Record, Import and Comment on Audio in Zoundroom

This chapter covers every way to get audio into Zoundroom: recording from the home screen, inside a project, inside a note and with the web recorder, plus importing files. It also explains the players, timestamped comments and how to download an audio. Editing the audio itself has its own chapter: Audio editor.

Record from the home screen (mobile)

Capture an idea the moment you have it, without opening a project first. When you stop, you choose the name and the project it goes into.

Where it is: the home screen (Projects) → the floating «Record» button at the bottom, with the microphone icon. It only appears if the active space («My space» or «Band») has at least one project. When the mini player is showing, a round microphone button next to the player takes its place.

Step by step:

1. Tap «Record». Recording starts and the button shows the time.
2. Tap again to stop.
3. The «Recording title» dialog opens. The name is filled in with «New recording» and a number.
4. If you have band projects, the «Space» chips let you pick «My space» or «Band».
5. Below, in «Select project» («In which project do you want to save this recording?»), the last project you opened in that space is already selected.
6. Tap «Save». To throw it away, tap «Delete» and confirm («Are you sure you want to delete this recording?»).

Limits:

• With an empty title, «Save» stays disabled.
• Your plan’s limit is checked while you record. If you are already at the maximum, the recording stops, is discarded and the plans screen opens. In the Band space, if the plan has expired, recording does not start: you see the «Band plan expired» notice (If the Band plan expires).
• If you close the dialog by tapping outside it, the file stays on your phone. After at least 5 minutes, the next time the home screen loads it is imported into your first project on its own («… audios have been migrated to the default project»).
• If you pick a shared project where you are a viewer, saving fails with «Error saving audio».

What it does not do:

• You cannot pause and resume.
• There is no level meter.
• You cannot cancel halfway: stop, then tap «Delete».

To write instead of record, use the round button next to it: write an idea from the home screen.

On mobile and on the web: on the web, «Record» on the projects screen opens the web recorder, where you choose the name and the project before recording.

Record an idea without opening the app

Record an idea with one tap, even with Zoundroom closed and your phone locked. The idea is saved on your phone and uploads itself to your «Ideas» project the next time you open the app.

You can also write it: «Write» opens Zoundroom on a new note inside «Ideas», with the keyboard ready, just like the button to write an idea from the home screen.

Every way to set it up, on the record ideas without opening the app page.

Where it is: outside the app. On iPhone, in the Home Screen widget, Control Center, the Lock Screen, the Action button and Shortcuts. On Android, in the home screen widgets and in Quick Settings.

In the app, «My profile» → «Record without opening the app» explains where to add it. On Android it also has «Add the widget» and, on Android 13 or later, «Add to Quick Settings».

On iPhone (iOS 18 or later):

1. Home Screen widget: touch and hold an empty area → «Edit» → «Add Widget» → Zoundroom → choose the size → «Add Widget».
2. Control Center: open Control Center, touch and hold an empty area → «Add a Control» → Zoundroom → «Record idea» or «Write an idea».
3. Lock Screen: touch and hold the Lock Screen → «Customize» → tap one of the controls at the bottom → «Record idea» or «Write an idea».
4. Action button (iPhone 15 Pro and later): «Settings» → «Action Button» → «Controls» → Zoundroom.
5. Tap the widget or the control: recording starts. On the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island you see «Recording idea», the time and «Stop». To finish, tap ⏹ on the widget, tap the control again or tap «Stop». You will see «Idea saved».

«Record idea» is also in the Shortcuts app, under Zoundroom.

The «Record idea» widget on iPhone comes in three sizes:

• Small: the whole widget is the record button. At the bottom you see how many unsorted ideas you have.
• Medium: two buttons, «Write» and «Record», how many unsorted ideas you have, your 2 latest ideas and your last project. Recorded ideas show their waveform and length; written ones, their title.
• Large: the same, with your 3 latest ideas and the day you saved them.

There is also a small «Write an idea» widget: the whole widget opens a new note in «Ideas». You will find it in the same list of Zoundroom widgets, by swiping through to «Write an idea».

In the medium and large sizes, tap «Ideas» or an idea to open «Ideas», and your last project to open it. While you record, you see «Stop» instead of the two buttons. The widget comes in Zoundroom’s colors, light and dark, and also takes on the tint of your Home Screen.

On Android:

1. Widgets: touch and hold the home screen → «Widgets» → Zoundroom. There are three: «Record idea», a big button with how many unsorted ideas you have; «Write an idea», which opens a new note in «Ideas»; and «Ideas», a wider one with the «Write» and «Record» buttons, your 2 latest ideas (recorded ones with their waveform and length) and your last project. Tap «Ideas» or an idea to open «Ideas», and your last project to open it.
2. Quick Settings: swipe down twice from the top → pencil → drag «Record idea» or «Write an idea».
3. Tap the widget or the tile: recording starts. A notification shows the time and «Stop», and the widget’s button changes to «Stop». When you stop, you will see «Idea saved».

