Best Audio Recording Apps for iOS & iPhone
There are plenty of options these days when it comes to choosing a recording app for your iOS device. We’ve already covered the options available to folks recording audio on the Android platform. This time round, we’ll be focusing on iOS and the iPhone.
This is predominantly about recording audio, but many of these apps offer editing options too. The app that most appeals to you may depend on whether or not you’d also like to edit and produce on your iPhone. If you’re recording on your phone purely for the convenience and flexibility, but plan to do your production and editing work on the computer, then check out our guide to the best podcast editing software too.
A Word on Uncompressed Vs Compressed Audio
When seeking out the best recording apps for iOS, I wanted the option to record uncompressed audio. This basically means you’re getting the highest quality source material possible. However, in many instances, recording compressed audio may be preferable, because the files are much smaller. To most listeners, the difference won’t even be noticeable. If you’re recording hours and hours of content in a single day, then this might be the way to go.
Best Recording Apps for iOS
So onwards to the apps themselves. I’ve been playing around with a lot of these, and here are the ones I’ve liked the most – in no particular order…
ShurePlus MOTIV
Shure have built a number of mics that let you record directly into your iPhone, such as the MV5 and MV51. To compliment this, they also created the ShurePlus MOTIV app.
- Allows you to record uncompressed audio
- Includes trim, split, and fade editing tools.
- Lets you share files via email, Airdrop, Dropbox, text, and more
Auphonic Recorder
Auphonic is an audio post production webservice. Their Auphonic Recorder is a recording app for iOS, which links up as a companion tool.
- Option to record uncompressed or compressed audio
- Links up with Auphonic.com for post-production tools
Hokusai Audio Editor
The Hokusai Audio Editor is a recording app for iOS that also works as a powerful and intuitive little multitrack editor.
- Option to record uncompressed or compressed audio
- Editing tools, including normalisation, gain adjusting, and fade in/out
- Multitrack editor lets you layer multiple files together
- Lets you share files via email, Airdrop, Dropbox, text, and more
Anchor
Anchor is also a media hosting provider, which means you can publish your podcast with them. The Anchor app lets you record, edit, and produce your podcast on your iPhone. Check out our full review of Anchor.
- Compressed audio only
- Edit and mix together multiple segments
- Options to add in music and effects
- Mix down and publish your podcast straight to the web
Lexis Audio Editor
Lexis Audio Editor is simple to use for both recording and editing. It has multiple built-in effects, including normalization, noise reduction, compression, reverb and fades. Editing is intuitive and zooming allows for very precise deletions and trims.
- Option to record uncompressed or compressed audio
- Variety of editing options
- Lets you share files via email, Airdrop, Dropbox, text, and more
Awesome Voice Recorder X
AVR is another app that provides both paid and free versions. With free, you’re always going to have to put up with ads. If that annoys you, you can upgrade to pro for £4.99.
- Option to record uncompressed or compressed audio
- Lets you share files via email, Airdrop, Dropbox, text, and more
- Top, tail, and tag your audio
- Pro version lets you work with multiple files
Summary: Best Recording Apps for iOS
All of these apps have something to offer. If I had to pick a favourite though, I’d probably go with the Hokusai Audio Editor. I was really impressed with its multitrack capabilities.
And although it isn’t a recording tool itself, I want to give a nod to iOS app EditPoint. Editing on your phone can be fiddly, and often difficult, but EditPoint is a great way to review your audio on-the-go, and create a production to-do list. If you record lengthy interviews you need to comb through for edits, then you’ll definitely want to be using this.
Podcast Production Made Simple
Hopefully, that’s you set up to record audio on-the-go with your iPhone. Be sure to check out the Samson Satellite or Shure MV5 too, if you’d like a top quality mic to plug directly into your device.
And if editing on the phone just isn’t for you, check out our ‘Podcast Maker’ web app Alitu. Alitu makes it easy to edit your content, build your episodes, and publish them for the world to hear. You don’t need to know the slightest thing about audio production to start using it!
