Frequently Asked Questions

No — all features are available completely free of charge. There is no paid version and no feature restrictions. If you'd like to support development, we welcome support through donations.

Yes. The audio you record and export with Utawave belongs to you, and you're free to use it however you like, including for monetization. However, please follow the distributor's terms for the backing tracks you use. This is the same regardless of which DAW you use.

Yes. Utawave is designed specifically for recording vocals (vocal covers), but it works just like a standard multitrack recorder, so you can use it to record guitar, bass, piano, wind instruments, and other instruments as well. You can record input from a microphone or audio interface onto a track, layer multiple takes, and edit the waveforms.

macOS 11 (Big Sur) and later, and Windows 11 and later are supported.

From the AUDIO button at the top right of the screen, check that the correct output and input devices are selected. If you're using an audio interface, it's most reliable to launch the app after connecting it. On macOS, you'll be asked to grant microphone access the first time you record, so choose "Allow" (if you forget to allow it, you can change it under "System Settings" → "Privacy & Security" → "Microphone"). Recording also requires the track's R (record arm) to be lit.

On Windows with an audio interface, choosing ASIO (the driver that comes with your interface) as the driver type in the AUDIO settings makes a big difference. Lowering the buffer size as well (for example, 128–256 samples) reduces the delay. If you lower it too far and the audio starts dropping out, step it back up one level. If ASIO isn't available (USB mics, etc.), choosing Windows Audio (Exclusive Mode) as the driver type gives lower latency than the standard shared mode. Note that Exclusive Mode takes over the device, so while recording you can't route audio to your browser or streaming software (OBS, etc.) at the same time — keep shared mode when you need simultaneous use, such as while streaming. If your audio interface has a direct monitoring feature, you can use that to monitor with no latency.

Enabling a track's I (input monitor) lets you check your own voice on headphones while singing. Raising the track's Rev slider applies reverb only to the monitor return. It does not affect the recorded file (you can adjust it freely afterward).

Run a scan from the menu "File" → "Manage Plugins...". After installing a new plugin, or if something looks off, try "Rescan All". The supported format is VST3.

Yes. Right-click the waveform → "Change key..." to change it within a range of ±6 semitones. Choosing "0 (original pitch)" reverts it at any time. The converted result is saved within the project, so re-converting to the same key switches instantly.

WAV / AIFF / MP3 / FLAC / Ogg Vorbis are supported. On macOS, .m4a / .aac and more can also be imported (since it uses the OS's decoders, some formats vary by OS). Files with a different sample rate are automatically converted on import.

Projects are auto-saved at a set interval, and generational backups are kept in the Backup/ folder inside the project folder. When you reopen a project, if there's a backup newer than the main file, a dialog appears offering to recover it.

An audio file may have been moved or deleted from the Audio/ folder inside the project folder. Putting the file back into the Audio/ folder restores it automatically. When moving a project, move the entire project folder.

When a new version is released, an "Update available" notice appears on the app's start screen (it checks the version information published on the official site). Clicking it opens the download page.

We accept these through the "Contact" form below (for requests, please select "Other" as the type). As this is developed by an individual, we can't promise individual responses or that any request will be adopted, but we read everything and use it as a reference for future development.