Microsoft has just presented a new audio recorder for Windows 11, prettier but also more complete and more flexible than the small tape recorder integrated into Windows 10.
Little by little, Microsoft continues to improve Windows 11. By correcting and optimizing its new operating system, of course, but also by supplementing its panoply of integrated software – the applications installed as standard, which are sometimes referred to as “natives”. Thus, over the months, and in a joyous disorder that seems to mark the chaotic development policy of the Redmond firm for some time, we have seen the appearance of often preliminary versions of “accessory” software – but precious – such as such as Paint, Notepad, Calculator, Snipping Tool, Photos or Media Player. And next on the list will be the audio recorder – Sound Recorder in the US version.
Completely revised to adapt to the graphic standards of Windows 11 (dark mode, windows with rounded corners, etc.), this new generation tape recorder will replace the old and rustic voice recorder delivered to Windows 10 which shines especially not in its limitations. And the least we can say is that Microsoft seems to have listened to the complaints of users. Thus, unlike the old application, Sound Recorder will allow you to change the source, instead of recording only the microphone connected to the PC input. Better still, it will also give the choice of audio format and quality – four predefined levels –, managing M4A, MP3, WMA, Flac and Wave as standard. That’s not all ! Sound Recorder will display the waveform, to visualize the sound signal, and let place markers. It will also allow you to import audio files. And even change the playback speed. Nice !
Microsoft gives few details in the presentation article published on his blog on May 10, 2022. One does not know if Sound Recorder will offer real editing capabilities, to do audio editing or add sound effects, for example. Nor if it will be able to manage multitrack recordings, as professional software does or the essential free tool Audacity, which would make it a complete application for podcasters, for example. And we don’t know the actual “release” date of this new tape recorder, which is currently only available in preview version through the Windows Insider development channel. But this little preview is very promising and gives a lot of hope for the quality of the applications that Microsoft will gradually integrate into Windows 11.