With Android devices coming with preinstalled sound recording apps, recording audio has become incredibly easy. However, getting the best quality recordings is not that easy, and you may end up with audio that is barely understandable or may have a lot of noise. Fortunately, there are a few simple tricks that can help you avoid these problems and record high-quality audio using your Android device.

Step 1: Prepare your recording environment

Before you start recording any audio, it is important to prepare your recording environment. This is because environments usually have background noise from elements such as a running fan, traffic in the street, appliances, etc. Your audio quality will not be good when background noise from these elements is present. So, first, try to find someplace where you can record audio without any noise or interruptions. Make sure the room where you record audio has soft surfaces instead of hard ones since the latter can lead to echoes and negatively affect the quality of the recorded audio.

If you cannot find a quiet environment for recording audio, you will have to rely on headphones or recording apps with noise-canceling features. Additionally, you can set all phones to airplane mode or Do Not Disturb to prevent disruptions from calls and notifications while you record audio.

Step 2: Check your microphone

Once you have prepared your recording environment, you should take a look at your microphone. With time, dust can collect around it and reduce the sound quality, so clean it properly before you start recording. The microphone is usually located at the back or close to the bottom edge of smartphones. If you find the sound quality of recordings is not up to the mark even after cleaning the microphone, it might be better to use an external microphone. Some external microphones you can use directly or with adapters include:

  • Shotgun microphones: Shotgun microphones record audio from sources in front of them while reducing sounds from the back and the sides. This makes them ideal for crowded or outdoor environments.
  • USB Condenser microphones: If you want professional-level recordings, USB Condenser microphones are the best option. If your device supports USB connections, directly or with adapters, you can use this option.
  • Lavalier Mic (Lapel Microphones): For solo recordings or interviews, you can use these small clip-on microphones. They can record clear audio with very little background noise.

Step 3: Choosing the right settings for the best audio quality

Depending on your device and the recording app, you may be able to adjust the audio quality by changing settings like the sample rate and bitrate. For instance, Samsung devices let you adjust the audio quality and set it to 256 kbps. If you want the best recording quality, you need to set the highest sample rate and the bitrate at the maximum. Just keep in mind that higher-quality recordings will use more storage space.

Additionally, some devices and recording apps support uncompressed audio or formats like WAV, which results in better audio quality compared to formats like MP3. You may even find options that let you choose the recording mode, such as Interview and Standard. In the former, the recording process utilizes multiple microphones to record audio from different directions, while the latter is better for quick voice notes and memos.

Step 4: Position your device correctly

To get the best quality audio, keep a distance of around six to 12 inches between the audio source and your device or microphone when recording. This will reduce harsh sounds and pops caused when speaking certain words aloud. However, you will need to try out different angles and distances to determine the best quality when recording sounds other than human voices, such as environment sounds or musical instruments. You can find the right balance of volume and clarity by testing different positions of the device or microphone.

Step 5: Use a dedicated voice recording app

While you can record audio using the built-in recorder on your Android device, you can get much better results when using a dedicated third-party app for this. Since these apps are specifically designed for this purpose, they offer more features and greater control over the sound and quality of your recordings. You can find features like noise reduction, adjustable recording quality, EQ, gain control, and even audio editing tools in such apps.

Dolby On is one of the best audio recording apps you can find on the Play Store, and it is completely free to use. You can record high-quality audio in lossless WAV format and even reduce background noise directly within the app. The app also lets you apply styles like Natural and Standard to your recordings to adjust their tone, as well as tweak aspects like the bass, mids, and treble to get the perfect recording.

Voice Record Pro is another great app that you check out, which allows you to convert your recordings to different audio formats.

Step 6: Get rid of handling noise

Handling noise refers to the sounds that get recorded accidentally when you touch or move the phone while recording audio. It can lower the overall quality of the recording, so you need to take steps to ensure handling noise is reduced or eliminated. The best way to do so is to place the phone on a stable surface, such as a table or you can rely on a tripod to keep it stationary.

If you need to hold the phone, grip it lightly from the edges to avoid tapping or rustling sounds and avoid moving. If you use a case with your phone, consider removing it as certain cases, like hard cases, can increase handling noise.

Other methods by which you can reduce noise include placing the device on a towel, and if possible, recording the audio in a small, furnished room to reduce echoes. You can also hang curtains or blankets on walls to reduce sound reflections.

Step 7: Perform a precheck

Once you've made all the necessary arrangements, you should first perform a precheck and ensure everything is working properly. Make a quick recording and listen to it to check the sound quality. If you find something is not right, adjust the position of the mic, take a look at your recording settings, etc., before you start the main recording.

Things to know

  • Once you complete recording your audio, listen to it with headphones to test the quality of the audio. You can try recording the audio multiple times until you get the perfect recording.
  • It is extremely likely that your final recording still has some disturbances, echo, and background noise. You can use third-party tools to remove such elements and edit the audio in other ways to improve the clarity of the recording.
  • Other tips that can help you when recording audio using your Android phone include mastering your breathing, identifying and blocking other noise sources, adding wind protection for outdoor recordings, and adding silence time between recordings.