Fretnook / Free tools / Multitrack Recorder
Free sign-up · runs in your browser

Free online multitrack recorder for guitar

Lay down a rhythm part, overdub a solo, punch in to fix one bad bar, then mix and export. Fretnook starts with 8 tracks and grows to 24, with a metronome, count-in, clip editing and undo, all in a browser tab.

Free with a quick email sign-up. Recordings stay on your device; nothing is uploaded.
Quick start

Record your first take in four steps

  1. Press Listen and put on headphones

    The recorder needs live microphone input. Wear headphones whenever you layer over existing tracks, a drum pattern or a loop; otherwise the microphone picks up the playback along with your guitar.

  2. Set the tempo and arm a track

    Set a BPM or tap it in, choose a time signature, and turn on the click. Press ARM on the track you want; the armed track gets a red border so you always know which one is live.

  3. Press Record

    With Count-In on, you get one bar of clicks first. Tracks that already have audio play back while you record, so you can build up layer after layer.

  4. Edit, mix and export

    Trim, cut, duplicate or repeat clips, tweak levels in the mixer, then export a finished WAV or separate stems. See mixing and mastering for what happens after recording.

What you get

What the recorder can do

8 to 24 tracks

Start with 8 tracks and add more up to 24. Each track has its own level, mute, solo and live meter.

Punch in and out

Mark an in-point and out-point on an existing take and record only that window, leaving the rest untouched.

Metronome and count-in

Set BPM or tap tempo, pick a time signature, and get a one-bar count-in. The click is for monitoring only and is never recorded.

Non-destructive clip editing

Trim to selection, cut, duplicate, nudge by a beat, or repeat a clip to fill to a bar number. Reset Edits returns to the original take at any time.

Undo and redo

Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on a Mac) steps back through takes, edits, faders, dropdowns and mute or solo changes across the Recorder, Mixer and Drums.

Import audio

Drop in stems or takes from other apps. Stereo files are mixed to mono to match every other track.

Automation lanes

Draw level, pan and effect-send changes over time on any track using the Automate button.

Save Project and autosave

Save Project stores every recording, edit and mixer setting in a file. Autosave keeps a safety copy in your browser in case a tab closes.

Turn four bars into a whole song

You do not have to play every bar. Record a short rhythm part, select the clip, type the bar number you want the song to reach into Fill to bar, and press Repeat to Fill. The clip tiles forward at the current tempo until the track hits that bar. Running it again with a bigger number just extends the fill; it never stacks duplicates.

For a full song structure, use the Arranger to define sections such as Intro, Verse and Chorus, point each one at a track, and apply the arrangement to tile every section across its bars.

Recording tips for a clean take

Watch the per-track meter while you play. A track that is too hot will distort, and one that barely moves is not picking up sound. Put the microphone about the same distance from the amp or guitar for every take so your layers blend.

Fix small mistakes with punch in and out instead of re-recording a whole part, and use Remove Pop for an isolated click or finger squeak. It is the one edit that permanently changes the recording, so use Undo Repair straight away if it does not sound right.

Three kinds of save, explained

Save Project is the real save file: audio, edits, mixer settings, drum pattern and tempo. Save Song stores settings only, for fast recall in a setlist. Export WAV or Stems creates finished audio to share or take into another program. If a tab or browser closes unexpectedly, reopening Fretnook offers to restore the latest autosave.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is the multitrack recorder free?
Yes. It unlocks with a free email sign-up. There is no payment, card or password.
How many tracks can I record?
It opens with 8 tracks, and you can add more up to 24.
Where are my recordings stored?
In your browser on your own device. Nothing is uploaded to a server. Use Save Project to keep a file copy.
Can I record an electric guitar or use an audio interface?
Yes. Anything that appears as an audio input on your computer works, including USB interfaces and pedals. See USB interfaces and MIDI footswitches.
Can I record over a song or a drum beat?
Yes. You can bounce a drum pattern or a loop onto a track, or put a song from the Songs tool onto an empty track, then record your guitar on another track.
Do downloads work from any page?
Downloads such as Save Project and Export WAV need Fretnook to be open directly in your browser or installed as an app.
More free tools

Keep going in the same rack

Start your first multitrack session.

Fretnook is free and runs in your browser. Your microphone audio and recordings stay on your device.

● Open the recorder