iProRecorder User Guide

Before You Begin

Here are a few helpful things to know before you get started.

Facts and Features:

  • You can record up to 13 hours of audio per GB of iPhone memory.
  • You can choose between CD-quality, radio-quality, or dictation quality recording, in mono or stereo.
  • You can slow down or speed up playback to 3/4 speed (.75 x) or 1 & 1/2 speed (1.5 x) — and loop specific parts of a recording — great for transcribing!
  • All audio files are uncompressed .WAV files for compatibility with computers and portable media players.
  • You can automatically add geographic tags so that you know where each recording took place, and display recording locations on Google Maps.
  • You can place markers to reference particular parts of a recording.
  • You can shuttle and scrub playback to quickly locate a desired section of a recording.
  • You can access iProRecorder recordings on your computer wirelessly.
  • You can instantly email a link that enables the recipient to download the recording from the BIAS server, or email a recording as an attachment.
  • You can attach a picture to a recording for additional commentary. Great for cataloging interview subjects!
  • You can send any recording wirelessly to BIAS Peak software (available separately) for editing and processing.
  • You can use iProRecorder with high quality third-party microphones, such as the Alesis ProTrack or Blue Mikey — and optionally record in stereo.

In the Beginning there was Sound...

Here at BIAS, we're all about sound. We've been providing outrageously creative audio recording and editing software to musicians and recording studios since 1995 — long before the iPhone was even conceived.

And now, with iProRecorder™, we're putting the same audio tools in the palm of your hand. iProRecorder is simple, remarkably full-featured, and ridiculously easy to use.

The Quick Start Guide

With software this intuitive, who needs a manual? Precisely. Below, you'll find everything you need to know to start recording. Later, if you're short on reading material, you can peruse the rest of this brief how-to guide to learn even more tips and techniques.

iProRecorder in 8 Easy Steps

To use iProRecorder:

  1. On iPhone's Home screen, tap the iProRecorder button. When prompted, turn on Airplane mode in iPhone Settings. This lets you continue recording without interruption if you get a call.

    If you don't turn on Airplane mode and receive a call while recording, recording will automatically pause. Tap the Continue Recording button to resume recording after the call ends.

  2. To record, tap the Record button (the round, red button).
  3. To stop recording, tap the Stop button (the square, yellow button).
  4. To play back what you recorded, tap the Play button (the green, arrow-shaped button).
  5. To continue recording into the same file, tap the Continue Recording Button (the red button with a "+" sign inside it).
  6. To start a new recording, tap the New File button (the square, black button with a "+" sign), then press the Record button.
  7. To email a recording, tap the Send button (the white arrow at the bottom left of the screen), then tap Send via Email. Enter an email address then tap Send Memo.
  8. To attach a photo to a recording, tap All, then tap the blue arrow next to the name of the recording. Tap Add Photo and either take a new photo or select an existing photo from your iPhone photo library. When you're done, tap Use Photo.

That's it. You're now an iProRecorder expert. Well, almost. If you need to know more, turn the page.

Controls for Recording

Recording

To begin:

  1. On the iPhone Home screen, tap the iProRecorder button.
  2. When prompted, turn on Airplane mode in iPhone Settings. This lets you continue recording without interruption if you get a call — you are only prompted to do this the first time you start iProRecorder.

    If you don't turn on Airplane mode and receive a call while recording, recording will automatically pause, then resume after the call ends.

To record:

  1. Tap the Audio Quality button and select your recording quality, HQ, MQ, or LQ.

    HQ is CD-quality (44.1kHz), MQ is radio-quality (22kHz), and LQ is dictation quality (11kHz).

  2. Tap the Record button. Recording begins.
  3. Tap the Stop button when you're done.

To continue recording:

  1. Tap the Continue Recording button. New audio is appended to the end of the existing recording.
  2. Tap the Stop button when you're done.

To start a new recording:

  1. Tap the New Recording button.
  2. Tap the Record button. Recording begins.
  3. Tap the Stop button when you're done.

