How to Record Audio from Your PC or Phone

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If you need to create a YouTube instructional video or record sound, you will probably use a computer or a smartphone to do so. Nowadays, these devices have replaced many everyday tools including sound recorders.

In this article, we’re going to help you learn how to record audio using your PC or smartphone.

How to Record Audio from Your PC or Phone

In order to record any form of external audio, you will require a microphone. These days, all smartphones are equipped with one. This microphone is mostly used to speak to another person on a call, but it is also used to record audio.

With computers, things are a bit different. Your average desktop PC most likely doesn’t feature a microphone by default, even though it has recording software installed on it. Generally, it will require an external microphone device plugged into it.

Laptops, on the other hand, are conceptualized as “on the go” computers. As such, almost every laptop model, whether it’s a Windows computer, Mac, or a Chromebook, comes with both a webcam and a built-in microphone. Of course, you can also introduce an external mic for better quality, just like you would on a desktop computer.

How to Record Audio on Android Devices

Android phones and tablets, unlike iOS devices, aren’t “uniform.” Although they are all based on one form of the Android OS or another, the default featured apps may vary from model to model. Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G, for example, comes with a pre-installed app for voice recording. No matter how old or new your phone model is, it may not feature such an app by default.

But the great thing about smartphones is that you can download any app to your device. If you can’t find such an app on your Android phone or tablet, download one following these steps:

Open the Play Store app on your device.

Tap on the search bar.

Type in “record” or “recorder.”

Tap on your preferred recorder app.

Select Install.

Open the app.

Most audio recording apps offer a simple red circle or microphone button to start your recording immediately. Be sure to allow the particular app access to your mic feature.

Your recorded files are stored in your device’s file system, but you’ll probably be able to access them via the recorder app itself.

How to Record Audio on an iPhone

Every iOS device comes with a default recording feature as part of a pre-installed app. However, don’t try looking for this app by typing in “record” in the iOS search bar, as it’s actually called Voice Memos. The app is likely located in your device’s default Extras folder on the home screen. If not, here’s how to find it:

From the home screen, swipe left or right.

Tap on the search bar at the top of the screen.

Type in “voice memos.”

Tap on the result to run the app.

Inside the app, tap on the red circle button.

To stop the recording, tap on the red square button.

The content you’ve just recorded will now be accessible via the app itself, from the app’s main screen. You can delete it, share it, save it to files, move it to a different folder, and so on.

If you can’t find it on your device (most likely because you’ve deleted it), download it again from the App Store, like you would any other app.

How to Record Audio on Windows

If your device doesn’t come with a built-in microphone, you’re going to have to use an external one instead. Don’t worry; if you have a pair of earphones that came with your smartphone, they’re likely equipped with a mic (the tiny plastic box on the wire). Just plug the earphones into the 3.5mm jack on the computer, and you’re all set.

If your desktop PC doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack on its front plate, though, things could get tricky. Not to worry, microphone devices are very cheap, and there are many affordable gaming headphone options with long cables to choose from.

Once you’ve made sure that the microphone device is correctly set up on your Windows PC, here’s how to record audio:

Open the Start menu.

Type in “voice recorder.”

Click the Voice Recorder result.

Allow access to the microphone.

Click the microphone icon.

Click the stop icon when you’re done recording.

A list will appear to the left, with the file that you’ve just recorded on it.

Right-click on it, and you can share it, delete it, open the folder it’s stored in, etc.

Of course, there are various other, more sophisticated third-party recording options for your Windows PC. However, Voice Recorder is the quickest and most straightforward way of recording audio on Windows.

How to Record Audio on a Mac

Every MacBook device, like every other laptop, comes with a built-in microphone. Apple computers often come as monitors, which also feature both a microphone and a webcam. Additionally, Apple-brand monitors boast mics and webcams too.

Mac mini and Mac desktop computers, however, don’t come with built-in microphones. These devices will require a third-party device. Be careful with the dongle extensions you may need for a third-party microphone, though. Apple devices are widely famous for their lack of input/output options, and their dongle extensions aren’t really cheap.

Once you’ve set everything up and your Apple computer is ready for voice recording, the recording itself is easy. Just follow these steps:

Find the Voice Memos app.

Run it.

To start recording, click the red circle.

