1Take, you'll be asked to grant microphone access. This is required for the app to record audio.

Main Screen Overview

The main screen consists of:

Level Meter: Shows real-time audio levels (tap to switch between VU/GR/Spectrum/LUFS)
Record Button: Start/stop recording (center)
TRIM Knob: Adjust input gain (left)
THRESH Knob: Adjust gate threshold (right)
Preset Selector: Choose your sound profile (top)

Recording Basics

Starting a Recording

Tap the Record button to start recording
The button turns red and a timer appears
Tap again to stop and save

Adding Markers

During recording, tap the Marker button to add a user marker at the current position. This helps you find important moments later.

Recording Stopped Alert

When you stop recording, an alert shows:

Duration: Total recording length
Integrity: Percentage of audio data successfully captured (aim for 100%)

Recording Analysis

1Take v1.3.0 introduces automatic recording quality analysis using broadcast-standard algorithms (ITU-R BS.1770-4).

What Gets Analyzed

After each recording, 1Take automatically evaluates:

Peak Level (dBFS): Maximum sample value (-6 to -12 dBFS is ideal)
RMS Level (dBFS): Average loudness over time
Crest Factor (dB): Dynamic range (Peak minus RMS)
LUFS: Perceived loudness (target -14 to -16 LUFS for streaming)
True Peak (dBTP): Inter-sample peak level (keep below -1 dBTP)
Loudness Range (LRA): Statistical loudness variation

Reference Values

Metric	Good Range	Notes
Peak	-12 to -6 dBFS	Leave headroom
LUFS	-16 to -14 LUFS	Streaming standard
True Peak	Below -1 dBTP	Prevents clipping
Crest Factor	8-14 dB	Balanced dynamics

AI Auto-Optimization

After each recording, 1Take automatically analyzes your audio and adjusts your preset settings to improve the next take. Everything runs on-device — no internet connection required.

How It Works

Stop a recording (must be at least 5 seconds long)
1Take analyzes loudness, peaks, noise floor, dynamic range, and frequency balance
If issues are detected, the app adjusts your current preset's settings
A banner appears showing how many settings were optimized

Tap the banner to see each adjustment with before/after values and the reason (e.g., "Clipping Detected — Input Trim: −6 dB → −9 dB").

What Gets Adjusted

Issue Detected	Adjustment
Clipping (True Peak > −1 dBTP)	Input Trim reduced
Too quiet (LUFS < −24)	Input Trim and Limiter Pre-Gain increased
High noise floor	Noise Gate enabled with appropriate threshold
Wide dynamic range	Compressor ratio increased
Low-frequency buildup	Low-cut filter enabled
Lacks brightness	High shelf gain boosted
Buffer drops	Buffer size increased

A drift guard prevents any parameter from changing more than ±12 dB from its default, and an anti-oscillation rule prevents the same parameter from being adjusted in opposite directions on consecutive recordings.

Free vs Pro

All users can view the analysis results and see what adjustments would be made. Applying the adjustments automatically requires Pro. Free users see a prompt to upgrade when tapping the optimization banner.

Pro users can also tap Undo All in the detail sheet to revert all changes from a session.

To disable AI optimization entirely, turn off Auto-Optimize in Settings.

Cloud Sync

1Take can automatically upload recordings to cloud storage after every take. Cloud Sync is free for all users.

Supported Providers

Provider	Auth Method	Notes
iCloud Drive	System Apple ID	No login needed. Recordings appear in Finder on Mac.
Google Drive	OAuth (Safari)	Stored in a dedicated 1Take folder.
Dropbox	OAuth with PKCE	Stored in Apps/1Take.
Backblaze B2	API Key	Enter Key ID, Key, bucket name, and optional path prefix.

You can enable multiple providers at the same time. Recordings are uploaded to all enabled providers in parallel.

Setting Up

Open Settings → Cloud Sync
Tap the provider you want to set up
Authenticate (iCloud Drive requires no login)
Toggle the provider on

Sync Settings

Auto Sync: When enabled, recordings upload automatically after each take
Wi-Fi Only: When enabled (default), uploads only happen on Wi-Fi

Sync Status

Each recording in the library shows a sync status icon:

Cloud with arrow: Pending upload
Spinner: Uploading
Green checkmark: Synced to all providers
Red exclamation: Upload failed (tap to retry)

If you're offline when a recording finishes, 1Take retries automatically when a connection is restored.

GPS Location Tagging

1Take captures your location when you start recording, so you can remember where every take was made.

How It Works

When recording starts, 1Take requests a single GPS fix (100m accuracy)
The location is saved with the recording
A reverse-geocoded place name (e.g., "Shibuya, Tokyo") appears in the recording list and detail view

Location tagging requires "When In Use" location permission. If permission is denied or a GPS fix is unavailable, recording continues normally without location data.

Presets

1Take includes three carefully crafted presets modeled after legendary audio gear:

Studio (LA-2A Style)

Best for: Vocals, acoustic guitar, podcasts
Character: Warm, smooth compression with tube-like qualities
Stereo Spread: OFF

Studio+ (1176 Style)

Best for: Drums, electric guitar, energetic performances
Character: Punchy, aggressive compression with fast attack
Stereo Spread: OFF

Live (VCA Style)

Best for: Live performances, loud rehearsals
Character: Clean, transparent compression that won't distort
Stereo Spread: ON (enhanced width)

Customizing Presets (Pro)

Pro users can customize each preset's parameters including Gate, EQ, Compressors, Saturation, Stereo Spread, and Maximizer.

Signal Processing Chain

1Take processes audio through a professional signal chain in real-time:

Input → Trim → Gate → EQ → Comp A → Comp B → Saturation → Stereo → Maximizer → Output

Input Trim

Adjusts digital gain before processing. Use the TRIM knob on the main screen.

