Why does my camera show a red dot?

The camera is switched on in Prequel but cannot be opened. It may have been unplugged, or another app may be holding it. Pick it again from its menu in the dock, or choose another device.

Is the camera bubble part of the recording?

No. The bubble is a preview so you can check your framing. The camera is recorded as its own track and placed in the finished video afterwards, in the editor.

Does Prequel record the Mac's own sound?

Yes, when Record system audio is on in Settings, which it is by default. System audio is its own track, so you can drop it or set its level separately from your voice.

Recording

Camera and microphone

Turning devices on, choosing between them, and where the camera bubble goes.

Device menus

The dock has a camera control and a microphone control. Each one is the device's icon, a status dot and a chevron. Pressing it opens a menu of every camera or microphone the Mac can see, plus Off. Hover to see which device is chosen.

Picking a device switches it on. Picking Off switches it off.
A green dot means the device is on and available. A grey dot means it is off.
The microphone's icon fills with the live level while it is on, so you can see it hears you.
A red dot means the device is switched on but cannot be used: it was unplugged, or another app holds it.

Prequel remembers the device by name, so the same camera is chosen again after a restart even when macOS gives it a new identifier.

The camera bubble

When the camera is on, a round preview appears on screen so you can see your framing before you record. Drag it anywhere; Prequel remembers where you put it. Hover to reveal a Turn camera off button.

The bubble is not part of the recording. The camera is recorded as its own track, and where it sits in the finished video is decided afterwards in the editor. See Camera.

System audio

Sound from the Mac itself is recorded as a separate track when Record system audio is on in Settings. It is on by default. In the editor you can include or drop it, and set its volume, independently of your voice. See Audio.

Permissions

The camera and microphone each need their own grant. Prequel asks only when you turn the device on, and never opens either while you are not recording. See Permissions.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my camera show a red dot?: The camera is switched on in Prequel but cannot be opened. It may have been unplugged, or another app may be holding it. Pick it again from its menu in the dock, or choose another device.
Is the camera bubble part of the recording?: No. The bubble is a preview so you can check your framing. The camera is recorded as its own track and placed in the finished video afterwards, in the editor.
Does Prequel record the Mac's own sound?: Yes, when Record system audio is on in Settings, which it is by default. System audio is its own track, so you can drop it or set its level separately from your voice.