RecordPad Review

by Eun Ah Lee

Description

RecordPad is an audio recording software for Window PC and MAC OS X.

It is useful to record voice, sound, and music.  In addition to the direct recording, it can record any sound from the computer with a related software, SoundTap.

Recordings can be saved as wav, mp3, and aiff format file. 

The system requirements are;

• Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 and 8
• Works on Mac OS X 10.4 and above
• iPhone version runs on iOS 4.3 or higher
• Android version runs on 2.3.3 or higher

RecordPad also works with related softwares such as WavePad sound editor and Express Dictate dictation recorder.

Audio files can be edited using WavePad sound editor, and the contents of recording can be directly transcribed using Express Dictate dictation recorder. 

 Access

RecordPad is free for trial and can be found http://www.nch.com.au/recordpad/

Google search also shows several free software download sites to download RecordPad.

When downloading RecordPad, there are options to choose related softwares.

After the trial period, it can be purchased for further usage or upgrade.

Sample Usage

Tips, tricks, and tutorials

There are a few RecordPad tutorial videos in YouTube.

Also NCH software homepage provide a support page with Q & A section.  http://www.nch.com.au/recordpad/support.html

What the Tool Does Well

Recording is simple and easy. If you are going to use default setting, you don't have to change anything. Simply click the record button, and start recording. It automatically saves a recording in the default folder. To play the recording, open the recordings folder and click the file. The sound quality is pretty good.

To edit a recorded file, click the Edit icon at the recordings list page, then it opens WavePad software to edit.

To transcribe, click the Transcribe icon at the recordings list page, and it opens ExpressDictate software. 

In ExpressDictate, speed can be controlled to make transcribing easier.

What it Does Poorly

Although RecordPad can record any audio from the computer, the quality is not good because it records the sound generated by the computer through its microphone. So the input sound is actually the output sound from the computer, and if there is any outside noise, it is also recorded. To make a clear recording of sound from the computer, such as music played in iTune or streaming radio, another software, SoundTap is needed. Change the input option from 'built-in microphone' to 'record audio computer plays', then SoundTap will be open.

What happens when you...

This is not an audio player and it seems only play recordings, files recorded by RecordPad perhaps. When I tried to take other sound files in wav. or mp3 format, it did not load it. But once this sound file is playing by other player, and it is recorded by RecordPad, the recording file was generated and played.  

Additional Resources

GOM audio with GOM editor works in similar way, but it only works for PC.

http://audio.gomlab.com/eng/