Microsoft has its built-in app for voice recording, so there is no need to use third-party software. Microsoft voice recorder, called Windows Sound Recorder, is for users who need to capture audio notes, record meetings, or create voice memos.
There are many other recorder apps with lots of features, but the Microsoft sound recorder is easy to use. It lets you record, trim, mark important moments, and share audio tracks with ease. In this guide, we will explain everything about this software, including the step-by-step how to use it.
In this article
Part 1. Microsoft Sound Recorder: General Overview
Microsoft Sound Recorder, which is called Voice Recorder in Windows 10, is a program for recording audio. This program is included in most versions of Windows OS. But, if you can not find it on your device, you can download it for free in the Microsoft Store or click this link.
The features of Windows Sound Recorder:
- One-Click operation: Start or resume a recording with a single button click. There is no need to fiddle with complicated settings.
- Autosave feature: Your recordings will automatically be saved in the Documents folder for easy access.
- Editing Tools: Playback, trim, rename, and delete recordings directly within the Microsoft Sound Recorder app.
- Marking Tool: You can mark important moments during recordings, making them easy to find later, especially useful for interviews.
- Output Format: It provides various audio file formats. These formats are MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, and WAV.
- Compatibility: This program works on any device with Windows OS, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
- Easy Sharing: Share recordings with friends or colleagues by sending them to other apps.
Part 2. How to Use Microsoft Sound Recorder
In this section, we will guide you on how to record audio on a Windows computer. We will cover two different versions of Windows, use the version that your laptop has.
Windows 10
Here is the step-by-step guide on how to use Microsoft Sound Recorder on Windows 10 to record audio:
Step 1. Open Voice Recorder.
Step 2. Press the microphone button to start recording; it will turn into a Stop button.
Step 3. Use the pause button to pause the recording, and press it again to resume.
Step 4. Press the Stop button to end the recording.
Step 5. The recording will appear on the left side of the screen automatically; right-click it to rename or share the file.
Windows 11
The steps to record audio on Windows 11 are not much different from Windows 10. Here is the step-by-step guide on how to record audio using Microsoft Sound Recorder on Windows 11:
Step 1. Open Sound Recorder.
Step 2. Press the big red button or click the Ctrl + R button to start recording; it will turn into a Pause button.
Step 3. Use the Pause button to pause the recording, and press it again to resume.
Step 4. Press the Stop button (the big square) to end the recording.
Step 5. The recording will appear on the left side of the screen automatically; right-click it to rename or share the file.
Part 3. Microsoft Sound Recorder Review: Pros and Cons
After using it, we would say Microsoft Sound Recorder is a straightforward and reliable tool for capturing audio on Windows devices. The process is simple; you only have to press the red button to start the recording.
Your recording is automatically saved in your Documents folder as an AAC file. You can easily change the format to MP3 or WAV in the settings menu. Additionally, you have the option to adjust the sound quality, choosing between high-quality and smaller file sizes.
The Pros of using the Microsoft Sound Recorder app:
- Easy to use with a straightforward interface.
- Integrated with Windows, requiring no additional software.
- It has basic editing features.
- Supports multiple audio formats.
The Cons of using the Microsoft Sound Recorder app:
- It has limited advanced features for professional use.
- Basic editing tools might not be enough for everyone.
- Not as versatile as dedicated audio recording software.
- Only works on Windows, not on other operating systems.
Part 4. Alternative to Sound Recorder: Wondershare Filmora
After learning about the free software, Microsoft Sound Recorder, to record audio on Windows devices, how about we take a step further? Let’s learn about more advanced software that can help you not only record audio but also video editing tools.
Wondershare Filmora is a video editing tool designed to make content creation easy for everyone. Even though its main feature is to edit video, you can use it as an alternative software to capture audio. Filmora features a voiceover function that lets you easily record your own voice or add a voiceover file to your video.
Microsoft Sound Recorder and Wondershare Filmora: Which Is Better?
| Microsoft Sound Recorder | Wondershare Filmora | |
| Supported Format | MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, and WAV. | MP3, M4A, WAV, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AIF, and AIFF. |
| Audio Editing Capabilities | Basic audio editing, such as playback, trimming, renaming, and deleting recordings. | It provides audio editing tools for adjusting pitch, speed, volume, and applying fade effects. |
| Audio Effects | No | Yes |
| Sound Quality | Good-quality | High-quality |
How to use Wondershare Filmora to record sound?
Step 1. Plug an external microphone into your computer for high-quality sound capture.
Step 2. Record Voiceover
Launch Wondershare Filmora and create a new project. Then, navigate to the Record tab > Record a Voiceover. Alternatively, click the microphone icon, wait for the countdown, speak, and click again to stop recording. A new audio file will appear on the track automatically.
Step 3. Edit Recorded Sound
Click on the recorded sound on the audio track to open a new window for adjusting audio settings. Here, you can modify parameters like speed, volume, and pitch as needed. Trim or cut unwanted sections from the recording. Apply fade-in and fade-out effects for smoother transitions if needed.
Step 4. Preview your audio in the right window. If you are satisfied, click "Export" to save it to your device. If you want to save the audio only, you can opt for the MP3 format.
Conclusion
Microsoft Voice Recorder is a simple and reliable tool for recording audio on Windows computers. It is easy to use, with basic editing options, making it handy for various recording tasks like taking notes or recording meetings.
While it lacks some advanced features, its integration with Windows and compatibility across devices makes it convenient. However, for those needing more advanced options, Wondershare Filmora offers additional features for both audio and video editing, making it a good alternative.
