Free and Easy Audio Recording Tools
A quick guide from Prof. Tamara Fudge

Note: Create mp3, mpeg4, or m4A files for ensuring device compatibility.

★ Very easy online tools ★

• Vocaroo: https://vocaroo.com. Click the big orange-red button to record, then click the red square to stop. One stopped, click on the "Save & Share" button and look for the "Download" button to save as an mp3.
  
  
• Online Voice Recorder: https://online-voice-recorder.com. Click the little red microphone button and speak. Click the red square when you are done. You can delete the beginning and end with the slider bars if there was noise. An easy click of the "Save" button allows you to download your mp3 file.
  
  
• Rev Online Voice Recorder: https://www.rev.com/onlinevoicerecorder. Click the red rectangular Record button and start talking. When you are done, hit the Pause button, then Preview. Look for the down-arrow next to the trash can to be able to download your mp3. Ignore the transcribe button unless you want to pay money. Of course, you should write out your transcription first anyway!

There are several other online recorders; test them first, as some will only produce mp3s when you give them your email address or will give you a wav or ogg file that you probably do not want (see above). The online tools listed above may be the simplest and easiest to use.

★ Easy programs on your computer ★

• Sound Recorder on Windows 11 PCs . Use the search feature to find the app. Click on the red recording button, and when you are done, click on the square to stop. You can listen to the file there, and will see a list of your most recent recordings in a left-side pane. Make sure your current file is selected there, and then look for the three dots at the top right to "Show in folder." Click and drag the file to where you would like your mpeg4 file saved. If your Windows 11 PC does not have this app installed, see ttps://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9wzdncrfhwknM.
  
  
• Voice Recorder on Windows 10 PCs . Use the search feature to find the app. Click on the blue microphone recording button, and when you are done, click it again to stop. Your recent recordings are listed in the top of the apps. Click on the file name you want to hear and save, then look for the three dots at the bottom right to "Open file location." Click and drag the file to where you would like your mpeg4 file saved. For additional help, visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-voice-recorder-6fbb53d5-0539-abda-a9a4-0bcb84a778e7.
  
  
• Macs: (1) QuickTime - Instructions are at http://osxdaily.com/2014/04/03/record-sound-mac-easy-quicktime - and
  (2) Voice Memos is easy; check https://support.apple.com/guide/voice-memos/record-vmaa4b813415/mac but make sure the final product is mp3 or m4a, as this software's end product might otherwise not be usable on a non-Apple device.
  

★ Moderately easy tools ★

• PowerPoint allows you to record right there in the program. Open the software and go to the Insert ribbon > Media > Audio > Record Audio. Name the file and click the little red dot to begin recording. Click the blue square to stop, then the green triangle to listen. If satisfied, click OK.
  • Save the slide and share it - - or if you need the file itself - -
  • Right click on the audio icon after recording and choose "save media as" to save just the audio file to your computer.
    
  • For more detail, visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-and-record-audio-in-powerpoint-eeac1757-5f20-4379-95f2-0d0cd151d5b8.
    
    
• Apps on your phone: find a free app that produces the kind of file that can be heard on any device. Send the completed file to your computer by email attachment, messenger, or cloud storage if you have it - or connect your phone to your computer by a USB cord to locate the file and download it.
  

★ More difficult, but worth the download ★

• Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org) is a popular download audio-recording program. It works for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. In order to save as an mp3, you will also have to download a program named LAME; the software will tell you this and provide a link when you get to that point.
  • This tutorial from Kent State University will get you started: https://www.library.kent.edu/files/SMS_Audacity_Basics.pdf.
  • If you want more detail, start at the official audicity manual at https://support.audacityteam.org/basics/recording-your-voice-and-microphone and check the help in the left-side menu.
    
    
• NCH Software's Wave Pad (https://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html) is also available as a free download. Prof. Fudge has used several other tools by this respected company but admits not having tried this one just yet.

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© Tamara Fudge