Said something wrong, or want a better take of one sentence? You don't have to record the whole video again. Use Retake to re-record, redo or replace a part: select the words you want to say again, record just that part, and compare it with the original before you keep it.
Retake words from the transcript
- Open your video and click Edit video.
- In the Transcript pane, make sure the menu at the top shows Edit.
- Drag across the words you want to say again. Or click the first word and Shift-click the last one.
- In the bar at the bottom of the pane, click Retake.
- The recorder opens with the title Retake this part. A strip under the title shows the words just before and just after the part you are replacing, and the time range it replaces.
- Click Record, say the new version, then stop the recording.
Airtime puts your new recording in place of the selected words and opens it for review. Nothing is final yet. See Review your retake.
Tip: When a cut is very close to your selection, Airtime starts or ends the retake on that cut, so you don't get a tiny leftover sliver next to it.
Retake a whole segment from the timeline
Use this when you want to replace a complete segment (a section between two splits).
- In the timeline, click the segment to select it.
- In the bar above the segment, click Retake.
The bar appears when your video has more than one segment. You can also right-click the segment and choose Retake segment, or click Add Recording in the timeline toolbar and choose Retake segment 2 (the number matches your segment).
- The recorder opens with the title Retake segment 2. The strip under the title shows what comes before and after, and the time range it replaces.
- Click Record, record the new take, then stop the recording.
If you use the Airtime desktop app, see If you record in the Airtime app.
Review your retake
Your original stays in the video until you choose Use retake. While you review, the new take sits in its place on the timeline with a dashed outline, labelled with its length (for example Retake · 0:05).
A small bar above the take shows its status and your choices:
- Processing / Ready: Airtime prepares the take first. Use retake becomes available when it shows Ready.
- Original / Retake: switch between the two to compare them. Play the video with each one to hear the difference.
- Record again: record this part again. The new attempt replaces the take you are reviewing.
- Discard: throw the take away. Your original stays exactly as it was.
- Use retake: keep the new take in place of the original.
The transcript shows which words the take replaces. With Retake selected, they are struck through. With Original selected, they are highlighted.
If the take shows Failed, click Try again.
While a take is in review, other edits wait. Buttons such as Split video, Add Recording and Save changes are unavailable. Point at one to see Use or discard the take first. Choose Use retake or Discard to carry on.
Save your changes
Use retake puts the take into your edit, but it does not save it.
- Click Use retake.
- Click Save changes in the top right corner.
Until you save, the top bar shows Unsaved changes. If you click Cancel there instead, you leave the editor without saving, and the retake is not kept.
Undo a retake
- Before you save: click Undo, or press ⌘ Z (Mac) or Ctrl Z (Windows), right after Use retake. The original comes back in one step.
- While you review: click Discard.
Zooms on the part you replace
Zooms on the part you replace are removed when the retake goes in, because they were placed on the old footage. Add them again after you click Use retake. If you click Discard, they come back.
When Retake isn't available
Point at the dimmed Retake button or menu item to see why. You will see one of these messages:
- Select a segment first: click a segment in the timeline, then choose Retake again.
- Select the whole segment to retake it: click the segment itself, not a single track inside it. To replace only a few words, use the transcript instead.
- Can't retake: camera and screen are cut at different points: the camera and screen tracks of this segment were edited separately. Select words in the transcript and retake those instead.
- Use or discard the take first: another take is still in review. Choose Use retake or Discard first.
Pointing at Retake on a segment that can be retaken shows a reminder: To retake part of a segment, select its words in the transcript, then Retake.
If the recorder shows No camera in this take or No screen in this take, the part you are replacing had camera or screen footage that your new recording won't have. On the timeline, that track shows No camera or No screen for the take. You can still use it.
If something goes wrong while placing the take, you'll see Couldn't add the recording with Try recording it again. If the segment can't be found any more, you'll see Couldn't find that segment with Select it again to retake it.
If you record in the Airtime app
When you retake a whole segment and the Airtime desktop app is installed, Airtime offers to record in the app:
- If you have unsaved edits, Airtime asks you to deal with them first, because the recording comes back in a new editor tab that loads the saved video. The Unsaved changes dialog offers:
- Save & record: saves your edits, then continues.
- Discard & record: throws away your unsaved edits, then continues.
- Cancel: go back without recording.
- Choose Record in the Airtime app, or Open here instead to record in the browser. Tick Always open in browser to skip this next time.
- Record in the app. When you finish, a new editor tab opens with your take in review. Continue with Review your retake in that tab.
If the video changed after you started recording, Airtime can't tell where the take belongs. It adds it at the end and shows Recording added at the end. Move it where you want it.
Retakes you start from the transcript always record in the browser, in the editor.
Looking for something else?
- To add more footage at the playhead or at the end, see Add more footage to your Airtime Recorder video (Add Recording).
- To cut words from your video, see Edit your Airtime Recorder video by editing its transcript.
- To shorten or cut part of a recording, see Split and edit video in Airtime Recorder.
Still need help? Submit a support ticket or email us at help@airtime.com.