diff --git a/src/mainwindow.h b/src/mainwindow.h
--- a/src/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/mainwindow.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "channelmanager.h"
 #include "snapshotmanager.h"
 #include "plotmanager.h"
+#include "datarecorder.h"
 
 namespace Ui {
 class MainWindow;
@@ -75,12 +76,13 @@ private:
     ChannelManager channelMan;
     PlotManager* plotMan;
     SnapshotManager snapshotMan;
+    DataRecorder recorder;       // operated by `recordPanel`
 
     QLabel spsLabel;
     CommandPanel commandPanel;
     DataFormatPanel dataFormatPanel;
+    RecordPanel recordPanel;
     PlotControlPanel plotControlPanel;
-    RecordPanel recordPanel;
 
     bool isDemoRunning();
     /// Stores settings for all modules