Sound and look your best
Great self-tapes come down to clear audio and clean lighting. Follow these steps before you hit record.
Audio Setup
Find a quiet room
Pick a small, carpeted room with soft furnishings. Avoid kitchens, bathrooms, and echoey halls.
Use your full voice
Acting lives in your voice, and the app needs to hear you clearly. Do your best to soundproof the room, then say your lines with enough power for the reader to catch — just like a real audition.
Headphones (optional)
For real auditions you can't wear headphones, so rehearse without them when you can. If you do use earbuds, the app still works — just keep them subtle and low so the reader audio never bleeds into your take.
Run a 10-second test
Record one line and play it back. Listen for hum, echo, or low volume before the real take.
Lighting Setup
Face a window
Natural light is best. Sit facing a window with light falling evenly on your face — never behind you.
Add a fill light
If one side is shadowy, bounce light with a white sheet or place a ring light slightly off to the side.
Set the right height
Light should sit at or just above eye level, angled down at 45°. This flatters the face and avoids under-chin shadows.
Clean your background
Use a plain, neutral wall — blue or grey reads professional. Remove clutter and anything distracting.
Pro Tips
- Turn off fans, AC, and notifications before recording.
- Record in portrait (vertical) — the standard self-tape format.
- Keep your eyeline just off the side of the lens, not straight into it.
- Record your slate and your scene as two separate takes.
- Rehearse with the AI scene partner first — run lines until they're memorized before you ever hit record.