How do I record on my phone?

Whether you’re trying to record your innermost thoughts, see if you can hit Mariah’s whistle tones, or start a podcast (on second thought, scratch that last one), there are many reasons you may want to record audio on your phone. Luckily, it’s easy as fox no matter which phone model you have. 

Read on to learn how to record audio on your smartphone.

How to record on iPhone

1. Go to the Voice Memos app (under the Utilities folder) 
2. Tap the red button to begin recording
3. Tap the button again to stop recording

Your recording will be saved with the name New Recording or the name of your location if you have Location Services enabled.

How to record on Android phones

1. Open Voice Recorder app
2. Press the Record button
3. Tap the button again to finish recording 

You’ll then be prompted to name your audio file. It will be saved directly to your device’s internal storage or SD card, depending on which settings you have enabled. 

How to edit audio files on a phone

You’ve finished recording a lecture in class but someone dropped their massive HydroFlask in the middle of the recording? No problem. Luckily, modern smartphones also allow you to edit the audio on your phone. 

How to edit audio files on iPhone 

1. Under the Voice Memo app, tap Edit to trim your audio clip
   • The edit button looks like a blue box and is located to the right of the recording’s name
2. You can tap and drag your finger to highlight the portion of the audio you want to remove or you can use Trim to remove everything but your selected audio

To do things like move the audio around or adjust background noises, you can use iMovie to further edit your clips.

How to edit audio files on Android phones 

1. Open the Voice Recorder app 
2. Tap the three dots next to your recording to edit it
3. From there, you can trim or delete audio. To do so, just move the start and finish lines to the sections you want to delete or trim around

If you want to do things like move audio or adjust the audio’s background, you’ll likely need to download a third-party app.

How to share my recordings

You’ve finished recording your podcast all about the subliminal messages in the Real Housewives franchise. Now, it’s time to share your masterpiece. Read on to learn how.

Note: If you’re trying to send a large recording, you may want to compress your file or convert it to a different format, like an MP4, and share it via Cloud services. Or, if you don’t want to compress your audio, a third-party app may help you share large recordings.

How to share audio files on iPhone

1. Open Voice Memos
2. Tap the recording you want to share, then tap the three dots
   • You can also select multiple recordings
3. Tap Share, then choose your sharing option and recipient, then tap Done

How to share audio files on Android phones

1. Open Voice Recorder
2. From the list of recordings, tap the one you wish to share and then select Share

Tips for phone audio recording

Your favorite podcaster might record in their closet for the best sound, but here are a few other tips to try if you want to get the best audio recording you can without having to sit under a rack of clothes.

• Locate your microphone: Before you begin, make sure you know where the microphone is on your phone. When you record, make sure you speak into the microphone or point the microphone to whatever it is that you are recording for the best quality sound. On an iPhone, the mic is located on the bottom of the phone and the same is typically true for Android phones.
  
• Manage potential interruptions: If you want to avoid any interruptions to your recording, make sure you turn off your notifications. Consider placing it in Airplane Mode to make sure nothing stops your audio.
  
• Consider your environment: The newest smartphone models tend to do a better job at filtering out sounds you don’t want, but you still want to make sure you are in a quiet environment to avoid any issues. If you are outside, things like cars or the wind can interfere with your recording.

Ready to hit record?

Now you know everything there is to recording audio on your smartphone. You’re ready to record professionally or personally, whether that means a voice message on your iPhone or a voice message on your Android, or a song you heard playing in your favorite coffee shop. 

Since you know all about how audio recordings work, why not tap the button below and find out how Mint works? With our service, you can share and post voice recordings to your heart’s (and ears’) content.