How to record audio from iOS on the device it self?

mvaneijgen

I've all these cool apps which can produce sound, but most of them have no way to record samples to use out site of the app or even on a completely different platform. I would love to be able and sit at the bus stop and thinker a bit with all these different apps and record little samples to use later on my PC or anything else. For instance let say I use WrechUp and I got some nice loop, how do I record that snippet from the device it self?

I know I can hook up the iOS device to my PC and records it audio as a midi device input, but I would love to do it on my device it self and save it in any format to my Dropbox or something

BiancaNeve

That’s basically what AB is for. Put wretch up in input put recording app off your choice in output.

Telefunky

There is no general way of recording output - it depends on the app.
Some have a record button and may export directly to Dropbox, some allow to open the recording in another app (Audioshare probably the most used) that can connect to various cloud services.
Other apps can be embedded in a routing through Audiobus or AUM which either record or pass on to a recording app. Lot's of choices available...

Hmtx

Hey you have come to the right place! This forum was originally started as a place to discuss the app “Audiobus.”

First you need to download that app from the AppStore

or use the link right here on the right side of this webpage:

Audiobus was originally created entirely to do exactly what you are looking for, to route audio from one app to another for any number of reasons, including for recording. The options are limitless but here is one example. I have 3 apps producing sound, all routed to Audioshare. Audioshare can record the output and even upload direct to Dropbox.

rs2000

@mvaneijgen said:
I've all these cool apps which can produce sound, but most of them have no way to record samples to use out site of the app or even on a completely different platform. I would love to be able and sit at the bus stop and thinker a bit with all these different apps and record little samples to use later on my PC or anything else. For instance let say I use WrechUp and I got some nice loop, how do I record that snippet from the device it self?

I know I can hook up the iOS device to my PC and records it audio as a midi device input, but I would love to do it on my device it self and save it in any format to my Dropbox or something

Make sure that when you purchase an app, it supports the classic and great Audiobus (AB, Ab3) standard at least.
Other ways to record from an app are IAA (Inter-App Audio) and AUv3 (Audio Unit V3), you'll need a host app to record from them, which can be one of apeMatrix, AUM, Cubasis, Audio Evolution etc.

reasOne

Ab ftw!
I have a couple apps that aren't ab compatible that I wish I could capture their audio, but other than screen capture I don't think it's doable , just as long as your stuff is tho, you'll be good

TheOriginalPaulB

Loop back the outputs on your audio interface into the inputs and record on your recording app of choice. It goes through a D/A and A/D conversion, but you won’t be able to hear any difference.

mjcouche

For those apps that aren’t AB compatible, it’s an easy hack and it won’t be perfect, but why not just use the internal mic and a recording app??

rs2000

@mjcouche said:
For those apps that aren’t AB compatible, it’s an easy hack and it won’t be perfect, but why not just use the internal mic and a recording app??

Because that sounds awful. Really.

mjcouche

@rs2000 it’s the “analog” version of daw cassette! Or Lo fly Dirt!

mvaneijgen

@Telefunky said:
There is no general way of recording output - it depends on the app.
Some have a record button and may export directly to Dropbox, some allow to open the recording in another app (Audioshare probably the most used) that can connect to various cloud services.
Other apps can be embedded in a routing through Audiobus or AUM which either record or pass on to a recording app. Lot's of choices available...

Yes I've just found that the record feature or Audio Share lets me record sound from within others apps, that is amazing.

@reasOne said:
Ab ftw!
I have a couple apps that aren't ab compatible that I wish I could capture their audio, but other than screen capture I don't think it's doable , just as long as your stuff is tho, you'll be good

Both the build in screen capture or iOS and macOS don't record from device audio.

@TheOriginalPaulB said:
Loop back the outputs on your audio interface into the inputs and record on your recording app of choice. It goes through a D/A and A/D conversion, but you won’t be able to hear any difference.

Could you elaborate on this?

@rs2000
@mjcouche

I've just found out that the Audio Share record features lets you record from 4 different channels (eg other apps) which is what I was looking for. It looks like that Audiobus is more robust for this, but I already have bought Audio Share, so I will check how far this can take me.

