Recording
Sonidata records high-quality audio directly on your iPhone or iPad. Choose from three quality presets to match your session requirements — from broadcast-standard WAV to lightweight compressed capture.
Audio Quality Options
| Quality | Format | Sample Rate | Bit Depth | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | WAV | 48 kHz | 24-bit | Professional delivery, film/TV post |
| High | WAV | 44.1 kHz | 16-bit | CD quality, general use |
| Compressed | M4A (AAC) | 44.1 kHz | — | Long sessions, saving storage |
To change quality: Settings → Recording → Audio Quality. Pro quality (WAV 48/24) is a Pro feature. Free users can record in High and Compressed quality.
How to Record
- 1Tap the center record button (red circle) on the bottom tab bar.
- 2A recording panel appears at the bottom with a live waveform, timer, and format badge.
- 3Tap the stop button to finish recording.
- 4The Naming View automatically opens so you can tag the recording immediately.
Recording Indicator
While recording, the record button pulses with a red glow on the Naming and Settings tabs — a subtle visual reminder that a session is active even when you navigate away from the recording screen.
Live Activity (Lock Screen)
When a recording is in progress, a Live Activity appears on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island showing a live timer with the current duration, the recording name, and a red dot indicator. It starts automatically when you begin recording and disappears when you stop — no setup required.
Record Ready / Monitor Mode
Optional pre-record monitoring that shows live audio levels before recording starts. Uses an input tap for zero-file metering. The gradient background (green→yellow→red) on the monitor panel acts as a level meter, supporting VU and Peak ballistics in Settings. The center button offers a 3-state flow (idle→monitor→record→stop).
Post-Recording Discard
When you finish recording, two pill buttons ("Discard Recording" / "Continue Editing") appear at the top of the Naming View. Discard safely deletes the file, removes the database entry, and dismisses the sheet instantly.
Recording Tips
The app records in the background — you can switch to other apps without stopping the session. The waveform display shows real-time audio levels (30 bars) so you can monitor your input visually. New recordings appear in your library instantly after stopping — no need to wait for a filesystem scan. You can rename them immediately using the Naming View, or tag them later from the file list.
Files are saved to the app's Documents folder with a default name like "New Recording 2026-02-28_14-30-00.wav". Use the Naming View to apply proper UCS metadata right away.