If Zoundroom’s notifications are turned off, the idea still records: to stop, tap «Stop» on the widget or tap «Record idea» in Quick Settings again.

Write an idea: when you tap «Write» or «Write an idea», Zoundroom opens on a new note inside «Ideas», with the keyboard ready. When you leave, the note takes its first line as the title; if you leave without writing anything, it is deleted and does not count toward your plan. If your plan is full, the plans screen opens. You need a connection.

Where ideas go: to your «Ideas» project, which is created with your first idea. Each idea is called «Idea» with the date and time (for example, «Idea Oct 20 · 10:37 PM») and you can play, rename, move or delete it like any audio. Once it has uploaded, you will see «Your idea is now in “Ideas”». If you change the app’s language, «Ideas» changes with it, as long as you have not renamed it.

«Ideas» does not count toward your plan’s project limit, even if you rename it. What is inside it does count as files.

With the app open: while you record an idea, the home screen shows «Recording idea», the time and «Stop». If you tap «Record» inside the app, the idea stops and is saved, and the usual recording starts.

Limits: each idea counts as a file (limits table) and stops on its own at 30 minutes, like any recording. If you have reached your plan’s limit, the idea is not lost: it stays on your phone and, when you open the app, «Recording title» asks you where to save it, with «Ideas» already selected. If it still does not fit, the app explains why: you can go Pro and save it («Go Pro and save it») or leave it for later («Not now»).

What it does not do:

• It does not upload a recorded idea until you open Zoundroom on your phone. That is why you do not see it on the web yet.
• It never saves an idea to a shared project: if you share «Ideas», new ideas go to your most recent project of your own that is not shared.
• The widget does not update on its own with what you change on another device: you see the changes when you open Zoundroom on that phone.
• On iPad, the widget opens Zoundroom and starts recording. To stop, tap ⏹ on the widget or «Stop» in the app.
• On iPhone, if you have turned off Zoundroom’s Live Activities, the control opens the app to record.

On mobile and on the web: mobile only. Once they have uploaded, your ideas also show at app.zoundroom.com.

Sort your ideas

You can keep your ideas in «Ideas» for as long as you like. When one grows, move it to its project. Zoundroom never moves your ideas for you.

Where it is: the «Ideas» project → «Move», next to each idea.

Step by step:

1. Open «Ideas» and tap «Move» next to the idea. «Move this idea to…» opens.
2. Pick one of your recent projects and tap «Move to», followed by its name.
3. Going somewhere else? Tap «Another project…» to choose from all of them, your band’s too. Or tap «New project with this idea»: the suggested name is the idea’s, and you can change it.

At the top of «Ideas», a line reminds you what it is for. Close it with the ✕.

Limits: «New project with this idea» creates a project, so it counts toward your plan’s project limit.

Record inside a project

Record straight into the open project, without choosing where it goes.

Where it is: project → the «Add» button at the bottom → «Record». The same menu has «Note», «Import» and «File».

Step by step:

1. Tap «Record». The button shows the time.
2. Tap again to stop.
3. The audio is saved in that project as «New recording» with a number. You can change the name later from ⋮ → «Rename».

Limits:

• Only the owner, editors and members of an active Band can record. Viewers do not see the button.
• Each recording counts toward your plan’s content limits (see the limits table). If you are at the limit, your phone cuts the recording off and discards it; the web warns you before you start («This project has reached your plan’s content limit.»).

What it does not do: it does not ask for a name and you cannot discard the take: what you record is always saved, and if you do not want it, you delete it afterwards. There is no pause.

On mobile and on the web:

• On the web, the «Add» menu has «Note», an option to import audio, an option for PDF files and «Record». While it records, a bubble shows the progress until «Recording saved and synced.».
• On the web, leaving the project while you record discards the recording. On your phone, recording carries on even if you switch screens.

Record inside a note

Record while you write a lyric, and the audio is inserted into the note where your cursor is.

Where it is:

• Mobile: inside a note, the mic on the bar above the keyboard or, while you read the note, the «Record» button at the bottom. Read-only notes have no bar. The steps are in Record without leaving the note.
• Web: project → «Notes» tab with a note open. The floating button becomes «Record».

Step by step (web): tap «Record» and then stop. The audio is saved as «New recording» with a number and inserted at the cursor.

Limits:

• Mobile: recordings of half a second or less are discarded («Recording too short»).
• Web: if you close the note before it finishes, the audio is removed («The note is no longer open.»).

What it does not do: on the web you cannot import a file into a note. While a note is open, the «Add» menu disappears: switch tabs to use it.