To delete a recording:

  1. Tap the Trash button.
  2. Tap Delete. The current recording is deleted.

To record for a specific length of time:

  1. Tap the New Recording button.
  2. Tap the Timer button.
  3. Set the Record Timer to On.
  4. Select the length of time to record.
  5. Tap the New Memo button.
  6. Tap the Record button. Recording will begin and continue for the specified length of time.

To set a 3-second countoff before recording begins:

  1. Tap the New Recording button.
  2. Tap the Record Timer button.
  3. Set Record Countdown to On.
  4. Tap the New Memo button.
  5. Tap the Record button. Recording begins after a 3-second countoff.

To location stamp new recordings:

  1. On the iPhone Home screen, tap the Settings button.
  2. Flick through the list of applications and tap iProRecorder.
  3. In the iProRecorder Settings page, set Stamp Recordings to On.

    New recordings will be stamped with your current geographical location.

To display a recording's location on Google Maps:

  1. Tap the Categories button, and locate the desired recording.
  2. Tap the blue arrow next to the name of the recording.
  3. In the Item Details screen, tap the Show Map button.

Tap the Item Details button to return to the previous screen.

Controls for Playback

Playback

To play a recording:

  • Tap the Play button. To stop, tap the Pause button.

To change playback speed:

  • Tap the Playback Speed button and select 1X (normal), 1.5X (one & one half-speed), or .75X (three quarter-speed).

To open another recording for playback:

  • Tap the All button. Then, from the list, tap the name of a recording to open it.

    The "All" button changes its name depending on your most recent location. Tapping it takes you to where you last were.

To boost the volume:

  • Drag the Volume Boost slider to the right to increase volume. Drag to the left to decrease volume.

    The master volume of your iPhone is set by the iPhone's Volume Up/Down control. The Volume Boost slider in iProRecorder allows you to boost the volume above your iPhone's maximum setting. This helps compensate for recordings made at low levels. Be careful not to set the Volume Boost too high or you may overdrive your speakers — or damage your hearing if you're using headphones. For optimum levels, keep iProRecorder's meters in the purple range and avoid the red, which indicates clipping.

To fast forward or rewind:

  • Touch the jog wheel and keep moving your finger clockwise to progressively "scrub" audio forward. Move counter-clockwise to rewind. Playback begins from the point at which you release your finger.

To fast-forward or rewind faster using Jog Mode:

  1. Tap the Jog Mode button.
  2. Touch the jog wheel and move your finger clockwise to fast-forward. Move your finger counter-clockwise to rewind. Playback begins from the point at which you release your finger.

In this mode, you don't need to continuously use a circular scrubbing motion to fast-forward or rewind.

To fast-forward or rewind even faster using the Location slider:

  1. Tap the VolumeBoost/Location Slider button to toggle on the Location slider.
  2. Drag your finger to the right to fast-forward. Drag your finger to the left to rewind. Playback begins from the point at which you stop dragging.

Of the three methods explained above, the Location slider allows you to fast-forward or rewind in the largest increments. This is particularly useful with long recordings.

Using Markers

iProRecorder allows you to create markers during recording or playback. Markers can be named, edited, and used as loop points to repeat part — or all — of a recording over and over.

To create markers during recording or playback:

  1. Tap the Record, Continue Recording, or Play button to begin recording or playback.
  2. Tap the Add Marker button.

    If you wish to name markers as you create them, turn on New Marker Prompt in the iProRecorder settings. Detailed steps are included later in this user guide, in the "iProRecorder Settings" section.

To navigate between markers:

  1. In the main recorder screen, tap the Previous or Next marker buttons

To edit a marker's name:

  1. In the main recorder screen, tap the Edit Markers button.
  2. Tap Edit, and select the marker you wish to edit.
  3. Tap Name, and enter the desired name, and tap OK.
  4. Tap Done.

To edit a marker's position:

  1. In the main recorder screen, tap the Edit Markers button.
  2. Tap Edit, and select the marker you wish to edit.
  3. Tap Name, and enter the desired time, and tap OK.
  4. Tap Done.

