That professional-grade recording studio sitting in your pocket? It's called an iPhone. While most people think of it for photos, music, or doomscrolling, your iPhone is secretly a powerful audio recorder capable of capturing surprisingly good sound. From voice notes to podcast interviews, it can handle far more than most people realize.

Voice Memos—that app you've probably ignored for years—lets you capture high-quality audio with minimal fuss. The built-in tools are decent for basic trimming, but when you need something more robust, you can export directly to professional software like Descript where the real magic happens. No fancy equipment required.

In this guide, we'll walk through exactly how to capture clean, usable audio with your iPhone—from optimal microphone positioning to fixing common recording issues. You'll learn the techniques pros use to get surprisingly good sound from that device already in your pocket.

Understand iPhone audio formats and quality settings

The audio format you choose can influence how your recordings sound and the file size, so it’s worth learning about the differences between compressed and lossless formats. For example, Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) can capture up to 24-bit/192 kHz, resulting in greater audio detail suitable for professional workflows Apple support reference. Meanwhile, AAC offers smaller file sizes at a slightly reduced quality, which can be useful for quick voice notes. If you’re aiming for studio-level clarity, consider higher sampling rates like 48 kHz or even 96 kHz to capture more nuance in your audio. Common file types like WAV or AIFF preserve sound fidelity, but M4A is a good balance between quality and convenience for everyday recording.

Can you record high-quality audio on iPhone?

Absolutely. Apple's iPhones come with a built-in audio recording app called Voice Memos that's perfect for capturing high-quality audio. Whether you're recording voice notes, interviews, music, or lectures, Voice Memos provides a simple yet powerful way to record audio directly from your iPhone.

To use Voice Memos, just open the app and tap the red record button. Press the same button again to stop. In the app, you can listen, rename, edit, and share recordings. You can also trim the audio so you only save and share what you want.

🧠 Read: How to use voice recording on iPhone for great podcast audio

How to record high-quality audio with Voice Memos

1. Locate and launch the Voice Memos app

Go to your iPhone's Home Screen. Find the Voice Memos app, which has an icon resembling a waveform within a black background. Tap on the memo app to open it.

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If, for some reason, you've removed the app, you can always download it for free on the App Store.

2. Position your iPhone for optimal sound

For optimal audio quality, microphone positioning is crucial. If you're recording your own voice, hold your iPhone like you would during a phone call, or place it on a flat surface about 6–8 inches away from your face. For recording someone else or a group, put the iPhone on a flat surface 6–8 inches from them. Always ensure the built-in microphone isn't blocked by your hand, case, or other objects.

Otherwise, follow the tips you'd use with any microphone to improve your audio quality: record in a quiet room without echo or background noise, mute notifications or use airplane mode during recording, and avoid rustling or handling the phone while recording. If you can't avoid background noise, don't worry: there are ways to remove background noise later on.

If you're trying to capture audio of participants who aren't in your same physical location, you can either instruct them on how to use Voice Memos and have them send you the file, or, ideally, use a remote audio recording tool instead.

3. Tap the red record button

When you want to record, tap on the large red circle button.

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4. Record clear, distortion-free audio

Speak clearly and at a reasonable volume. You can adjust the recording level by moving the microphone closer or farther away from the sound source. For the best iPhone audio recording quality, try to maintain a consistent distance and volume throughout your recording.

Image of a new recording in progress on iPhone

👉 NOTE: When you use Voice Memos to make recordings, an orange dot appears at the top of your screen to indicate your microphone is on. This privacy feature helps you know when your mic is active.

If you have an iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can see your recording in progress in the Dynamic Island at the top of the Home Screen.

To get back to Voice Memos, tap the Dynamic Island.

5. Pause or stop the recording

If you're recording in parts and need to pause, swipe up from the waveform to see more advanced features. Tap the pause button to stop the recording. Tap Resume to continue.

Tap the stop button to finish recording.

6. Name and save your recording

Recordings are automatically saved with a default name. Tap on the default name to rename it. The keyboard will appear so you can add a new name.

Tap “Return” on the keyboard to save the name.

7. Access and enhance your audio quality

The main Voice Memos screen shows all your recordings. To play a recording, just tap it. You can also edit or delete recordings by selecting them and using the available options.