Hit the pause button to stop recording (you can resume if you want to)

Click Done to wrap up the session.

The Voice Memos app works like its sibling app on iOS devices. The recorded files are accessible via the app itself. You can edit the files, delete them, crop them, etc.

As is the case with Windows computers, there are various Mac-compatible recording tools available on the market. Using the Voice Memos app, however, is the most straightforward method.

​​How to Record Audio on Chrome

The world is continually moving in the direction of connectivity. Wherever you travel, you’re probably online via your phone/tablet or your computer/console. Many of us spend hours upon hours using web browsers like Google Chrome. The great news is that yes, there is a website that allows you to record audio from your browser. It’s called Voice Recorder, and it’s completely free. Here’s how to use it:

Go to this website.

Allow the website access to your microphone, if prompted.

Click the microphone icon.

When done, click the stop button.

To save the file, click Save.

However, your goal might not be to use Google Chrome as a regular microphone-based recorder. After all, there are other ways to record external audio. But you may want to record internal audio from a Chrome tab. Thankfully, the type of extension that allows you to do this does exist. It’s called Chrome Audio Capture. Here’s how to install and use it:

Go to this link.

Select Add to Chrome.

Confirm by clicking Add extension.

Click the newly added Chrome Audio Capture extension icon (available to the right of the address bar).

To start recording the browser audio, select Start Capture. You can also use the hotkeys outlined in the extension’s main screen.

Once you’re done recording or after the 20-minute recording maximum is reached; select Save Capture.

A new tab will open, prompting you to save the file. Press Save Capture and save the file.

Recording Phone Conversations

Before we dive deeper into this subject, you should know that the laws and regulations regarding phone call recording differ from state to state. Where some states require consent from a single party (you), others may dictate that all the involved parties engaged in a conversation have to approve phone call recording. Keep this in mind to avoid any potential legal complications.

​​How to Record Conversations on an iPhone

Unfortunately, iPhones don’t come with a built-in feature for phone call recording. Luckily, however, there are various apps available in the App Store that can help you record your phone calls. We can’t recommend a single one, but we’ll show you how you can get your hands on the list of apps with the call recording feature.

Open the App Store on your iPhone.

Tap the search bar.

Type in “phone recorder.”

Check out the apps that appear.

Download the one you find the most appealing.

Each of these apps works differently. So, after downloading and installing an app, refer back to its page within your App Store, and look for instructions.

How to Record Conversations on Android

Like iPhones, Android phones don’t come with a built-in conversation recording feature. Using the Google Play store, however, you can find a variety of apps that will help you with this issue. The principle here is the same as that with iPhones – just open Google Play and use the above-mentioned keywords to find a list of apps that allow you to record phone calls.

Additional FAQ

How can I record audio on my computer without a microphone?

If you want to record external sounds using your computer, you’re going to have to use a microphone. However, you don’t need a microphone to record the internal sound from your PC.

To do this, open Control Panel and click Hardware and Sounds. Then, select Sound. In the dialog box that appears, navigate to the Recording tab. Find the Stereo Mix entry and right-click it. Then, select Enable. If there are any microphone devices on your computer, disable them. Select OK to close the window. Now, use the Voice Recorder Windows app to record internal audio from your PC.

How do I capture audio from a website?

If you’re using Google Chrome, refer back to the How to Record Audio on Chrome section. For Opera, take a look at the Desktop Screen Recorder extension. For Safari, you can use Soundflower. This extension, however, might be a bit more complex to install than the others.

What is the best Android app for recording audio?

For the simplest method of recording audio using an Android device, check out the How to Record Audio on Android section above. However, if you want more extensive options, various audio formats, cloud integration, playback speed controls, and various other features, check out the ASR Voice Recorder app. This app is completely free and is absolutely packed with features.

Audio Recording from PC and Phone Devices

Most computer and smartphone devices come with their own default audio recorder option. Even if your computer doesn’t have a microphone, it may have the Voice Recorder/Voice Memos app installed. However, you can’t record external audio without a microphone of some shape or form. Granted, all smartphone devices have a built-in mic, but for some computers, you’re going to have to get a separate microphone or headset to record audio.

We hope that this article has helped with your audio recording needs. Did you get the recording that you were looking for? What app did you use? How did you like it? Add a comment below to let us know and join our growing community.