This post is outdated but is being kept here for historical purposes. Please see iPhone Call Recorder V2
8/26/2009 – I have seen some comments around some forums that this device is illegal. It’s not. It’s perfectly legal to make a device that enables you record phone calls and it’s perfectly legal to record phone calls to which you are a party of. However, depending on your jurisdiction, you may have to notify the other party that the call is being recorded. It’s always illegal to record a phone call to which you are not a party. Your mileage may vary, when in doubt do some reading, and consult a lawyer.
The Problem
This post is outdated but is being kept here for historical purposes. Please see iPhone Call Recorder V2
I’ve wanted a way to record phone calls to and from my iPhone since I’ve had it but hadn’t really looked into solutions until a couple of weeks ago. What I really wanted was a native iPhone app that would record incoming and outgoing phone calls – there is SpoofApp but it requires a JailBroken phone, per-minute fees, and looks like it only works on outgoing calls. Another iPhone app Recorder 10, does not require a JailBroken phone but like SpoofApp you have to pay per-minute fees and it only records outgoing calls.
Exhausted after searching for something I assumed would be out there already, and finding nothing I figured that the only way I was going to get what I wanted was to do it myself.
I had a few criteria that I wanted to meet:
- Portable as possible.
- Record both sides of the conversation.
- The ability to start recording the conversation midstream.
- As little indication that the call was being recorded as possible.
Before I go any further – laws regarding the recording of phone calls vary from state to state and federal laws may apply as well. Don’t be stupid, do some reading and if in doubt talk to a lawyer. If you make this device and get yourself into trouble using it I’m not responsible. I’m also not responsible if you release the magic smoke from your iPhone.
The Obvious Solution
This post is outdated but is being kept here for historical purposes. Please see iPhone Call Recorder V2
When you talk on a phone, whether you notice it or not, you hear a smidgen of your voice through the phones speaker. If phones didn’t do this it would sound strange when you talked on the phone. So my first test was to just record the headphone output [using a splitter] of the iPhone to see if I got both sides of the conversation. You can record both sides of the conversation like this but the iPhone side of the conversation is unacceptability low.
This is the method used by Rory but he uses the built in microphone on his Mac to record his side of the conversation. So, while Rory has a workable solution it requires the use of a computer so it’s not all that portable.
8/25/2009 – Previously I incorrectly stated that this method causes an echo on the recording but after going back and trying it last night I could not replicate this effect; go figure.
With this method you’re relying on the smidgen of audio that the phone feeds back to your ear piece. This is not enough to get a decent recording of your side of the conversation, which is why Rory uses his Mac's mic to record his side of the conversation.
Without using a second recorder (in Rory’s case his Mac) for your side of the conversation using this method your recording sounds like this. Notice you can barely hear my side (iPhone side) of the conversation and when it gets loud, you can’t hear my side at all.
A Better Way
This post is outdated but is being kept here for historical purposes. Please see iPhone Call Recorder V2
So, I started to look at the pinout of the iPhone headphone jack which is a TRRS (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve) jack. I stumbled across this post that gave instructions on how to wire a breakout cable so that you could use your own headphones and mic with the iPhone and after some dabbling I came up with this:
In this schematic the W, R, Y and NS (White, Red, Yellow, and Not Shielded) note the color of the individual wires for the TRRS cable I used.
Which, if you haven’t guessed already, does not work. Well, It actually does work. It records both sides of the conversation beautifully. The problem is that the person your talking to hears everything they say repeated back to them (delayed by a millisecond) in their ear peace, very loudly and very clearly. Not only would this “talk back” be very annoying for the person your talking to, it would defiantly indicate to them that something odd was going on with the call.
It’s seems obvious now but it took me awhile to figure out what was going on – to get the recorder to work the way I wanted, I needed to combine the headphone output and the mic input (my side of the conversation), to one single output that would go to the recorder. By doing this I ended up feeding the headphone output of the iPhone back into the mic input of the iPhone, which is why the person on the other end heard everything they said repeated back to them. The obvious solution was to not combine the headphone and mic to one output, but to record the calls I’d either need two recorders (one for each side of the conversation) or a recorder that had multiple inputs. I wanted to get it working using only one recording output.
