1. Select only the sources you need
Choose the correct playback device and input sources. Leave unused devices unchecked to avoid unwanted room sound or duplicate captures.
2. Improve microphone placement
Keep a consistent distance, avoid direct breath across the microphone and move away from noisy equipment. A quieter source recording is easier to work with later.
3. Use headphones when adding voice
Headphones reduce sound from the speakers getting back into the microphone. That helps keep a voice track distinct from the computer playback track.
4. Check gain with a short take
Start around 100% input gain. Speak and play the loudest expected section, stop the test and listen for distortion before increasing a quiet input.
5. Balance the separate tracks
Use track volume, Mute and Solo to check the sources. Trim mistakes and unwanted starts or endings before listening to the complete mix.
6. Keep the version you can edit
Export MP3, WAV or FLAC for the finished mix, and save an .amss session for the editable tracks. Play the exported file once to check that it contains what you intended.