How does the Audio Recorder capture sound from my microphone?
The tool uses the browser's MediaRecorder API combined with getUserMedia to access your microphone. When you click record, the browser asks for microphone permission and then streams audio data into memory. Once you stop recording, the captured chunks are assembled into a single audio blob you can play back or download as a WAV file. Everything happens client-side, so no audio is uploaded to a server during the process.
Why does my browser ask for microphone permission and what happens if I deny it?
Modern browsers require explicit permission before any web page can access the microphone, which protects your privacy. If you deny the prompt, the recorder cannot start and you will see an error message. To enable it later, click the lock or microphone icon in the address bar, change the permission to Allow, and reload the page. You can also reset site permissions in your browser's privacy settings.
Which browsers and devices support this audio recorder?
The recorder works in all modern browsers that support the MediaRecorder API, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 14.1+, and Opera, on both desktop and mobile. Older browsers like Internet Explorer are not supported. On iOS, Safari is the only fully supported browser because of platform restrictions. For best results, use the latest version of Chrome or Edge, and make sure your device has a working microphone connected.
In what format is my recording saved and can I convert it to MP3?
The tool downloads recordings as WAV files, which are uncompressed and offer high quality but larger file sizes. WAV is universally supported by audio editors, DAWs, and media players. If you need MP3 or another compressed format, run the downloaded WAV through a free converter like Audacity or an online MP3 encoder. Browsers do not natively encode MP3 due to historical licensing constraints, which is why WAV is the default output.
Is my recorded audio uploaded anywhere or stored on a server?
No, everything stays on your device. The recording is held in your browser's memory as a Blob object and saved directly to your local downloads folder when you click download. No audio is transmitted over the network, sent to our servers, or shared with third parties. Once you close the browser tab, any unsaved audio is discarded automatically, making this a private and safe option for sensitive voice memos.
How long can I record and is there a maximum file size?
There is no fixed time limit imposed by the tool, but practical limits depend on your device's available memory because the audio is buffered in RAM until you stop. Most modern computers can comfortably handle 30 to 60 minutes of recording. For very long sessions, expect WAV file sizes of around 10 MB per minute at standard quality. If your tab crashes during a long recording, try shorter segments and combine them later.