You can adjust playback speed, remove silence, or enhance audio quality to polish up your final product. The enhance audio feature in Voice Memos can automatically improve your recording's clarity by reducing background noise and enhancing your voice.

The Voice Memos app also lets you trim parts you don't want, record over parts, or replace your entire recording. These editing features help you create high-quality audio without needing to start over completely if you make a mistake.

To trim your recording, tap the More Actions button, then tap “Edit Recording.” Tap the Trim button at the top right, then drag the yellow trim handles to enclose the section you want to delete or keep.

Tap Trim to keep the section and delete the rest of the recording. Or, tap “Delete” to get rid of the highlighted part. When you're finished, hit “Save,” then tap “Done.”

If you want to record a phone call or record system audio from a computer, you'll need to use separate tools. Check out our guides on how to record a call and how to record computer audio.

Use external mics and accessories to improve iPhone audio

Even a small clip-on microphone can transform your iPhone into a near-professional recording device by capturing more directional sound and minimizing ambient noise. Popular choices like the Shure MV88 or Sennheiser ClipMic Digital connect via Lightning and offer higher-fidelity audio than the built-in mic. To further enhance speech clarity, pair a pop filter with your microphone to reduce “p” and “t” plosives. Outdoors, a windscreen can keep gusts from overwhelming your recording, a necessity if you’re capturing content on the go. For optimal results, consider using Apple’s guidelines on lossless audio so your external mic can record at a higher resolution for maximum detail.

How to share your high-quality iPhone recordings

Say you create a podcast on your iPhone and want to transfer it to another mobile device or backup for editing. Voice Memos lets you easily send recordings to your Mac, iPad, or another iOS device through AirDrop.

You can use Messages, Mail, and other options if you want to send the audio file to an Android smartphone or device.

Here's how:

1. Select the recording to export.
2. Tap the More Actions button.
3. Tap “Share,” then choose a sharing option and follow the onscreen prompts.

Best practices for professional iPhone audio

While the built-in Voice Memos app works well for basic high-quality iPhone audio recording, there are many specialized tools on the market with advanced features designed for professional-grade audio with exceptional sound quality.

People who already use Descript's voice recorder benefit from advanced features that enhance audio quality beyond what's possible with basic iPhone recording apps:

• Overdub, which creates an AI clone of your voice to fix voiceover mistakes
• Studio Sound, which makes it sound like you recorded in a professional studio
• Accurate transcription that identifies filler words like “um” and “uh”
• 5GB of free cloud storage with shareable links
• Professional editing tools that allow you to edit audio from text
• Exporting options to share your audio across podcast hosting services

Start creating high-quality audio with the best voice recorder app on Mac and Windows. Take a tour and see why.

FAQs about recording high-quality iPhone audio

How do I secretly record audio on my iPhone?

Secretly recording audio on any phone without consent is illegal in many jurisdictions. If you have legitimate reasons and the proper permissions, you can use the Voice Memos app or another third-party app to record audio on your iPhone.

How do I record just the audio?

iPhone users can record just the audio using the Voice Memos app, which saves audio without video. Open the app, tap the red record button, and it'll start recording.

How do I use my iPhone as a recorder?

To use your iPhone as a recorder, launch the Voice Memos app, which comes pre-installed on all iPhones. Press the red record button to start recording and again to stop; your recordings are saved within the app for playback and sharing.

Should I record in a compressed or a lossless format on my iPhone?

Unless you need broadcast-ready or high-resolution files, compressed formats like AAC are often enough for casual recordings. However, if you aim for maximum audio detail or plan to edit extensively, Apple Lossless Audio Codec can help preserve more data. Recording in lossless can result in larger files, so consider your storage space. Ultimately, choose the format that matches your project's needs by balancing convenience and quality.

Will enabling airplane mode improve my iPhone recording?

Turning on airplane mode can reduce unwanted interruptions like calls or notifications, ensuring a cleaner session. It’s an easy way to focus on the recording while preventing external disturbances. Apple’s support page also recommends updating your device and using stable iOS settings for optimal performance. Do Not Disturb mode can also help by silencing alerts, but airplane mode cuts off wireless signals completely for even fewer distractions.