1. Open Cinch Audio Recorder
2. Go to Settings (gear icon) on the left sidebar and scroll to the bottom
3. Enter your email address
4. Copy and paste the key you have
5. Click Activate
Help Center
Get your recording back on track.
Find a clear answer for activation, recording quality, log files, and device setup - or send the details to our support team.
Popular: User Guides FAQ
Documentation
User Manuals & Guides
Step-by-step tutorials and documentation for Cinch Audio Recorder.
Cinch Audio Recorder Guide
Complete setup and usage guide for recording streaming audio.
Download Cinch Audio Recorder
Get the current Windows installer or check the current Mac availability path.
Activate Your License
Learn how to activate, switch devices, and confirm your license details.
Recording Quality Help
Fix common audio routing, stability, and recording quality issues.
Self-Help Resources
Solve the setup or file task before you open a ticket.
These guides cover common recording routes and the next steps after a file has been saved.
No sound recorded
Fix silent recordings by checking the playback device, recorder input, browser output, and short test file.
Cannot detect system audio
Use this when Windows audio is playing but the recorder cannot see the correct capture route.
Browser recording has no audio
Check muted tabs, browser output, wrong-device capture, and source-specific playback behavior.
Metadata not found
Fix missing titles, artists, cover art, lyrics, filenames, and wrong song matches.
Record streaming audio without quality loss
Follow a practical checklist for clean playback capture and better saved files.
Record internal audio without Stereo Mix
Try the right system-audio route when Stereo Mix is missing or unavailable.
Record browser audio cleanly
Avoid silent files, notification sounds, and wrong-device capture before a long browser session.
Record Spotify audio into cleaner files
Set up a short test, avoid one giant playlist file, and check tags before saving a longer session.
Record YouTube audio without background noise
Control browser sound, avoid notification bleed, and verify the file before a long video.
Record online radio and long streams
Prepare long sessions, avoid interruptions, and name radio recordings so they stay useful.
Record audio with metadata and cover art
Check title, artist, artwork, lyrics, filenames, and format after the recording is saved.
Free audio tools for quick file tasks
Trim, inspect, normalize, or organize a recording in the browser when that is enough.
From Support Cases
Common problems we can solve faster with the right details.
These are the patterns that most often slow down activation and recording support. Pick the closest one before sending a message.
New computer, reinstall, or old PC no longer available
If the old device crashed or was replaced, include the purchase email and order details so support can review the activation record instead of guessing from the key alone.
Paid copy still behaves like a trial
When a paid install shows a recording limit after reinstalling or updating, check that the app is activated with the same purchase email before opening a ticket.
Old download link expired
Use the current Download Center first. If you bought years ago, support can usually investigate faster when the message includes the original purchase email.
Recording saved only part of the song or stream
Report the expected length, actual saved length, source app, output device, and whether a short test works. That pattern matters more than a vague "it stopped" note.
Recorded file sounds too fast, warped, or crackly
Before retrying, check Windows enhancements, sample-rate changes, Bluetooth switching, and whether the same issue appears in a 30-second test.
Titles or ID3 tags appear only for some songs
Confirm whether the recording was split into clean tracks. One long file, ads, talking, or short fragments can prevent reliable metadata matching.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about activation, platform switching, audio routing, and recording quality.
First, check the email address used at checkout, including Spam and Promotions folders. Copy the key exactly as delivered and make sure the email in Cinch matches the purchase email. If the app says the key is already in use, expired, or invalid, contact support with your order number and the purchase email so we can review the license record.
On the old computer, open Settings and choose Deactivate before you reinstall Windows or move devices. Then install Cinch on the new computer and activate it with the same purchase email and key. If you no longer have access to the old computer, contact support with your order number so we can help review the activation.
Use the Cinch Audio Recorder Download Center to download the current installer. You can reinstall the app without purchasing again; after installation, activate it with the email address and key from your original purchase.
Make sure your playback app and Cinch are using the same audio route. Start with your normal Windows default playback device and do not change speakers, headphones, or browser output while recording. If you use a virtual audio cable, choose the matching endpoint in both the playback app and Cinch. Then stop and start a new recording. If the issue continues, send support your latest log file and the source you were recording from.
Open Settings in Cinch and click Open Log Directory. Please send the newest log file together with your order number, Windows version, Cinch version, the app or website you were recording from, and a short description of what happened. This gives us the information needed to diagnose a recording or activation problem faster.
Root Cause: The "flat sound with no bass" you are experiencing is caused by Windows audio enhancements on your default playback device. When you connect your AirPods Pro Max, they bypass these system-level audio effects, which is why the quality is great with them.
Solution: Please disable audio enhancements on your default playback device:
1. Right-click the speaker icon in the Windows taskbar
2. Select "Sound Settings" or "Sounds"
3. Click on your default playback device, such as Speakers/Realtek
4. Go to Properties and then the Enhancements tab
5. Check "Disable all sound effects" or "Disable all enhancements"
6. Click Apply and restart your recording
Why this works: Cinch uses WASAPI loopback capture to record system audio. Windows audio enhancements, such as bass boost, virtual surround, loudness equalization, and similar effects, process the audio before it reaches our recorder. This can cause frequency loss and the "flat" sound described above. Bluetooth headphones like AirPods often bypass these effects entirely.
Cinch installers are signed with a Microsoft EV code-signing certificate. Always download the installer from the Cinch Download Center. If a security product shows a warning, make sure the file came from the official download page; then contact support with a screenshot of the warning if you need help reviewing it.
Still Need Help?
Our support team is here for you.
Send us a message and we will respond within 24 hours. Please include your order number for faster assistance.
- Your order number or purchase email, if the question is about activation or reinstalling.
- Your operating system, Cinch version, and the app or website you were recording from.
- A short description of what happened, plus the newest log file when recording fails.