How to Record & Transcribe Therapy Sessions Using Your Phone

You don't need expensive equipment or third-party recording apps to capture therapy sessions. Your iPhone or Android phone already has a built-in voice recorder that produces high-quality audio — and it never leaves your device until you choose to upload it.

This guide walks you through recording a session with your phone's native app, transferring the file to Hermetiq, and generating clinical notes in minutes.

Recording on iPhone (Voice Memos)

Apple's Voice Memos app comes pre-installed on every iPhone. It records in high-quality AAC/M4A format — which Hermetiq fully supports — and offers lossless recording if you need it.

Step 1: Record your session

Step 2: Upload to Hermetiq

You have two easy options to get your recording into Hermetiq:

Recording on Android (Google Recorder & Others)

Most Android phones ship with a voice recorder app. On Google Pixel devices, the Recorder app includes on-device transcription. Samsung and other manufacturers include their own recorder apps with similar features.

Google Pixel — Recorder App

Samsung — Voice Recorder

Samsung devices include the Samsung Voice Recorder app (find it in the Samsung folder or search for "Voice Recorder"). It records in M4A or AMR format. After recording, use Share → Google Drive, Email, or a USB connection to transfer the file to your computer, then upload to Hermetiq.

Other Android Phones

Most Android manufacturers (OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola, etc.) include a "Recorder" or "Sound Recorder" app. The workflow is the same: record, save, transfer to your computer, upload to Hermetiq. If your phone doesn't have a built-in recorder, Google Recorder is available free on the Play Store for most Android devices.

Recording Best Practices for Therapy Sessions

Audio Quality Tips

• Place the phone centrally — between you and the client, ideally on a stable surface. Avoid holding it or placing it in a pocket.
• Minimize background noise — close doors and windows. White noise machines are fine (the AI handles them well), but avoid music.
• Use compressed format for long sessions — the default M4A/AAC setting is ideal. It keeps file sizes small (a 50-minute session is typically 15–25 MB) while maintaining excellent speech clarity.
• Test first — do a quick 30-second test recording and play it back to make sure both voices are audible before your first real session.

Client Consent & Compliance

• Document consent in writing — include it in your informed consent form or as a separate recording consent addendum.
• Explain the purpose — let clients know the recording is used to generate accurate clinical notes and will be deleted after processing.
• Offer the option to decline — recording should never be a condition of treatment.
• Delete recordings promptly — Hermetiq allows you to set auto-delete timers, and the audio is never stored on our servers.

Privacy & Security

Using your phone's built-in recorder is inherently secure because the recording lives only on your device:

• No cloud sync by default — Voice Memos and most Android recorders save locally. Disable iCloud sync for Voice Memos if you prefer (Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Voice Memos → Off).
• Device encryption — both iOS and modern Android encrypt all data at rest. Your recordings are protected by your device passcode.
• No third-party access — unlike third-party recording apps, built-in apps don't share data with advertisers or analytics services.
• Hermetiq processing — when you upload to Hermetiq, audio is processed for transcription and immediately discarded. We never store raw audio files. See our Trust Center for details.

Quick Workflow Summary

Here's the complete flow at a glance:

Frequently Asked Questions

What audio formats does Hermetiq support?

MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG, FLAC, WebM, and MP4. Both iPhone (.m4a) and most Android recordings work without any conversion.

How long can a recording be?

Up to 2 hours per upload, with a maximum file size of 100 MB. A typical 50-minute therapy session in M4A format is around 15–25 MB — well within the limit.

Does audio quality affect transcription accuracy?

Yes, but built-in phone recorders produce excellent quality for speech. The AI transcription model handles background noise, room echo, and varying volume levels well. Lossless recording mode offers marginal improvement for transcription — the default compressed format is usually sufficient.

Can Hermetiq tell who is speaking?

Yes. Hermetiq uses AI-powered speaker diarization to distinguish between therapist and client voices. It works best when both speakers are audible and there's minimal crosstalk.

Do I need a dedicated recording device?

No. Modern smartphone microphones are high quality and perfectly adequate for session recording in a typical therapy office. A dedicated recorder is only necessary in unusually noisy environments or very large rooms.