I wondered if using a mixer would solve the problem and to test this I connected the headphone and mic outputs to my little Behringer mixer on separate channels and it worked beautifully. Unfortunately, as beautifully as it worked, it required the use of a small but not so portable mixer. So I consulted Google and found some schematics (link 1, link 2) for some simple two channel mixers. However, using simple mixer did not do enough to keep the headphone and mic separated, it helped but it wasn’t enough. Finally, by using strategically placed capacitors I was able to virtually eliminate the “talk back”problem.
The Solution
This post is outdated but is being kept here for historical purposes. Please see iPhone Call Recorder V2
To keep things simple I combined the left and right headphone channels [see: Stereo-to-Mono Summing Box] to make a mono signal going to the recording output but the headphone output for the iPhone user (you) is still stereo. Also, you could probably use lower resistor values all around since the signal coming from the iPhone isn’t that hot but I decided to err on the side of caution for now. The potentiometers are your garden variety (Radio Shack) 100k audio taper pots; you could use 50k or probably even smaller with this setup and they only control the signal going to the recording output, which gives you some control of the recording levels.
Depending on the headset you use, you may need to modify the cable to have the headphones and mic on separate jacks; the one pictured here was made with separate headphone and mic jacks. Here I have the iPhone Call Recorder hooked up to a hand held voice recorder (which has a mic input) but you could use any recording device that accepts a 3.5mm jack.
Click here to listen to a phone call recorded using the iPhone Call Recorder.
Notes
This post is outdated but is being kept here for historical purposes. Please see iPhone Call Recorder V2
- It’s very likely that this is not the best (in fact it’s not), or the only way to accomplish recording phone calls on the iPhone, but it does work and it works well. I agree that the best solution would be a native iPhone app. but it’s my understanding that it’s not even possible to write an app. that records phone calls on the iPhone without using third party services like Recorder 10 and SpoofApp do (which they charge you for and are limited in functionality).
- As Gizmodo “journalist” Joanna Stern pointed out this is a “fucking ugly” solution. What she fails to note though it that it works and is in several ways it’s better than any of the software solutions available.
- While “Fucking Ugly” this solution does not require you to jailbreak your phone, you don’t have to pay per-min fees to use it, you can record both incoming and outgoing calls with it, your recording stays with you and is not on some third party server, it gives no indication that the call is being recorded, it lets you start recording mid-call, and it affords you the ability to use an external set of headphones and an external microphone even if you don’t want to record the call. In any case it’s certainly better than just rolling over and paying for an app. that does not do what you want/need it to do as “journalist” Joanna Stern suggests we all do.
- Despite “journalist” Joanna Stern’s assertion this is not a “switch box” it does not use any switches at all.
- I agree with everyone that it’s rather large but I used a project box that I had lying around; it could certainly be made to fit in a smaller box.
- Several people have asked “If you willing to go through the trouble make this breakout box, why not just jailbreak? It woudl be easier.” First, I have not jailbroken an iPhone, but based on my understanding of the process, I’d say that for me the amount of work between jailbreaking and making this breakout box is about equal. For someone less familiar with electronics this may in fact be more work than simply jailbreaking but you only have to make this breakout box once, by jailbreaking your iPhone your entering a never ending arms race with Apple (at least if yo want the latest iPhone OS). Also, the only app. that is available for a jailbroken phone that records calls is SpoofApp. SpoofApp seems like a great app. but as mentioned in the beginning of this post it not only requires a jailbroken phone, you have to pay per-min fees to record calls, only works on outgoing calls, and your recording ends up on a third party server that you have no control over; a privacy issue.
- You still get a little “talk back” but it is so mild that unless you were really, really, really listening for it you would not notice; it’s extremely mild. You actually have to blow in the receiver hard to get it to produce the effect.
- The headphones act as a microphone with this setup but it’s so weak that it has no effect on the recording.
- The headphone volume on the iPhone affects the level of the recording output.
- Obviously (or maybe not) this setup requires that you to use a separate headphone and mic during calls – you could just use something like this.
- The iPhone puts out ~3 volts on the mic line because it’s expecting an electret microphone. You could filter this with a capacitor but it probably won’t hurt anything. I’m assuming that I’ll always be using and electret mic so I didn’t add one.
- The TRRS cable I used was actually just a 3.5mm video cable.
This type of cable comes with a lot of video and digital cameras. TRRS jacks and cables are surprisingly hard to find – Mouser does have a TRRS plug but I could not find TRRS jacks anywhere.
Build Pictures
This post is outdated but is being kept here for historical purposes. Please see iPhone Call Recorder V2
Did you consider using diodes to control direction and avoid feedback? It’s been a long time since I delt with any solid state circutry, but that’s the first thing that came to mind.
