Google’s Pixel phones are best known for theirpowerful photographyandeditingfeatures, but there’s another Pixel exclusive that’s just as good: audio recording. Every Pixel phone since thePixel 4was released in 2019 has included an app called Recorder that not only lets you record any sound you throw at it, but also is capable of transcribing it too.
These transcripts are ready fast, and fairly accurate right out of the gate. Even if you’re not interviewing people for a living, it’s great if you need a backup note taker for a meeting or class so that you know you’ve captured everything important. Recorder was one of the first places Google flexed its ability to offer on-device AI features, now a key skill of the entirePixel 9line, and transcriptions and summaries have popped up not only all across Android, but other operating systems too. To make sure you’re creating the best possible recordings and the cleanest possible transcripts to read through later, here are several tips to keep in mind as you start putting Google Recorder through its paces.
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1You should create some space between your Pixel and whoever is speaking
The best audio isn’t necessarily captured up-close
The Pixel and most modern flagship smartphones include at least two or three microphones. One at the top of the phone for dealing with voice commands, a microphone at the bottom for picking up your voice during a phone call, and a microphone on the camera bump for recording video. One or more of these microphones is engaged anytime you’re recording audio on your phone, and they’re designed to be sensitive enough to pick up your voice even if you’re not holding the phone close to your face.
The Pixel and most modern flagship smartphones include at least two or three microphones.
In fact, you’re better off not putting your Pixel running the Recorder app right next to whoever you’re recording. you may keep your phone 1ft or more away from your speakers and still capture a clean audio clip, as long as they’re talking at a normal speaking volume (around 60 decibels). If you’re recording someone from a distance in a lecture hall or off a video call on your laptop, you might want to move closer or adjust your volume accordingly, but as long as your Pixel is out and you yourself can hear whoever is speaking well, there’s a good chance your Pixel will capture what you need.
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2Edit your audio so you only save what you need
Trimming clips is fiddly, but doable if you’re patient
You’re able to edit any audio you record as soon as you stop recording, which means you can remove any unwanted sounds from the beginning or end of your clip without too much effort. Google uses a traditional mobile editing setup where you’re moving beginning and end points around your clip and either removing everything outside your selection or removing the selection itself. Besides manipulating the waveform of your clip, you can also edit it by trimming the text of the transcript itself.
Since these transcripts are most useful when they’re fully searchable, there’s no reason to hold on to pieces of audio, or transcript text that’s going to get in the way of you finding what you need. To start editing a clip:
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3Label speakers so your transcript is easier to read
Recorder can automatically break up text
Whether you plan on sharing your transcript or not, breaking up text by speaker should make it much easier to read. If you’re using a Pixel 6 or newer, the Recorder app can automatically identify when a new speaker joins a conversation and label them accordingly, but it’s not entirely accurate, which is why Google also includes the ability to relabel speakers, add new speaker labels, and split up long paragraphs of text into separate speakers if Recorder gets confused.
You can enable automatic speaker labeling inside the settings menu in the Recorder app. You might even get prompted to enable them when you create your first recording on a supported Pixel phone. Once it’s on, the Recorder app will label new speakers by number, which you can then rename by doing the following:
Using that same process, you can also add a new speaker by tapping on “Create new speaker” when you tap on the label you want to edit. For those times when the transcription runs together, your best option is to split paragraphs up into separate speakers. To do that:
4Don’t be afraid to have Recorder re-transcribe your recording
Sometimes the second time is the charm
Recorder transcribes your audio at the same time as you’re recording it using AI models the Pixel can run locally. It’s fast, but like I mentioned before, not 100% accurate. The Recorder app gives you the option of transcribing any audio recording again if you’re not happy with its first pass and want to see if it’ll improve without you having to edit it. To transcribe a clip again:
The process should take longer, but the finished product should be a bit more accurate than the original. From there, you can edit or relabel things however you want and share the clip and transcript.
Transcribing your audio a second time can send your clip to Google’s servers and may require an internet connection.
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5Search through transcripts for just the right quote
The advantage of Recorder is the index of transcripts it creates
The point of spending all of that time recording clean audio and cleaning up your transcripts is that it makes finding the information in the things you recorded easier. If there’s a specific quote you want to find, you can search for it. Anything spoken on a recording can become a keyword that pops up in a search. Google makes it remarkably easy to find the exact turn of phrase or insight you need, even if you only remember the basic topic.
To search through all of your recordings, you can justtap on the magnifying glassat the top of your screen andtype in a word or phrase. Alternatively, you can also type in or tap on the location you made your recordings to sort through things that way. Recordings where your search term appeared will be listed and if you tap on them, the word or phrase will be highlighted in the transcript itself to make it easy to copy and paste somewhere else.
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You don’t need paid transcription software for your next meeting
Recorder is a simple app that’s surprisingly helpful if you need to remember something. Most phones ship with some kind of voice recording feature, but few are as efficient at actually making your recordings useful as Google. With Apple making similar improvements to theiOS Voice Memos app, there could soon be real competition on theiPhoneside of things, but in the meantime, the Recorder app is a legitimate reason to consider a Pixel phone. It’s just that good.
Google Recorder
Google’s Recorder app can capture and transcribe audio entirely locally without an internet connection. Making it perfect for class, meetings, or interviews.
Sure, there is a growing list of wearables that can record and transcribe your calls, but you’re already bringing your phone along. Why not have it act as your note-taking backup, too? It’s just one of several Pixel-exclusive skills worth exploring, especially if you’re already considering a Pixel 9 orPixel 9 Pro.
