Month: September 2019

Whether you’re attending a lecture, recording a client meeting, or want to remember this moment forever, there are a whole host of reasons you might want to record a phone call. It’s one of the best ways to capture a conversation, allowing you to focus on what the other person is saying without trying to take notes and ask questions at the same time.

In the old days, recording a call meant purchasing an external device to listen in. These days, devices have gotten better—but they’re not your only option. From conference-calling apps to iPhone and Android downloads, here are the best ways to capture a call:

Learn the rules

Before you choose an app and start recording, make sure you let the other person know that you’re recording the conversation. The FCC has no formal rules in place governing telephone recordings between individuals.

However, several states have laws on the books about obtaining consent. 38 states have what’s called one-party consent laws, which so long as you’re one of the parties involved, there’s no need to get consent from your conversation partner. 11 states require both parties to consent to the recording.

Zoom

Zoom calls produce some of the better quality recordings compared to some of the “record a call” iPhone apps or external devices.

You can sign up for either a paid or a free account, which will allow you to record calls by switching on a toggle. In a conference call setting, dial-in participants will hear a message letting them know that a meeting is being recorded.

So, while this might not be the best option for all the amateur spies out there—it’s certainly our top pick for those who need a reliable solution for recording important calls like client interviews with minimal set-up.

As per the Zoom help section, if you’d like to record a call for your own use, navigate to My Meeting Settings and then the Recording tab, then Local recording and verify that the setting is enabled. If it’s disabled, click “turn on” and you’re good to go.

Skype

Skype rolled out call recording late last year, offering users the ability to record calls on both desktop and mobile. Like Zoom, when you start recording a call, all participants are notified so that they can opt out before it’s too late.

After the call is complete—all parties receive a copy of the recording inside the chat box, where it will remain for up to 30 days.

To save the download on mobile, simply tap and hold the recording file inside the chat—which will bring up a menu. Select save and the recording will automatically save to your camera roll.

Google Voice

Have you looked at Google Voice lately? It’s actually a pretty handy service, though we get why it might not be the first thing you think of when you’re hoping to record a call.

The free account allows you to record calls from your iPhone, your computer, or Android device, though it’s worth pointing out that you can’t record outbound, so you’ll have to ask the other person to call you to use this option and make sure you enable incoming call options, as seen below.

 

There is no shortage of recording apps in the Google Play store, but the quality varies pretty dramatically, here.

Most of the apps you can download work by accessing your microphone to record both sides of the conversation. This means that calls can be a bit on the quiet side if you’re not using the speakerphone setting.

Here are a couple of options with solid reviews:

Automatic Call Recorder Pro

One of the better options out there is Automatic Call Recorder Pro, due to its simple, straightforward interface and custom recording rules.

Unlike Google Voice, you can record both incoming and outgoing calls and it integrates with Google Drive and Dropbox, making it easy to store your recordings in the cloud for flexible access when you really need it.

Beyond the basics, Automatic Call Recorder Pro offers some pretty cool features. There’s “shake to record,” which, as you might guess allows you to start recording by giving your phone a good shake. Save calls, add notes, and search for recordings by keyword, phone number, or contact name.

TapeACall Pro

 TapeACall is one of the easiest ways to record calls to your iPhone—incoming and outgoing alike. How it works is, the app sets up a three-way call between you, the person on the other line, and the service. When you want to record, simply open the app, press the record button and the app will connect to the service. When you’re done, your recording will be stored in the app—and from there, you can choose to share them via social media, email, or text or upload them to a cloud storage tool like Google Drive or Dropbox.

External recorders

Why use an external recorder, anyway? Instead of downloading an app, you can pick up an external device that allows you to record calls by connecting to your phone jack.

Here are a few options:

Waytronic Call Recorder Headphones

Waytronic’s call recording headphones offer users a simple, plug-and-play solution for recording a call directly from their device by simply swapping out your usual earbuds for these bad boys.

The headphones allow users to record both incoming and outgoing phone calls and are compatible with iPhones (comes with a 3.5mm lightning jack adapter) and Android phones.

Headphones hold up to 16 hours of audio or 512 MB, and automatically deletes your oldest files if there’s no room left on the built-in device. If you’d like to keep call records, the device comes with a micro USB cable which allows you to transfer files to your computer.