I’m curious if you looked at any of the ‘pro’ versions of what you made. JK Audio makes at least one phone tap model for cell phones, for example. Or maybe there is something unique about the iphone’s headphone configuration.
@Patrick McNamara: No I didn’t think about diodes… be interesting to look and see if there is a solution with those.
@Brian
No, I could not find anything that woudl work with the iPhone – it does have a special headphone configuration (TRRS connector instead of the standard TRS connector). If you have some links to products I’d love to take a look at them and see if they’d work.
Quite a nice setup. I really wish they would just make an app that does this, or just include it in the iPhone OS.
@Big Sur
Thank you. I agree that it would be nice if they [Apple] included the function in the phone, or made it possible for others to write apps. that do it without the need for a third party (and their fees).
You might consider using a microcontroller (arduino compatible setup?) with this –> [hackaday.com] and something like this –> [sparkfun.com] to make it a completely digital device and help make it a little smaller. To make the fancy potentiometer more cost effective (it’s a tad expensive, for a potentiometer at least), use a slide switch to allow controlling either the headphones or the mic. Not a cheaper way, but definitely a little smaller.
Where do you find the 1/8″ plug for this task?
@J H
That would be interesting to try those potentiometers from SparkFun are cool. But since it’s analog coming out of the iPhone anyway I don’t see any reason to make it digital other than it may let you make it smaller. However, what it comes down to is that this isn’t *that* big and it can fit in a smaller box but I just used what I had on hand.
@Geekazine
The TRRS cable (the one that plugs into teh iPhone) I used was actually just a 3.5mm video cable. This type of cable comes with a lot of video and digital cameras. TRRS jacks and cables are surprisingly hard to find – Mouser does have a TRRS plug but I could not find TRRS jacks anywhere. Like a lot of the stuff used in this project (which is why it’s fugly) it’s something I had lying around. I’m assuming that’s what your asking about? If not let me know.
Why not just buy a Pre and load CallRec. Perfect little app
@CoolAlaskan
Hum, buying a $200 phone and a $20 app. and switching providers just to record phone calls does not seem to make too much sense to me. But I agree CallRec does look like a neat app. if you already have a supported device.
Hello Adam…
I’m a musician and my fellow band members all have iPhones…..And it’s SO FRUSTRATING we can’t record our brain storming sessions and impromptu recording sessions can’t be recorded onto our Sony voice recorders as we go about our lives & journeys…I learned about you through hours of my research of how to record my iPhone calls. (I’d love to give you MY results on my research, but you are THE BEST).
Adam I’d LOVE to speak with you I’m a 50 year old school tech geek of sorts, (not as smart as YOU)….But I’d love to talk to you and see what you can do for us; I have lots of questions. I’ve basically read your site. Had a few pointed questions, but don’t have energy to recount them here, right now.
Bottom line, I’ve read a lot on this and I want to be able to speak with you, if it’s not too much trouble can I get your number, or is it already in the contact link? I have TONS of research notes and references & links too).
Anyway you remind me or ME…..LOVE IT………Sounds good…..Sign me up!
P.S….I have lots of notes to refer to, when and if we DO speak, trust me it will be a VERY interesting & compelling conversation. Do you have a way we might be able to record our phone call? (Smiling Widely).
@Randy Vaughn
Sent you an e-mail.
OK, how much for the whole package of f-ugly box w/ wires? I’ve moved from my Treo 680 with which I used CallRec (great app) to the iphone. I love the iPhone, but NEED to record outgoing calls/interviews for podcasting. This looks like a fit…
Give me a price.
Shipped to Canada.
thx,
h.
@hpm
Sending you an e-mail.
Hi Adam I also have been searching for an iphone call recording app and have found your invention very impressive. Sorry if this sounds a bit silly but I just don’t quite understand what exactly is preventing developers from designing such an app? Is it just not possible? If a 5year old nokia comes fitted with a call recording function that can record ingoing and outgoing calls free of charge why can’t an iphone application be developed ?
@dave
As far as I understand even if a developer wanted to, they could not write an app that would record calls on the iPhone because there are no APIs in the iPhone SDK to allow it. This is why current apps rely on routing your call through their phone system so it can be recorded.
I agree the iPhone seems like the type of phone that would have the functionality built in, or at least have the ability to have an app written for recording calls without the need for hacks.