Web recorder

Record from your computer with a large timer and a level meter. The page is called «New recording».

Where it is: Projects → «Record». It only appears if the active space has projects.

Step by step:

1. Check the «Name»: it is filled in for you and can be up to 120 characters.
2. Choose the project in «Save to project». The last one you opened is already selected.
3. Click «Record». You will see the timer and the level bars moving.
4. Click «Stop and save», or «Cancel recording» to throw it away.
5. When it finishes, you get «Open project» and «Record another».

Limits:

• Before you record, the project, your permissions and your plan are checked. You may see «You do not have permission to add content to this project.», «The Band plan must be active to record in this project.» or a limit notice with the «View plans» button.
• If the browser cannot use the microphone, you will see «Allow microphone access to start recording.» or «No available microphone was found.».
• At 30 minutes, the recording stops and is saved on its own.
• Leaving the page while you record discards the recording.

What it does not do: there is no pause and no monitoring of what you record.

Recording format and length

Format:

• Mobile: AAC-LC at 256 kbps and 44.1 kHz, in an .m4a file. No noise suppression and no automatic gain control.
• Web: the browser records at 256 kbps and Zoundroom converts it to M4A AAC at 256 kbps before uploading it. Echo cancellation and noise suppression are off; automatic gain control is on.

Limits:

• Each recording lasts at most 30 minutes, on every platform.
• Each recording counts as one item in the project for your plan’s limits.

In the background:

• Mobile: recording carries on if you switch screens, leave the app or lock your phone. On Android you see the «Recording…» notification: tap it to go back to the recording.
• Web: closing or leaving the page discards the recording.

Import audios and notes

Bring the audios and text notes you already have on your phone or computer into the project, all at once.

Where it is: project → «Add» → «Import». On the web, it is the import audio option.

Step by step (mobile):

1. Tap «Import» and choose several files at once (touch and hold the first one to choose more). You can mix audios and text notes (.txt or .md).
2. If there is something to decide, «Import N files» opens: whatever is already in the project comes unticked, and whatever cannot be imported shows in red with the reason. Tick or untick what you want and tap «Import».
3. Each file appears at the top of the project list with its status («Queued», «Converting…», «Uploading», «Saving…»). You can leave the project or the app: it keeps going on its own and, if you close the app, it picks up again when you open it.
4. When it finishes, you will see «N ideas imported». If something did not make it, the app tells you why and you can retry it.

Names: each audio is saved with the file’s name, without the extension; WhatsApp voice notes, as «WhatsApp audio Oct 9». A text note takes its first line as the title (if it is short) and the whole text as its content.

Formats (mobile): audio in MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG, OPUS (WhatsApp voice notes), FLAC, AIFF, CAF, AMR and 3GP; notes in TXT and MD. For a PDF, use «Add» → «File».

Limits:

• There is a maximum number of files at a time: if you choose more, the app takes the first ones and tells you.
• Up to 250 MB and 30 minutes per audio, on every plan. Everything is saved as M4A AAC: the original is not kept.
• Each imported audio or note counts as one item toward your plan’s limits (limits table). If you choose more than fit, the app tells you how many fit («Your free plan has room for 2 more») and you can import just those or go Pro and import them all. Whatever does not fit stays where it was.

What it does not do:

• It does not import whole folders or keep the file’s original date.
• On your phone it needs a connection to upload; offline it pauses and carries on by itself when you are back online.

On mobile and on the web: on the web you import one audio at a time, any audio your browser can open, and there are no text notes.

Share to Zoundroom and «To sort»

Save voice memos, WhatsApp audios or lyrics from other apps to Zoundroom without opening Zoundroom, and decide later which project they go in.

Where it is: in another app (Voice Memos, WhatsApp, Notes, Files, Drive, your recorder…), «Share» → «Zoundroom». If you do not see it, swipe the row of apps and tap «More».

Step by step:

1. In the other app, choose what you want (one thing or several) and tap «Share» → «Zoundroom».
2. Choose where it goes: «To sort» (you decide later) or one of your projects. Tap «Save».
3. iPhone: it is saved without leaving the app you are in. Android: Zoundroom opens for a moment and, when you save, you go back to the app you were in.
4. What you send to a project uploads when you open Zoundroom. What goes to «To sort» shows on the home screen, on the «To sort» card.
5. In «To sort» you can play each audio, read each note, delete what you do not want and tap «Move N to a project».

Limits:

• What is in «To sort» does not count toward your plan. It counts when you move it to a project, with the same limits as importing.
• A limited number of things at a time; only audios, texts and PDFs (PDFs with Pro).

What it does not do:

• «To sort» is only on that phone: you do not see it on another phone or on the web, and if you delete the app, whatever is in it is lost.
• It does not show up when you share photos or videos.
• On iPhone you need to have opened Zoundroom, signed in, at least once; if not, the sheet asks you to.

