How to record audio on your computer or phone

Modified on Thu, 26 Oct 2023 at 03:25 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About Audio Recording
PC (Windows 10+)
Mac (MacOS)
iPhone (iOS)
Android

Audio Recording

You may need to record different types of audio for different purposes, including voice memos, podcasts, interviews, music, and more. This article will walk you through a few of the common tools used to record audio on your computer or mobile device.

PC (Windows 10+)

Your PC should have a built-in microphone, however you may use an external microphone or headset for better sound quality.

Voice Recorder

Voice Recorder is a simple built-in voice recording tool for Windows computers, allowing you to easily record sound directly on your PC. See How to Use Voice Recorder for more information.

Audacity

Audacity is a free cross-platform multi-track audio editor and recorder. Use Audacity to record audio and edit and mix with its integrated editing tools. This interface is less intuitive than other tools and has a bit of a learning curve. Download Audacity for free. See Audacity Reference Manual for more information.

Mac (MacOS)

Your Mac should have a built-in microphone, however you may use an external microphone or headset for better sound quality.

VoiceMemos

VoiceMemos is a built-in voice recorder available on Apple devices. This tool allows you to record audio from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch and synch across your Apple devices with iCloud. See VoiceMemos User Guide for MacOS for more information.

GarageBand

GarageBand is a music creation studio for the Mac and allows you to record, use loops, add effects, and mix and share your music. See GarageBand User Guide for MacOS for more information.

Audacity

iPhone (iOS)

Your iPhone has a built-in microphone, however you may use an external microphone or headphones for better sound quality.

In addition to some built-in tools, there are many third-party audio recording apps available in the App Store. Before downloading a third-party application, be sure to check the price, terms of service, and data privacy statement.

VoiceMemos

GarageBand

GarageBand is a music creation studio for the Mac and allows you to record, use loops, add effects, and mix and share your music. See GarageBand User Guide for iOS for more information.

Android

Your Android device has a built-in microphone, however you may use an external microphone or headphones for better sound quality.

Most Android devices should have a built-in voice recorder app for capturing basic audio. However, each Android device is different, and different models will feature different standard applications. In addition to built-in recording tools, there are many third-party apps available in the Play Store. Before downloading a third-party application, be sure to check the price, terms of service, and data privacy statement.

Samsung Voice Recorder (Samsung Only)

Samsung Voice Recorder is built into Samsung phones and allows you to easily record audio and convert speech to text. See How to Record Audio on the Samsung Phone Voice Recorder App for more information.

Google Recorder (Pixel only)

Google Recorder is built into the Pixel and allows you to record and transcribe audio. See Google Recorder for more information.