RecorderGear Bluetooth Cell Phone Call Recorder

If cords aren’t really your thing, RecorderGear’s Bluetooth Cell Phone Call Recorder presents a different solution—a wireless recording device that records both sides of your conversation—no cords or bulky plug-ins needed.

The device comes with 4GB internal memory and supports Bluetooth file transfers to your Mac or PC for storage.

You can also use the recorder for voice memos, meetings, or lectures and listen to recordings directly from the devices. While the tool is a bit more expensive than, well, most of the options on this list, it’s multi-functionality and convenience may make it a worthwhile purchase for regular users.

DeciVibe Cellphone & Landline Call Recorder

The DeciVibe Cellphone & Landline Call Recorder is an external device that works with iPhones and Androids alike. And, as suggested by its wordy name, it works with landlines, too.

The device comes with 16GB internal memory, plus an external micro SD card for additional storage, making this a solid portable option for in-person recording (lectures or interviews) just as much as phone calls.

Audio is recording as a MP3 format at 1536 kbps up to 192kBPS and comes with additional features that beef up the offering a bit more like audio gain and a noise cancellation setting.

Some swear that two screens are better than one, while others say that the extra screen is a distraction in and of itself.

If your mind starts to wander during the average workday, you’re certainly not alone. Staying on task, especially in today’s productivity minefield definitely isn’t easy.

But, maybe getting on task

In reality, you’re just switching between tabs over and over, searching for that one link you need to paste into another document.

The dual-screen approach, though nothing new, is a productivity method that some say, could increase your output by up to 50%. There’s no need to toggle back and forth between tabs and it might even lead to fewer errors.

Why use multiple monitors anyway?

Well, multiple monitors mean more room, without having to commit to a big-screen solution.

And, for those who keep a million tabs going at any given moment, the set up can bring a sense of digital clarity that you just won’t get from your single laptop screen.

Below, we’ve included some suggestions that will help you make the most out of your dual-screen approach.

1. Streamline your screenshotting game

If you’re a content creator of any kind, chances are you’ll need to do some light editing here and some screen-shotting there.

We know what a pain this stuff can be on a laptop, where you’re dragging, clicking and losing your place over and over.

2. Reduce errors with a side-by-side comparison

If you’re pulling numbers from one documents, you’re switching back and forth, over and over. Did you forget what you just looked at? Well, that just means you’re clicking between tabs—wasting time and increasing the likelihood of an error.

Whether you’re trying to put together a spreadsheet on your laptop or testing code, a separate screen can help you spot errors as you work.

3. Improve your workflow

Researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute found that a cluttered work environment makes it more difficult to focus.

Use the multi-screen system to set up a workflow that works for you. Part of this means keeping one screen available for organizing your thoughts and to-dos on a clutter-free backdrop.

Set your screens up so that your eyes go from left to right—think reference materials and to-dos on the left side, and one task at a time on the right.

A couple of options here— one is pretty informal. Plan out your day’s worth of to-dos and organize your tabs accordingly.

Or, if you’re trying to work out a top-level view of a big project, you can use dual screens to create a Kanban (or Trello-style) board that maps out your process.

4. Use one screen for source material

Whether you’re writing a research paper or drafting a blog post, you’re probably looking up information as you get your work done.

Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, any task that requires you to look up source material has a whole bunch of clicking around between tabs built into the process.

It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but that separation between your workspace and its associated source material is a huge game changer.

This New York Times article from 2006 states that working off two screens can increase your productivity by up to 30%. In it, the writer mentions they wrote the article by writing on one screen, with the outline and source material on the other.

5. Segment your work tasks

Make like Bill Gates and use one screen to collect incoming information and the other (or other two, in Gates’ case) to work on tasks. Use one screen to keep an eye on information, emails, alerts, and so on.

You need to commit to productivity

James A. Anderson, the professor from the University of Utah who led the 2008 productivity study says that whether multiple monitors will make you more productive depends on the type of work you do.

So, if you don’t really need more than one screen, an extra monitor won’t help much. This set up is ideal for people who need to toggle between two sets of information—coders, designers, writers, etc.

Dual monitors present an effective way to increase your productivity, by giving you a little more breathing room for spreading out your work.

Still, that means there’s twice the amount of space for distractions.