On mobile and on the web: on the web you cannot share from other apps.

Mini player

Keep listening while you move around the app.

Where it is: it appears when you tap any audio in a project.

• Mobile: a dark pill with the cover, the name, the time, play/pause, next and an X. Tap it to open the full player; swipe it to the right to close it.
• Web: a bar at the bottom with previous and next, «Go back 10 seconds» and «Go forward 10 seconds», play/pause and the progress bar. It also has «Open full player» and «Close player».

If an audio does not load, you will see «This audio could not be played.» with «Retry». On the web, if the browser blocks sound, you will see «Press play to continue.».

Full player

See the audio in full, with its waveform and its comments.

Where it is:

• Mobile: tap the mini player. At the top right you have «Edit audio» (owner or editor only) and share.
• Web: «Open full player». An «Audio Player» panel opens with the «Comments» column.

Step by step:

• Mobile: tap or drag on the waveform to jump to that point. Drag the handle to expand the bottom panel.
• Web: use the keyboard: ← and → jump 10 seconds back or forward, Space plays or pauses and Esc minimizes the player.

What it does not do: on your phone the waveform is decorative: it has the same shape for every audio.

On mobile and on the web: on the web the waveform is the audio’s real one. If the file is over 60 MB, you see a flat line.

Queue, skipping and repeat

• Queue: it is the list you see in the project at that moment, with any search and filters applied. When an audio ends, the next one plays. The audios in a note form their own queue, in the order they appear in the note.
• Skipping: on your phone, 5 seconds with the comments panel expanded. In an audio inside a note, tap or drag its waveform to jump to that point. On the web, 10 seconds.
• Repeat: on your phone, expanding the comments panel loops the current audio, so you can comment calmly. Collapsing the panel stops the loop.

What it does not do: there is no speed control (except in the audio editor), no shuffle and no editable queue.

Background playback and lock screen

• Mobile: playback continues in the background. The lock screen shows the name, the project or note and the author, without artwork, with previous, play/pause, next and the position bar. It pauses during a call or when you unplug your headphones.
• Web: there are no system controls of its own; it depends on your browser.

Timestamped comments

Leave a comment at an exact second of the audio, such as “the vocal comes in here”.

Where it is:

• Mobile: full player → the «Leave a comment» field, which shows the current second on its left.
• Web: full player → «Comments» column → «Comment at» followed by the current second.

Step by step:

1. Take playback to the point you want to comment on.
2. Write the comment.
3. Send it. You will see «Comment added», and the others get it in real time.

The timestamp is the second at the moment you send, not when you start typing. The other members of the project get a «New comment» notification.

On the waveform, each second with comments shows the avatar of whoever commented, or a +N count if there are several. Tap a marker: on your phone it jumps 5 seconds before the comment and opens its thread; on the web it jumps to the exact second.

Limits:

• Anyone with access to the project can comment, viewers included, if their own plan allows it. What counts is the plan of the person commenting, not the owner’s: a collaborator on Free cannot comment, even in a Pro user’s project. In the projects of a band with an active plan, every member can comment.
• The Free plan cannot comment (see the limits table): trying opens the plans screen. Pro and Band have no limit.
• On the web, a comment can be up to 1,000 characters.

What it does not do: you cannot comment on a range (from one second to another), only on a point.

Reply, edit and delete comments

• Reply: tap the comment, «Reply» or the number of replies. The reply takes the comment’s second. There is only one level of replies.
• Edit: only the author. On your phone, ⋮ → «Edit comment»; on the web, the pencil icon.
• Copy: only on your phone, ⋮ → «Copy».
• Delete: the author, the audio’s owner and the project’s owner can delete a comment. Deleting a comment also deletes its replies.

Download and share an audio

Where it is:

• Mobile: the project list → ⋮ → «Export» (M4A) or «Export WAV». The system share menu opens. In the full player, the share icon does the same as «Export».
• Web: ⋮ → «Download» or «Download WAV».

The WAV has no more quality than the saved M4A. It is useful for opening the audio in a DAW.

What it does not do: there are no public links to share an audio and no batch export.

On mobile and on the web: on your phone, only the owner and editors see the ⋮ menu. On the web, any member can download, viewers included.

What happens to an audio after you record it

• Web: the audio is converted and uploaded to the cloud first, and only then appears in the project. If something fails, nothing is left half-done.
• Mobile: the audio appears right away and uploads to the cloud in the background. You can record offline: the recording stays on your phone and uploads by itself when the connection comes back. Until an audio has uploaded, it cannot be played from another device.

Edit the audio

To change the speed or the key, add effects or record takes over an audio, open it in the editor: ⋮ → «Edit audio», or the editor button in the full player. Only the owner and editors can use it. Everything is explained in Audio editor.