Send Your Recordings to Dropbox Automatically

Every so often I get a request for something like, “Isn’t there a way to quickly and easily put my recordings on my computer?” The short answer is yes! In this article you’ll learn about one way you can do just that, because… there’s an app for that!

What Is RecUp?

Irradiated Software has created an app called RecUp. I just have to say that I don’t think you’ll find a simpler recording app out there. The app is incredibly easy to use. Once it is set up, you only have two buttons: Record and Settings. If you use VoiceOver, you are automatically placed on the Record button when you open the app. This means all you need to do is double tap to begin your recording session.

Before I go further, you must have a free Dropbox account to use this app. If you don’t already have one, grab a free Dropbox account. If you’re interested in requesting files from others through Dropbox, check out my Request Files from Anyone via Dropbox post. Discussing Dropbox in depth is beyond the scope of this article, but Dropbox is personal cloud storage. Once you have your files on Dropbox, you can access them from any device.

Here’s the official description from the App Store:

Start recording. Double-tap to pause or single-tap to stop. Uploads to Dropbox automatically. It’s that simple.

Universal app, running equally well on iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad.

MP3 audio files sound great while saving bandwidth and Dropbox storage.

Accessible with VoiceOver for the visually impaired.

How to Start Recording

After you download the app and launch it, you’ll need to give it access to the microphone and to your Dropbox account.

Once that’s done, all you need to do to record is open the app and double tap the screen to begin recording. If you’re not using VoiceOver, just tap the record button. You will hear a soft beep as recording begins. When you’re done, double tap again to stop. You may or may not hear two soft beeps, depending on whether you have VoiceOver sounds enabled. The recording will be instantly uploaded to Dropbox, and you will hear three ascending tones to confirm.

RecUp Settings

RecUp has a few settings you may want to change. Just find Settings and open it to follow along:

Play Indicator Sounds: Turns on or off the sounds you hear when starting and stopping recording.

Record in Background: Allows you to continue recording even if you leave the RecUp app by going back to the home screen or locking your device.

Record in Higher Quality: Improves the quality of your recordings. This takes up more space, but your recordings will sound better. If you are just recording notes for yourself, this setting isn’t needed.

Record on Launch: Turns this on and RecUp starts recording as soon as you open the app. You won’t need to do anything to begin recording.

Choose Upload Folder: Lets you change the Dropbox folder where RecUp stores your recordings.

Unlink from Dropbox: Warning: this will disconnect Dropbox from the app and you will need to reconnect your Dropbox account.

Help: Brings up the user guide and FAQs for RecUp.

FAQ

Is RecUp accessible with VoiceOver?

Yes! RecUp is fully accessible with VoiceOver. When you open the app, VoiceOver automatically lands on the Record button, so you can start recording with a simple double tap.

Can I listen to my recordings in RecUp?

No. RecUp is designed for simplicity: it only records and uploads. To listen to, rename, or manage your recordings, use the Dropbox app or the Dropbox website. If you want more control while recording audio, consider the built-in Voice Memos app from Apple, or check out my article on recording voice memos for free on your iPhone.

What format are the recordings saved in?

RecUp saves recordings as MP3 files, which are playable on virtually any device or platform.

Does RecUp work on iPad?

Yes. RecUp is a universal app that runs on both iPhone and iPad.

Do I need a paid Dropbox account?

No. The free Dropbox account works fine with RecUp.

Conclusion

RecUp is about as simple as a recording app gets. Open it, double tap, and your recording is automatically uploaded to Dropbox in MP3 format. Because the files are in a universal format, they’re playable on anything. If you’d like more control when recording audio, consider the Voice Memo app from Apple.

Qapla!