I want to build one of these – my dad would love this for work – he is an iphone guy and this would save him a lot of time. He would prefer the iphone type head set did you find TRRS jacks?
@Brian Royce
Got your e-mail and sending reply.
Hi, could you give me a price for one of this boxes shipped to 90005. N I would preffer to used it with the regular iPhone heAd set if possible.
Thank you
@Victor
Sending you an e-mail.
I need this future too. But yours is really ugly. I’ll try forward some calls to open source Asterisk software to record calls. It has an easy command: Monitor(wav,myfilename)
I am working on one that has the regular iPhone TRRS jack on it and I have shrunk mine down a lot. I will upload pictures asap… Also I got some not ugly pots -
@Brian
Would love to see some pics – adam [at] adambyers.com
I was looking into this same thing a while back for different phone and thought I saw a device that utilized the Bluetooth protocol to do the recording. Haven’t looked at it for awhile since it’s been such a pain in the ##%!@#%!. Your solution I could build, Bluetooth not so much…
Why is that the lawyers and any company you call can record YOUR conversation but not the other way around???
I’m sure Apple simply doesn’t want the liability in this case. As much as I love Apple’s products and quality they are wimpy when it comes to liability. i.e. RIAA, DCMA, etc, etc…
@ZipZap
You certainly have the right to record any phone call you are a part of. However, depending on your jurisdiction you may need to notify (and your notification has to be recorded) the other parties.
The APIs to do not exist in the iPhone SDK to allow an app. developer to record a phone call directly, Apple may have done this on purpose, or they may have just looked over it. After all, MMS just arived on the iPhone, it was missing not because it was difficult to develop but because Apple was probably thinking “they have e-mail what do they need MMS for?” The only reason MMS is now on the iPhone is because of the outcry from customers, otherwise I doubt Apple ever intended to make the iPhone MMS capable.
On that same hand, call recording is a nitch thing. Most people aren’t worried about it and thus it’s not on Apple’s mind either. Not having the APIs to allow recording may have been a move on Apple’s part to reduce liability… but it’s just as likely that it wasen’t on Apple’s mind because it’s a nitch feature.
Hey Adam,
I’m a journalism student and cannot find anything out there to record phone conversations on my iphone. How much would your product be plus shipping to Canada?
Thanks!
Marlee
@Marlee
Sent you an e-mail
Need cost to purchase. Losing crucial evidence every day
I will send you an e-mail shortly
The lack of a decent call recording app is the only reason that I have not purchased an iPhone. Currently use Nokia N97 and Total Recall.
@The Boss
That seems to be the case with a lot of folks.
great work all around, adam. pls let me know what you charge for one of these handbuilt puppies shipped to vermont. hat’s off to your spirit and action.
As a direct result of all the lies and false statements and other stonewalling I received from the FBI, US Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement, internal affairs, the city & county attorneys I was up against, etc., etc., [I was trying to get police/jail staff held accountable for torturing me (or near it)], 3 years ago I started recording nearly every conversation including the cell phone calls. I did nothing tricky like this method. I simply put the phone on speaker mode and held a decent ($100) digital audio recorder up to the phone. It picks up my and their voice perfectly and they can’t tell speaker phone from non-speaker phone. I am waiting for a totally ‘in-the-phone’ recording capability, but until then this works, it’s cheap and the little digital recorder is not a nuisance at all. I love the Olympus WS-321 the most…the US Attorney, FBI, police, and other folk are less than happy thta I’ve recorded 250-300+ of our conversations, but I don’t care…gotcha!!
ghoztzohg
This may be a dumb question but has anyone tried one of those suction cup transducers connected to a mine jack into a tape recorder or computer?
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=suction+cup+phone+recorder&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=
Hi,
Nice and fugly
will you shoot me an email with price?
Thanks,
C
Wow, seems like everybody wants to record their phone conversations on their iPhone……. including me. I have been receiving harassing phone calls foe about a year now and the local police department seem to be helpless… so….. will you shoot me an e-mail and let me know what your asking price is for your little jewel? Thanks!!
Solution: Olympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device and Olympus VN-5200PC digital recorder. The device let you have your phone at your ear and records incoming, outgoing or any conversation you have on your phone. Nice and clear. The recorder lets you download the recording to a computer via USB.
@Vic
After I made the first iPhone Call Recorder someone pointed the Olympus device out to me but I’ve yet to try it. I’m curious to know how well it records each side of the conversation.