diff --git a/src/recordpanel.cpp b/src/recordpanel.cpp
--- a/src/recordpanel.cpp
+++ b/src/recordpanel.cpp
@@ -217,7 +217,12 @@ bool RecordPanel::confirmOverwrite(QStri
 
 void RecordPanel::startRecording(void)
 {
-    _recorder->startRecording(selectedFile, _channelMan->infoModel()->channelNames());
+    QStringList channelNames;
+    if (ui->cbHeader->isChecked())
+    {
+        channelNames = _channelMan->infoModel()->channelNames();
+    }
+    _recorder->startRecording(selectedFile, channelNames);
     emit recordStarted();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/recordpanel.ui b/src/recordpanel.ui
--- a/src/recordpanel.ui
+++ b/src/recordpanel.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
     <width>532</width>
-    <height>152</height>
+    <height>169</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -80,6 +80,19 @@
       </widget>
      </item>
      <item>
+      <widget class="QCheckBox" name="cbHeader">
+       <property name="toolTip">
+        <string>Channel names are written to the first line of record file</string>
+       </property>
+       <property name="text">
+        <string>Write header line</string>
+       </property>
+       <property name="checked">
+        <bool>true</bool>
+       </property>
+      </widget>
+     </item>
+     <item>
       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="cbDisableBuffering">
        <property name="toolTip">
         <string>Do not buffer when writing to file. Check this if you are using other software to open the file during recording.</string>