Thanks all for your feedback!

mvaneijgen

@rs2000, @Hmtx, @Telefunky, @BiancaNeve

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I already had the Audio Share app and found out that if you use the record feature in there you can record sound from a lot of apps. Most all my apps support this IAA format you guys talked about. I see that Audiobus is more robust for this feature, so if I in the future need a better solution, I'll check that out.

@reasOne said:
I have a couple apps that aren't ab compatible that I wish I could capture their audio, but other than screen capture I don't think it's doable , just as long as your stuff is tho, you'll be good

Screen capture doesn't record device audio, sadly

@TheOriginalPaulB said:
Loop back the outputs on your audio interface into the inputs and record on your recording app of choice. It goes through a D/A and A/D conversion, but you won’t be able to hear any difference.

Could you elaborate on this?

TheOriginalPaulB

Plug in your USB audio interface via a USB to lightning adapter. I used a Behringer UCA222. I plugged the phono outputs back into the phono inputs using a stereo phono lead. Open up your recording app and turn down the output volume to zero. Start recording and switch to the app you wish to record. Play the audio you want to record with that app in the foreground. The digital audio will go out to the interface, be converted to analogue, come back in the inputs, get converted back to digital and come into the iOS device to be recorded by the recording app running in the background. Having the recording app’s output volume at zero prevents the audio going back out again and causing feedback.

Rebus_Knebus

@TheOriginalPaulB said:
Loop back the outputs on your audio interface into the inputs and record on your recording app of choice. It goes through a D/A and A/D conversion, but you won’t be able to hear any difference.

Some of the nicer audio interfaces (e.g., RME, iConnect) will let you do internal digital loopback, so you can skip the D/A and A/D (like Paul said you probably won’t hear a difference, but it saves you having to reconfigure your patch cords).

RajahP

@mvaneijgen said:
@rs2000, @Hmtx, @Telefunky, @BiancaNeve

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I already had the Audio Share app and found out that if you use the record feature in there you can record sound from a lot of apps. Most all my apps support this IAA format you guys talked about. I see that Audiobus is more robust for this feature, so if I in the future need a better solution, I'll check that out.

@reasOne said:
I have a couple apps that aren't ab compatible that I wish I could capture their audio, but other than screen capture I don't think it's doable , just as long as your stuff is tho, you'll be good

Screen capture doesn't record device audio, sadly

@TheOriginalPaulB said:
Loop back the outputs on your audio interface into the inputs and record on your recording app of choice. It goes through a D/A and A/D conversion, but you won’t be able to hear any difference.

Could you elaborate on this?

You may also want to grab Blocs Wave..

It’s an iOS essential .. And I think it’s free (limited) also..

Blocs Wave by Novation https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blocs-wave/id1085697317?mt=8

Edit...

JohnnyGoodyear

I love this thread. Reminds me of department stores (remember them) and a new customer walking in and being swarmed by tremendously nice people offering perfume.

mvaneijgen

@TheOriginalPaulB said:
Plug in your USB audio interface via a USB to lightning adapter. I used a Behringer UCA222. I plugged the phono outputs back into the phono inputs using a stereo phono lead. Open up your recording app and turn down the output volume to zero. Start recording and switch to the app you wish to record. Play the audio you want to record with that app in the foreground. The digital audio will go out to the interface, be converted to analogue, come back in the inputs, get converted back to digital and come into the iOS device to be recorded by the recording app running in the background. Having the recording app’s output volume at zero prevents the audio going back out again and causing feedback.

I see and I am of course still a noob at this, but that feels the same as plugin in my iOS as midi controller to my laptop and record it via something like Audacity, than all I need is just a lightning cable

@RajahP I've got that one, never played with it much, but thanks for the tip.

@JohnnyGoodyear and the customer appreciates it, all though he admits some of it goes over its head.

RajahP

@JohnnyGoodyear said:
I love this thread. Reminds me of department stores (remember them) and a new customer walking in and being swarmed by tremendously nice people offering perfume.

JohnnyGoodyear

Very good @RajahP, very good...