To loop playback of an entire recording:

  1. Open a recording that contains markers.
  2. Tap the Edit Markers button.
  3. Tap Enable Loop.
  4. Tap the small Play button to the left of the loop indicator.

Tap the small Stop button to the left of the loop indicator.

To adjust the loop start and end:

  1. Open a recording that contains markers.
  2. Tap the Edit Markers button.
  3. Tap Enable Loop.
  4. Tap Adjust Loop.
  5. Select the marker where the loop should begin.
  6. Select the marker where the loop should end.

To disable loop playback:

  1. With a recording playing back in loop mode, tap Disable Loop.

To play a section between two markers:

  1. Open a recording that contains markers.
  2. Tap the Edit Markers button.
  3. Tap the Continue Play/Stop at Next button to toggle into Stop at Next mode.
  4. Tap the small Play button to the left of the loop indicator to play through to the next marker.

To play through markers:

  1. Open a recording that contains markers.
  2. Tap the Edit Markers button.
  3. Tap the Continue Play/Stop at Next button to toggle into Continue Play mode.
  4. Tap the small Play button to the left of the loop indicator to play to the end of the recording.

Organizing and Sending Your Recordings

Organizing Your Recordings

As you begin to accumulate recordings, you'll probably want to name and categorize them for easy reference.

Naming a Recording

To name a previously-recorded file:

  1. Tap the Categories button, then tap All to locate the desired recording.
  2. Tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap the item's name. Then, using the Keypad, type a new name. Tap Okay when you're done.
  4. Tap All to return to the master list of recordings, or tap the Microphone icon to return to the recorder.
    or:
  5. Tap the Categories button, then tap All to locate the desired recording.
  6. Tap the Edit button, then tap the blue arrow next to the name of the recording.
  7. Tap the item's name. Then, using the Keypad, type a new name. Tap Okay when you're done.
  8. Tap All to return to the master list of recordings, or tap the Microphone icon to return to the recorder.

Deleting a Recording

To delete a recording:

  1. Tap the Categories button, then tap All to locate the desired recording.
  2. Tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap the red "-" button next to the recording you want to delete. Then tap the Delete button.
  4. Tap Done when you're finished.

Creating or Deleting Categories

To create a new category:

  1. Tap the Categories button.
  2. Tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap the green "+" button next to New Category.
  4. Tap the new category name. Then, using the Keypad, type a new name. Tap Okay when you're done.
  5. Tap All to return to the master list of recordings, or tap the Microphone icon to return to the recorder.

To delete a category:

  1. Tap the Categories button.
  2. Tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap the red "-" button next to the category you want to delete. Then tap the Delete button.
  4. Tap Done when you're finished.

Putting Recordings into Categories

To put a recording into a category:

  1. Tap the Categories button then tap All to locate the desired recording.
  2. Tap the blue arrow button next to the recording you want to categorize.
  3. Tap the Change button.
  4. In the Category Picker, select the desired category and tap Done.
  5. Tap All to return to the master list of recordings, or tap the Microphone icon to return to the recorder.

Searching for a Recording

To search for a previously-recorded file:

  1. Tap the Categories button then tap All.
  2. Tap the Search field. Then, using the Keypad, type a name, then tap Search. All recordings with that name appear.
  3. Tap the name of the desired recording to return to the Recorder with the selected file loaded and ready to play.

Attaching a Photo to a Recording

To attach a photo to a recording:

  1. Tap the Categories button.
  2. Tap All, then tap the blue arrow next to the name of the recording.
  3. Tap Add Photo, then do one of the following:
    • To take a new photo, tap New Photo. Then tap the Camera button and tap Use Photo.
    • Use an existing photo from your iPhone photo library, tap From Library. Then select a photo and tap Choose.

Sending Recordings Elsewhere

Once you've created a recording, you can send an email link that allows the recipient to download the recording from the BIAS server; or you can launch the recording directly in BIAS' Peak audio application for editing and processing (available exclusively for the Mac).

