How to record audio files in Windows 10

Audio recording is simple in Windows 10. All you need is a microphone and software to capture the input.

You don’t have to spend money on a sound recording program, however. Good paid programs exist, of course, but you can do well with free offerings. That’s especially so if you plan to do very little in the way of editing.

Not all sound recording programs have the same level of features, so we’ve highlighted two that suit both basic and more advanced needs. You’re covered if straightforward is what you want, and also if you require greater control over inputs and edits. And both picks cost absolutely nothing to use.

Voice Recorder

PCWorld

This dead-easy-to-use sound recording program comes included with Windows 10, so you can jump into it straightaway. To begin, tap the Windows key (or right-click on the Start button), type voice or recorder to bring up Voice Recorder as a search result, and hit enter.

Starting a recording is as simple as clicking on the large blue microphone icon in the left-hand part of the window. The screen will change to show buttons for stopping, pausing, and marking specific moments within the recording, as well as a counter that shows how long you’ve been recording. When you’re done, click on the blue stop button in the middle of the screen.

In the main window, you’ll see a list of recorded clips. You can also select files for playback, trimming, and renaming. If you’re having trouble recording through your microphone, or through the correct microphone, go into Win10’s Sound settings (Windows key, then type sound settings.) Under Input, verify that the microphone in use is set as the active device.

Files recorded in Voice Recorder are immediately accessible as .m4a files, which most modern devices can play through their default apps.

Audacity

PCWorld

Audacity may not look like much, but this well-known free audio recording program’s sophistication lies in its feature set.