Noise Gate

Cuts background noise between phrases. Adjust threshold with the THRESH knob.

5-Band Parametric EQ

Shape your tone with five fully adjustable bands. Each band provides:

Frequency: Center frequency selection
Gain: Boost or cut (±12 dB)
Q: Bandwidth control (narrow to wide)

2-Stage Compressor

Comp A: Fast compressor for catching peaks
Comp B: Slower compressor for adding density and "glue"

Saturation

Adds subtle harmonic warmth (analog-style distortion).

Stereo Spread

Enhances stereo width for a wider sound image.

Maximizer

Final stage limiter that prevents digital clipping. Ceiling fixed at -1.0 dBFS for safety.

Pre-roll Recording

Never miss a great take again! Pre-roll continuously buffers audio so you can capture moments that happened before you pressed record.

How It Works

Enable Pre-roll in Settings
Set your desired duration (5-30 seconds, extended with Pro)
When you start recording, the buffer is included

You're jamming and play something amazing. Even if you press record 10 seconds later, Pre-roll captures those 10 seconds!

Auto-Record

Auto-Record automatically starts and stops recording based on audio levels.

Intelligent Calibration (New in v1.3.0)

Tap the Auto button in Auto-Record settings
1Take measures your ambient noise floor
Thresholds are automatically calculated with optimal margins
Hysteresis control prevents false triggers

How to Use

Long-press the Record button to enter Auto-Record mode
The "AUTO" badge appears
Recording starts automatically when sound is detected
Recording stops after the specified silence duration
Tap the Record button to exit Auto-Record mode

Meters

Tap the meter display to cycle through four meter modes:

VU Meter

Classic analog-style meter with 300ms time constant. The needle shows average level, with peak hold indicator.

Green zone: Safe levels
Yellow zone: Getting hot
Red zone: Near clipping

GR (Gain Reduction) Meter

Shows how much compression is being applied.

Left meter: Comp A gain reduction
Right meter: Comp B gain reduction

Spectrum Analyzer

Real-time frequency display showing the spectral content of your audio.

LUFS Meter

Professional loudness meter following ITU-R BS.1770-4 standard.

Needle: Momentary loudness (400ms)
Cyan marker: Short-term loudness (3s)
Yellow marker: Integrated loudness (entire recording)
TP (True Peak): Inter-sample peak level

Reference levels: -24 LUFS (Broadcast), -14 LUFS (Streaming: Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music)

Markers

User Markers

Manually added by tapping the Marker button during recording.

Clip Markers (CLIP)

Automatically added when audio clips (exceeds 0 dBFS).

Over Markers (OVER)

Automatically added when True Peak exceeds -1 dBTP.

Buffer Drop Markers

Automatically added if audio data is lost due to system performance issues.

Recordings Library

Access your recordings by tapping the list icon.

Recording Info

Each recording shows: Title, Duration, Date/Time, FX preset used, Audio integrity percentage, Marker counts, GPS location, and Cloud Sync status.

Deleting Recordings

Deleted recordings are moved to Recently Deleted in the iOS Files app and can be recovered for up to 30 days. Note that restoring a file in the Files app recovers the audio file but does not re-add it to 1Take's recording list.

Export

Export Formats

Format	Description
Original	Keep the file in its recorded format (WAV, BWF, MP3, or AAC)
MP3	Convert to MP3 (128/192/256/320 kbps)
AAC	Convert to AAC (.m4a) (128/192/256/320 kbps)

Export conversion is free for all users. Pro users can also record directly to MP3 or AAC format.

Batch Export

Select multiple recordings in the library, then tap Export. All selected recordings are converted with a common format and bitrate. Progress is shown in real-time, and conversion continues in the background if you leave the app.

Pro Export Formats

BWF (16/24-bit): Broadcast Wave Format with embedded timecode for DAW integration
WAV 24-bit: Higher bit depth for professional post-production

Settings

Performance

Buffer Size: Controls audio processing latency vs. stability tradeoff. Recommended: 4096 for most users.

File Format

WAV (16-bit): Standard quality, smaller files
WAV (24-bit): Higher quality, larger files (Pro)
BWF (16-bit): Broadcast Wave with timecode (Pro)
BWF (24-bit): Professional format for DAW integration (Pro)

Cloud Sync

Configure cloud storage providers, enable/disable Auto Sync, and toggle Wi-Fi Only mode. See the Cloud Sync section for details.

Auto-Optimize

Toggle AI auto-optimization on or off. When enabled, 1Take analyzes each recording and suggests (or applies, for Pro users) settings adjustments. See the AI Auto-Optimization section for details.

Keep Screen On

Enable this option to prevent your device from sleeping during long recording sessions.

Pro Features

Upgrade to Pro to unlock:

AI Auto-Apply - Automatically apply AI optimization adjustments after every recording
Extended Pre-roll - Increase pre-roll buffer from 10 to 30 seconds
Custom Presets - Full access to adjust all parameters for each preset
BWF Format - Broadcast Wave Format with embedded timecode
24-bit Recording - Higher bit depth for professional post-production
Direct MP3/AAC Recording - Record directly to compressed formats

Tips & Tricks

For Best Recording Quality

Set proper levels: Aim for peaks around -12 to -6 dB on the VU meter
Use Pre-roll: Keep it enabled so you never miss spontaneous moments
Choose the right preset: Match your source material to the preset character
Monitor with headphones: Use wired headphones to hear the processed sound

Troubleshooting

Audio integrity below 100%: Increase buffer size in Settings, close other apps.

Sound is distorted: Lower the Input Trim.

Recording won't start: Check microphone permissions in iOS Settings.

Support

Need help? Visit our Support Page or contact us at onetake@hakaru.net.