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The easiest ways to record high-quality audio with your phone
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Whether you are a podcaster, singer, or need to record a voiceover for a project, you may be interested in using your phone as a microphone. It's a cheap and effective alternative to investing in a mic , and smartphones are quite good at capturing high-quality audio ! This makes your Android or iPhone a viable option as a mic for conference calling on your computer as well. This wikiHow guide will teach you how to use your phone as a computer mic on Windows and macOS, with either a built-in or downloaded app.
Quick Ways to Use Your Smartphone as a Mic
- On a PC or Mac, use a free tool called AudioRelay to use your Android as a mic.
- If you're using Windows and have an iPhone, install an older version of WO Mic.
- To use an iPhone as a mic for your Mac, install the Microphone Live app on your iPhone.
- To record yourself on your Android or iPhone, use Smart Video Recorder for Android and the Voice Memos app for iPhone.
Steps
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Go to https://audiorelay.net/ and download AudioRelay. Click Download under "Desktop" and select a version: Windows, Linux, or macOS.
- If you have an Android, you'll also need to install the app from the Google Play Store. AudioRelay isn't available for iPhones.
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Open AudioRelay on your phone and choose your microphone source. The "Microphone" option is under the Server tab.Advertisement
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Open AudioRelay on your computer and set the output mode. Select the Player tab, choose "Mic" in the "Mode" section, and make sure your phone is selected in the "Server" section.
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Set the virtual mic as your default device (Windows only). This allows you to use your phone as a mic as default across multiple platforms, including Discord, Skype, and Zoom.
- Right-click on the Sounds icon in the taskbar (it looks like a speaker), then click Sounds > Recording > Virtual Mic > Set as default device/Set as default communication device . [1] X Research source
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Open the app where you are speaking. This can be any app like Discord, Zoom, or Skype where you want to use your phone as a mic.
- Find the mic settings and change it to the virtual audio device. [2] X Research source
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Download the WO Mic PC client and mobile app. This is free software; however, newer links and versions of Wo Mic often contain malware. To avoid this, download an older version from sources like this Reddit link .
- On your PC, you'll also need to install the VC runtime re-distributable, which is available through the same download link.
- You can also find the WO Mic app for free for your iPhone in the App Store and for Android in the Google Play Store.
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Open WO Mic on your phone and computer. The app is represented by an orange microphone icon against a white background on both your PC and phone.
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In the mobile app, tap the three dots and select Settings .
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Tap Transport and select a transport mode. A menu will pop up, and you can tap to select to connect via USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or Bluetooth. We recommend connecting your phone to your computer via USB as it offers the highest bit rate. [3] X Research source
- For Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct, ensure your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. There will almost always be a small Wi-Fi icon on your phone's home screen that shows your connection to a network.
- To connect your Android to your PC with Bluetooth, ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and computer, then pair your phone in Windows .
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Return to the main screen in the mobile app and tap the start icon . You'll see this in the top right corner of your screen. It will start the server.
- You can set aside your phone and work on your computer now.
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Click the Connection tab in the WO Mic computer app. You'll see this in the top left corner of the client window.
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Click Connect . This is usually the first option in the menu.
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Click to select a transport (connection) type. You'll see a list of options in the panel on the left side of the window. You'll need to select the same connection type that you chose earlier.
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Select the information in the "Details" pane. You'll need to specify certain parameters for the connection before you can continue unless you're using USB, in which case you don't need to add any specific information.
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Click Connect . You'll see this at the bottom of the window.
- You should see your current status (Connected, disconnected) and connection type (USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct) in the panels at the bottom of the client window.
- As soon as the connection is successful, any noise picked up by your phone will be transmitted to your computer. If you want to hear the sounds that are picked up, go to "Options > Play in speaker" on your computer client. [4] X Research source
- Consider wearing headphones while listening to your audio, preventing your phone from picking up any echo or interference.
- You can click through "Connection > Disconnect" on your computer or tap the stop button on your phone to end the connection and recording.
- If you can't establish a wireless connection with WO Mic, make sure TCP outgoing port 8125 and UDP incoming port 8126 are not blocked by your Firewall program. See the WO Mic FAQ (frequently asked questions) page for additional help.
- Many users warn that the Android and iPhone apps for Wo Mic might contain malware [5] X Research source that sends your data to Chinese companies, so if you're concerned about sharing data, consider alternatives like AudioRelay.
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Download the Microphone Live app from the App Store on your iPhone. The microphone app is free and highly rated on the App Store. [6] X Research source
- Search "Microphone Live" in the search tab that's located at the bottom of your screen. The app's developer is Von Bruno.
- This app is only available on the App Store for iPhones.
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Connect the iPhone to your Mac. The available ports on your Mac will vary across different models, but the lightning cable that came with your iPhone should plug into your iPhone's charging port and connect to an open port on your MacBook or Mac desktop.
- Depending on which iPhone and Mac you have, you will need either a lightning-to-USB or a lightning-to-USB-C cable.
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Open Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac. You can open this by clicking the Spotlight icon in your menu tray, typing "MIDI", and clicking the first search result that says "Audio MIDI Setup." [7] X Research source
- If your iPhone is plugged in and unlocked, you'll see it listed as an option in the left panel.
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Click Enable under your iPhone icon. You'll see this in the panel on the left side of the window.
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Open System Settings. This is either a gear icon in your Dock, or you can click the Apple logo in the top right corner of your menu and then click System Settings . [8] X Research source
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Click Sound . You should find this in the second row with a speaker icon.
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Click iPhone in the Input tab. If this is already selected, you can skip this step.
