University of Hamburg - to research, to teach, to educate and form, to homepage

Photo: UHH/Denstorf

Audio Recording with a Smartphone

Self-Service Guide for Audio Recording with an Android Smartphone

1. Preparing for the Recording

2. An App for Recording

3. Recording an Audio File

           3.1 Preparation

           3.2 The Recording

4. Post-Processing the Recording

          4.1 Transferring the Audio File to Your Computer

          4.2 Editing the Created Audio File

          4.3 Sharing the Audio File

 

1. Preparing for the Recording

For recording such an audio file, you will need the following:

A smartphone with:

  • Charged Battery: If your smartphone tends to consume a lot of battery quickly, ensure a power supply (connected via a charging cable, power bank, etc.) during your recording to avoid interruptions.
  • Sufficient Storage Space: We recommend at least 10 MB of free space for about 10 minutes of audio material in .mp3 format. You can check the available storage on your smartphone or memory card in: Menu > Settings > Device Care > Storage.
  • Optional: An external microphone. This is integrated, for example, into the headset that came with your smartphone. If such an external microphone is available, we recommend using it as it focuses on capturing speech while blocking out background noise. However, the microphone built into your smartphone is also perfectly adequate.

2. An App for Recording

Additionally, to access your smartphone's microphone, you will need a suitable app. You can obtain this app from the Google Play Store. However, before downloading an app, please check the following:

Using an Already Installed App for Recording:

Go to the Menu and click on the search bar at the top of the display. Enter the keywords "dictation," "audio," "memo," and "recording" one by one to see if you already have such an app installed.

The following apps are often pre-installed for these manufacturers:

  • Samsung: Voice Recorder/Diktiergerät (usually pre-installed)
  • Xiaomi: Sound Recorder App (usually pre-installed)
  • Huawei: Recorder (usually pre-installed)

If you already have an app on your device, please proceed to step 3.

Downloading an App from the Google Play Store:

If there is no audio recording app on your smartphone, download one from the Google Play Store.

3. Recording an Audio File

3.1 Preparation

You have now installed an app that allows you to record audio. Before you start recording, please check the following:

  • The room you are recording in is quiet (closed windows, no noisy devices nearby, you are not wearing rustling clothes).
  • The smartphone and/or microphone is positioned so that you won't accidentally bump into it (this can create unwanted noise in the recording).
    You are at a reasonable distance from your smartphone.
  • If you want to ensure that the recording sounds the way you expect, we recommend making a test recording. This way, you can familiarize yourself with the app's interface and understand the available options. If you are not satisfied with the quality of this test recording, the issue is likely with your microphone's quality. You might want to consider other hardware options.

Your app may ask you for the following settings before recording:

  • Quality: In most cases, the Medium setting is completely adequate. Also consider the available storage space you have, as this might influence your choice.
  • Mode: This typically distinguishes between Mono and Stereo. For a simple voice recording, Mono is sufficient.

General Tips:

  • .wav files require more storage space than .mp3 files.
  • Some apps will show you in-app how much storage space is available and how long you can record audio with it.

3.2 The Recording

  • Start the recording by clicking on either "Start" or the red round button.
  • If available: Press the "Pause" symbol (two rectangles side by side) to briefly halt the recording (e.g., to collect your thoughts or take a short drink) before continuing at exactly the same point.
  • Press the "Stop" symbol (usually a square) to end the recording.
  • You will then be prompted to enter a file name under which you wish to save the audio file. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to listen to the audio file immediately.

4. Post-Processing the Recording

4.1 Transferring the Audio File to Your Computer

Since there are various ways to provide such an audio file, we have collected a few of these options for you here.

Recommended by us:

Transferring the file from your smartphone to a computer

The file you recorded is now on your smartphone. If you want to transfer it to your computer, these are the quickest options:

  • By connecting the smartphone to your computer with a cable. After granting permission for the device, a window will open on your computer, allowing you to locate the file on your smartphone and then transfer it to your computer. You can then use various services to distribute your file.
  • The Attachment Service of the University of Hamburg's RRZ, through which you can upload files up to 700MB in size per file. This service is intended for UHH employees, and you will need your B-Kennung (B-Number) for access.

Other transfer options:

  • Sending directly from the smartphone: Select your recorded file and then choose "Send"—the option is accessible either via a menu or by long-pressing the file. From here, you have access to all the applications you use to send your recording. Please note: The larger the file, the more restrictions there are on the different sending options.
  • Uploading the file to a cloud: If you have access to a cloud service, you can upload your file there. This way, you can make the file accessible to yourself on a computer.

4.2 Editing the created audio file

Here is the translation of the provided text into English:

If you need to edit your audio file afterward, you can do so either within the app itself or after importing it to a computer with other software.

4.3 Sharing the Audio File

Here is the translation of the provided text into English:

Now you have various options to provide your finished audio file.

The common systems for this at the University of Hamburg are: