Cue Studio
RECPLAY48 kHz, 24-bit WAV
Min:Sec0:00.000

Be rolling when the take happens.

Cue Studio is a recording app for iPhone and iPad with the tools engineers actually reach for. Honest metering, a Pro Tools style counter, sample-accurate edits, and a five-band mastering EQ.

Coming soon to the App StoreSee how it works

Hit record. Watch the meter, not the menus.

Everything you need while the take is happening sits on one screen. No setup between you and the idea.

A meter that tells the truth
Segmented LED metering with RMS, peak, and peak hold, a headroom readout, and an OVER lamp that stays lit until you clear it.
Input trim under your thumb
The trim knob sits right under the meter. Auto gain backs it off when peaks get hot, and a peak limiter catches the strays.
Count-in, click, and markers
One bar of count-in, a click at your tempo, tap tempo, and markers you can drop while the take is rolling.
Real formats
WAV, AIFF, or CAF at 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz in 16-bit, 24-bit, or 32-bit float. USB interfaces show up in the input list.
Takes that survive
Recording keeps going in the background, and if a call comes in, the take is saved up to that moment.
Input level-- dB headroom
+0.0 dBInput trim
OVER

The demo runs in your browser. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere.

Edit like you would at the desk.

Tap to place the insertion point. Swipe to select. Swipe left to right for the start and right to left for the end, and the two lock into one selection. Then trim to the insertion point the way Pro Tools does. Try it on this take.

Bridge harmony_02Tap to place, swipe to select

Trim start removes everything before the insertion point. Trim end removes everything after it.

  • Waveform or spectral view, zoom to 128x
  • Drag a selection edge, or nudge it in steps that follow the zoom
  • Split, equal-power fades, normalize to -1 dBFS
  • Markers, multi-level undo, best-take flag
  • Edits are sample accurate and keep the original format

Meet the Sørensen EQ.

Five bands laid out like the classic mastering equalizers. Level on top, a big frequency knob in the middle, Q underneath. Press play, then drag the knobs or the dots on the curve and hear it move.

SørensenEQ
LOW
LEVEL
FREQ
LO MID
LEVEL
FREQ
Q
MID
LEVEL
FREQ
Q
HI MID
LEVEL
FREQ
Q
HIGH
LEVEL
FREQ
HIGH PASS

Parametric mastering equalizer

  • Compressor with ratio and threshold
  • Room reverb and a long-throw fader with output meter
  • A and B banks, bypass, mute, and presets
  • Bounce through the strip to 24-bit WAV or AAC

Takes and clips, named the way studios name them.

Every take holds its clips, named Pro Tools style: Take 01_01, Take 01_02. Rename a clip and the file on disk is renamed too, so it reads right in the Files app and in your session.

Clearing out old ideas is quick but never accidental. Select a few takes, or all of them, then slide the bar all the way across. Nothing is deleted until the slide completes. Try it.

On iPad the library stays open as a sidebar next to Capture, Edit, and Mix, so you can move between takes without leaving the session.

Your vault
5 takes

Why Cue Studio exists

I've spent more than fifteen years behind the glass at Sure Sound Recording Studio, engineering sessions that went out to CBS, Netflix, and Penguin Random House audiobooks. The best ideas rarely show up in the studio, though. They show up in the car, at soundcheck, at two in the morning.

Voice memos never did them justice, so I built the recorder I wanted in my own pocket. The counter reads like Pro Tools because that's what my hands know. The meters tell the truth because a clipped take is a lost take. And the EQ is laid out like my favorite piece of mastering gear.

AJ SorensenRecording engineer, Sure Sound Recording Studio

The spec sheet.

For the people who read the back of the box first.

Devices
iPhone and iPad, iOS and iPadOS 17 or later
File formats
WAV, AIFF, CAF
Sample rates
44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, converted on the fly when the hardware runs at a different rate
Bit depth
16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit float
Inputs
Built-in mic, headset mics, USB audio interfaces
Counter
Bars|Beats with 960 ticks, Min:Sec, Timecode at 30 fps, Samples, with a separate sub counter
Capture
Peak limiter, auto gain, high-pass filter, input trim, monitoring, count-in, click, tap tempo, markers
Editing
Trim start and end to insertion, trim to selection, split, equal-power fades, normalize, multi-level undo
Mixing
Sørensen five-band EQ with high-pass, compressor, room reverb, fader, A/B banks, presets
Export
Share the raw take, or bounce through the strip to 24-bit WAV or 256 kbps AAC
Privacy
No account, no ads, no tracking. Recordings stay on your device.

Questions people ask.

Do I need an account?

No. There is no sign-up, no login, and nothing to configure before you record. Open the app and hit the red button.

Where are my recordings stored?

On your device, in the Cue Studio folder you can open in the Files app (On My iPhone or On My iPad, then Cue Studio). They are included in your normal device backups. Cue Studio does not upload them anywhere.

Can I use my audio interface?

Yes. Class-compliant USB interfaces and headset mics show up in the input list in recording setup. Pick one and the meter switches to it right away.

What is the difference between a take and a clip?

A take is an entry in your library, like "Take 03" or "Bridge harmony". Each time you hit record inside it, you get a clip, named Pro Tools style: Take 03_01, Take 03_02. You can rename either one.

How do I get my audio into Pro Tools, Logic, or another DAW?

From the Mix screen, share the raw take or bounce it through the channel strip to 24-bit WAV or AAC. Use AirDrop, Files, Mail, or any app in the share sheet. You can also drag files straight out of the Files app.

Does the counter really do Bars|Beats?

Yes. Set the tempo with the BPM control or tap tempo, and the counter reads bars, beats, and ticks at 960 per quarter note. Switch to Min:Sec, Timecode, or Samples whenever you like, with a separate sub counter underneath.

What happens if a call comes in while I am recording?

Cue Studio stops cleanly and saves the clip up to that moment, then gets the input ready again when the call ends. Recording also keeps going if you lock the screen.

Does Cue Studio collect any data?

No. It has no analytics, no ads, and no tracking, and it never sends your audio anywhere. The full details are in the privacy policy.

Still stuck? Email [email protected] and a real person, usually me, will get back to you.

The next take is the one. Be ready for it.

Coming soon to the App Store

For iPhone and iPad. No account, no ads, no tracking.