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Open the Microphone Live app on your iPhone. This app icon looks like a microphone icon on a grey background that you'll find on one of your Home screens.
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Tap the power button centered in your screen. It will turn from red to grey to indicate it is on.
- Tap Front iPhone Mic if it isn't already selected at the lower left corner of your screen.
- You can swipe your finger up and down the screen to adjust the microphone's volume.
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Tap No output (if that's what you see). If this is already displaying correct information, you can skip this step.
- Tap Dock Connector in the menu that slides up.
- You should see on your computer that the input level in the System Preferences screen shows you the sounds picked up by the microphone in your iPhone. [9] X Research source
- For the Microphone Live app on your iPhone to work continuously, you must keep it open.
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Download and install Smart Voice Recorder from the Google Play Store . Smart Voice Recorder is a free app that's supported by ads, but you can get rid of ads by paying a monthly Google Play Pass fee of $4.99/month. [10] X Research source
- Make sure you are downloading the app developed by SmartMob.
- Many Android skins come with a manufacturer-provided voice recorder built into the phone. You can use a voice recorder from Samsung or OnePlus, but the Smart Voice Recorder will offer greater quality and reliability. [11] X Research source
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Open Smart Voice Recorder. The app icon looks like a microphone next to a red dot. [Image:Use Your Phone As a Mic Step 23.jpg|center]]
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Tap the record button. This looks like a red circle with another microphone icon inside it.
- If this is your first time using Smart Voice Recorder, you'll need to tap Allow so the app can access files for storage and your microphone to record audio.
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Point your phone's mic towards the sound. On most smartphones, the mic is at the bottom, on the same side as the screen, so it's near your mouth. For the best results, put the mic as close as you can to the source of the noise (up to an inch or two away). If you can't get very near to it, just point the microphone towards the noise.
- If the volume isn't an issue (i.e., if you're in a silent room), you can usually place your phone face-up on a table next to you.
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Tap the checkmark to end the recording. To end and save your recording, tap the circle around the checkmark at the bottom of your screen.
- If you want to pause the recording and start it again later, tap the circular button with the timer running. You'll see the word "Pause" change to "Resume," which indicates that you can resume recording.
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Preview your recording (optional). If you want to make sure your recording is clear and free of noise issues, you can tap the play icon to preview the file.
- You can also change the file name by tapping in the area that displays the default name (usually it is something similar to "Recording 1").
- Your audio file is saved, and you can find it by tapping Recordings in the bottom left corner of the app's main screen
- You can share the recording by tapping Share under the recording's preview.
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Open Voice Memos. This app icon looks like a red and white wavelength that you'll find on one of your Home screens or inside the Utilities folder. [12] X Research source
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Tap the circular button. You'll see this recording button at the bottom of your screen.
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Point your phone's mic towards the sound. On most smartphones, the mic is at the bottom of the phone, on the same side as the screen so it's near your mouth. For the best results, put the mic as close as you can to the source of the noise (up to an inch or two away). If you can't get very near to it, just point the microphone towards the noise.
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Tap the stop icon. You'll see this button at the bottom of your screen where the recording button was.
- After you tap the stop icon, your voice memo is automatically saved. You can edit it with any device (like an iPad) logged in with the same Apple ID. [13] X Research source
- If Voice Memos on iPhone isn't working for you, you can try Voice Recorder .
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Tips
- There are other mic apps for specialized purposes, but there are too many good audio-recording apps to list. A few more quality choices that are intended for narrow uses include:
- StoryCorps, which is designed to record family stories. The app can capture up to 45 minutes of audio at a time and has easy options for sharing and archiving stories.
- Crowd Mics lets audience members use their smartphones as mics at large gatherings. [14] X Research source
- Voice Changer Plus (and similar apps), which let you modify voice clips with amusing effects. [15] X Research source
Thanks - When you're recording, beware of your surroundings and noise issues. Don't record in a large, empty room full of hard surfaces because all of these can give your recording a distracting echo. Rugs, carpets, soft furniture, and blankets all work to dampen an echo. Don't record with ambient noise in the background, like construction work, lawnmowers, and airplanes, which can be very loud on the final recording. Also, don't record outdoors. It may seem completely silent, but even minor breezes can sound like windstorms on the mic.Thanks
- If you want an app that will record multiple tracks (which is useful for musicians), try J4T Multitrack Recorder (Android) or FourTrack (iOS). Note that these multitrack recorders are not free.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://docs.audiorelay.net/instructions/windows
- ↑ https://docs.audiorelay.net/instructions/macos/use-your-phone-as-a-microphone-for-your-mac
- ↑ https://wolicheng.com/womic/
- ↑ https://wolicheng.com/womic/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/1ekuhku/comment/lgnfyh9/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
- ↑ https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/microphone-live/id1070812067
- ↑ https://youtu.be/KJnr-wEZMzI?t=50
- ↑ https://youtu.be/KJnr-wEZMzI?t=76
- ↑ http://www.vonbruno.com/microphone
- ↑ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andrwq.recorder&hl=en_US
- ↑ https://help.smartmob.dev/article/111-privacy-policy
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/make-a-recording-iph4d2a39a3b/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206775
- ↑ http://crowdmics.com/
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-changer-plus/id339440515?mt=8
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Download the computer client in addition to the mobile app.
2. Open WO Mic on your phone and computer.
3. Tap the Settings icon in the mobile app.
4. Tap Transport
and select a transport mode.
5. Return to the main screen of the mobile app.
6. Tap the start
icon in the mobile app.
7. Click the Connection
tab in the WO Mic computer client.
8. Click Connect
.
9. Click to select a transport (connection) type (the same transport type you selected in the mobile app).
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