Voice Recorder is a built-in application in Windows that allows users to record audio using their computer's microphone. This tool is useful for capturing meetings, lectures, personal notes, and more. In this article, we will explore how to use the Voice Recorder app on Windows, along with some command-line alternatives for advanced users.

Using the Voice Recorder App in Windows:

1. Open Voice Recorder:

   • Click on the Start menu.
   • Type "Voice Recorder" in the search bar.
   • Click on the Voice Recorder app from the search results to open it.

2. Record Audio:

   • Once the app is open, you will see a large microphone icon. Click on it to start recording.
   • Speak into your computer's microphone. You will see the waveform moving, indicating that audio is being captured.
   • Click the stop button (a square icon) to end the recording.

3. Play and Edit Recordings:

   • Your recordings will appear in a list on the left side of the app.
   • Click on any recording to play it back.
   • You can trim the recording by selecting the trim option (scissors icon) and adjusting the sliders to the desired start and end points.

4. Save and Share Recordings:

   • Right-click on a recording to rename it, delete it, or share it via email or other apps.

Command-Line Alternatives:

For users who prefer command-line tools, Windows supports PowerShell and CMD, which can be used to record audio, though not as directly as using the Voice Recorder app. Here’s an example using PowerShell and a third-party tool called ffmpeg, which needs to be installed separately:

1. Install ffmpeg:

   • Download ffmpeg from the official website: https://ffmpeg.org/download.html
   • Extract the downloaded files and add the ffmpeg bin directory to your system's PATH environment variable.

2. Record Audio Using PowerShell:

   • Open PowerShell by searching for it in the Start menu.
   • Use the following command to start recording:

     ffmpeg -f dshow -i audio="Microphone (Realtek Audio)" -t 00:00:30 output.wav

   • This command records audio from the default microphone for 30 seconds and saves it as output.wav.

Note: Ensure that the audio device name matches your system's microphone. You can list available devices using:

   ffmpeg -list_devices true -f dshow -i dummy