Accessibility and Assistive Technology

Windows 10 Voice Recorder

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The Windows 10 free Voice Recorder app allows you to make quick and clear audio recordings for about to 2 hours and 59 minutes (per recording session).

How to access the Voice Recorder app in Windows 10

Start by typing the app's name “Voice Recorder” in the Windows 10 search box.

The Windows search bar has "voice" in it and is boxed. THere is an arrow pointed at the "voice recorder" app search suggestion.

Select the app that appears as the result from the Microsoft App.

If this is the first time you are opening the Voice Recorder app, Windows 10 will ask permission to access your microphone.

Voice Recorder wants to access your microphone dialogue box.  The "yes" button is boxed and an arrow is pointing at it.

Select “Yes”

How to set up a microphone for the Voice Recorder app

When you open the Voice Recorder app, you might find that the Record button is unavailable.  You might get the message "You need to set up a microphone in Settings" at the bottom of the window.

The Voice Recorder lets you know you need to set up a microphone.

If this prompt appears, then you must give the Voice Recorder app access to your microphone. Select "See more" menu to open the Microphone settings, and then select "Microphone Settings".

the "See more" menu opened, with the "microphone settings" option boxed.

The Microphone window will open in the "Setting" Window app.

The "Settings"  window opened to the "Microphone" settings page. with the "allow apps to access your microphone" setting slider set to "on" and boxed.

Scroll to "Allow apps to access your microphone” on this device option. Please enable the app by turning it “On”.

Continue to scroll down to find a list containing apps and whether they are allowed to access your microphone or not allowed. Find the Voice Recorder app in the list and make sure it is allowed to access the microphone, by turning the switch "On."

The "privacy" menu opened to the "microphone" section with the "voice recorder" item boxed in, and the slider for it set to "on".
How to create a recording using Voice Recorder in Windows 10

Select the Record button or use the keyboard short cut "Ctrl + R" to start your recording.

The Record button in Voice Recorder. The microphone icon has an arrow pointing at it .

The Voice Recorder app will start recording once you select the "Record button" and will also display the time elapsed since the audio recording started.

Displaying the time elapsed since the audio recording started. The time at 00:00:10 has an arrow pointing at it.
How to use the Pause button
Pause Button Voice Recorder.

Press "Pause" if you want to stop recording for a short time. Select the Pause button to pause the recording at any time, without ending the current recording session. Selecting the Pause button one more time causes the app to resume the recording. When you are done recording, select Stop recording button in the center of the window.

How to use the Add a Marker button

Add a Marker button in Voice Recorder.

Press "Add a Marker" if you want to "flag" important parts of your recording. Add markers inside your recording while it is being created. The marker is shown at the bottom of the window, next to a flag icon, and it displays the time elapsed since the recording started. You can add as many markers as you want while recording.

You can also add markers while playing a previously saved recording, by pressing the "Add a marker" button.

To remove a "flag" marker, right-click or press-and-hold on it, and then select the only available option: "Delete this marker."

Add marker flag appears on the bottom of the recording. The time, with the marker next to it, :02:27 is boxed.
How to stop the recording session

Select the Stop button

Stop button.

Keep in mind that the limit for a recording is about 2 hours 59 minutes.

Your audio recording is saved under the default name Recording. The date and time when the recording were saved are displayed underneath, followed by the duration of the recording. Once you have at least one recording saved in Voice Recorder. The Record button is displayed in the lower-left corner of the window, and you can press it at any time to start a new recording.

Audio recording is saved under the default name Recording. Both the "recording" and microphone icon is boxed in red.

All your recording sessions are saved in a list in the Voice Recorder app under the default name Recording, the most recent being at the top.

How to rename a recording in Voice Recorder

Select the recording you want to rename and then selecting the Rename button at the bottom of the window or in Context menu.

Press the Rename button to choose a new name for your recording. The "rename" button is boxed in red.

In the pop-up window that appears, insert the new desired name for your recording, and select Rename.

Rename your recording. The name box with "test recording" is boxed and the "rename" button is boxed.

How to listen to a recording

Select the recording from the list and either select again or press "Play."

How to trim a recording

The Voice Recorder will allow you to trim a recording and edit audio.

Select the Recording from the list and then select the Trim button at the bottom of the window.

The trim button. The trim button is both boxed and has an arrow pointing at it.
To "Start of trimmed section" and "End of trimmed section."

Drag them around to select the part of your recording you want to keep.

Start of the term area. The play button is circled and the start of trim circle has an arrow pointing at it.

Press the "Play" button at any time while trimming to make sure your selection is accurate. When you have made your decision, select Save at the bottom of the window.

End of the trim area and the save button. The save button is boxed and has an arrow pointing at it.

You will have the option to select "Update original" or "Save a copy."

Update original or Save a copy. The options of "update original" and "save a copy" is boxed.

If you choose to "Update original" the recording is replaced by the new version, while "Save a copy" creates a new recording in the list.

How to share your recordings

Select the recording you want to share and right-click or press-and-hold the recording in the list. Or select the Share button at the bottom of the window.

The Share button lets you share you recording. The share button on top and bottom are both boxed and has an arrow pointing towards them.

A window should pop up, displaying the options available. You can share the recording through OneNote.

 

How to Open file location to access the video file to insert in your Brightspace course or send a copy of the file to a recipient.

Go to "Open file location" from the See more menu

Open file location to access the video file. The "open file location" boxed.

The Sound recordings folder opens in File Explorer

 

The Sound recordings folder opens in File Explorer. The destination path is boxed in red and has an arrow pointing at it. The file is boxed in red and “title recording.”

You can find the Sound recordings folder in Documents.

The default location is C:\Users\username\Documents\Sound recordings\Recording.m4a.

Now you can copy the file and send it via email or insert into your Brightspace course.

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