Voice Recorder

How to use the Voice Recorder

1. Click Start recording. The first time, your browser asks whether this page may use your microphone; choose Allow.
2. Watch the level meter while you speak. Aim for the bar to move through the middle; if it turns red, move back a little or speak more softly.
3. Use Pause and Resume to skip parts you don't want. Click Stop when you're done.
4. Play the take back. Download it in the browser's recording format (small file) or as a WAV (larger, but opens everywhere).
5. Record as many takes as you like; each one appears in the list until you close the page.

How it works

The recorder uses two standard browser features. getUserMedia asks for permission and opens your microphone, and MediaRecorder compresses the sound as it arrives. Chrome, Edge and Firefox usually record Opus audio in a WebM or OGG file; Safari records AAC audio in an MP4 (M4A) file. The exact format your browser uses is shown below the controls, and the file is saved with the matching extension.

The level meter reads the same microphone signal through a Web Audio analyser and shows its loudness in decibels relative to full scale (dBFS), where 0 dBFS is the loudest a digital recording can be. Speech usually sits around −30 to −12 dBFS. If the meter reaches the red zone near 0 dB, the sound may distort.

The WAV download decodes your take and rewrites it as uncompressed 16-bit PCM audio, which any editor or device can open. A minute of WAV is about 5–10 MB, while the compressed recording is usually well under 1 MB per minute. The voice-cleanup switches ask your browser to apply its own noise suppression, echo cancellation and automatic gain; turn them off for music or when you want the raw sound.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I see a permission prompt?
Microphone access only works on secure (https) pages and needs your permission. If you blocked it earlier, click the lock or microphone icon in the address bar, allow the microphone for this site, and reload. On phones, also check that your browser app has microphone permission in the system settings.

Is my recording uploaded or stored online?
No. The audio goes from your microphone into this tab's memory and nowhere else. It is gone when you close the page unless you download it.

Which file format will I get?
It depends on your browser: usually WebM or OGG (Opus) in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and M4A (AAC) in Safari. You can also download any take as a WAV file, which every device can play.

How long can I record?
There is no set limit, but the recording is kept in memory. An hour of compressed speech is typically under 50 MB, which computers handle easily. On phones, keep takes shorter and download them as you go, and keep the screen on, because some phones pause the microphone when the screen locks.

Can I record a phone call or another person?
Only with permission. Recording laws differ by place, and some require everyone in a conversation to agree before you record.