BIAS also offers additional solutions to further complement iProRecorder and improve the audio quality of your recordings. Using BIAS SoundSoap audio restoration software (Mac/PC), for example, you can easily and affordably enhance the sound quality of recordings captured in noisy environments. For information, free trials, and more, visit www.iprorecorder.com.

Emailing a Recording

To upload a recording, and email a link to it:

  1. Locate the recording you want to send.
  2. Tap the Send button, either from the main Recorder screen or from the Item Details screen.
  3. Tap Upload and Email link.
  4. Enter an email address, and if you want, a subject and message, then tap Email Memo.

The recipient will receive an email with a unique link. Clicking the link allows the recipient to download the recording from the BIAS server.

To email a recording as an attachment:

  1. Locate the recording you want to send.
  2. Tap the Send button, either from the main Recorder screen or from the Item Details screen.
  3. Tap Send via Email attachment.
  4. Choose to send a compressed or uncompressed version of your recording, and tap the appropriate button.
  5. Enter an email address, and if you want, a subject and message, then tap Send.

Sending a Recording to BIAS Peak for Editing and Processing

To do this, your computer and iPhone must be on the same network, which must offer wi-fi connectivity for the iPhone. Refer to the documentation for your iPhone and computer if necessary.

To send a recording to BIAS Peak:

  1. On your computer, open the BIAS Peak application.
  2. When the Open dialog appears (if this preference is active), click Cancel.
  3. In iProRecorder, locate the recording you want to send.
  4. Tap the Send button, either from the main Recorder screen or from the Item Details screen.
  5. Select a network and click Send.
  6. In BIAS Peak, click Accept to receive the file.

Sharing a Recording with Your Computer

To do this, your computer and iPhone must be on the same network, which must offer wi-fi connectivity for the iPhone. Refer to the documentation for your iPhone and computer if necessary.


If you want to prevent a particular recording from being available for web sharing (for privacy or other reasons), navigate to the Item Details for that recording (tap the blue triangle next to its name in the Categories screen) and set the Hide from Web Sharing toggle to Off.

To send a recording to your computer:

  1. Locate the recording you want to send.
  2. Tap the Send button. (You can do this from either the main Recorder screen or from the Item Details screen.)
  3. Set the Local Web Sharing toggle to On.
  4. On your computer, open your web browser and enter the URL displayed by iProRecorder. A page appears listing the iProRecorder recordings on your iPhone.

    If you are using the Safari web browser and don't want to go to the trouble of typing the URL, you can instead choose Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks and select "Bonjour" from the side panel at the left. Safari will display a bookmark for your iPhone/iProRecorder. Click this bookmark to navigate to a list of recordings.

  5. In Safari, right-click (Mac or PC) or Control-click (Mac) the name of the desired recording and choose Save Linked File As.
    or:
  6. In Firefox, right-click (Mac or PC) or Control-click (Mac) the name of the desired recording and choose Save Link As.

The above instructions are specific to the Safari and Firefox web browsers. Other browsers will have a similar option to save the linked file when right-clicking or Control-clicking a recording.

iProRecorder Settings

Configuring Settings

You can customize default iProRecorder settings.

To go to iProRecorder settings:

  1. On the iPhone Home screen, tap the Settings button.
  2. Flick through the list of applications to find iProRecorder, then tap the arrow next to its name.

You can customize the following settings:

Email Settings

To edit the default subject line:

  • Tap the Subject field. Then, using the Keypad, type a new subject line. Tap Return when you're done.

To edit the default body line:

  • Tap the Body field. Then, using the Keypad, type a new body line. Tap Return when you're done.

Location Stamping

To turn on location stamping:

  • Slide the Stamp Recordings switch to On. New recordings will be stamped with your current geographical location.

Channels

To record in stereo:

  • Slide the Record in Stereo switch to On.

To record in mono:

  • Slide the Record in Stereo switch to Off.

Markers

To name markers as they are created:

  • Slide the New Marker Prompt switch to On.

How do I request a feature, report a bug, or get customer support?

We welcome requests for new features for iProRecorder. To suggest a new feature, please email ipr-fb@bias-inc.com or to report an issue or get help, email ipr-support@bias-inc.com