Audio Recorder Review, Pricing & Features

Audio Recorder is a free, open-source GTK3 audio recording app for Linux hosted on Launchpad. See features, supported formats, and installation options.

Category
Automation
Pricing
open-source
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2011

What Is Audio Recorder

Audio Recorder is a free, open-source Linux application for capturing audio from a computer's sound card, microphones, browsers, webcams, or any other source that plays through the system's speakers. It is developed and hosted as a community project on Launchpad, the collaborative platform widely used by Ubuntu and Debian-based open-source projects.

Built with GTK3, the application focuses on straightforward, single-purpose audio capture rather than multi-track editing or production, making it a lightweight utility for users who just need to record system or microphone sound.

Key Features

Audio Recorder can capture output from the system sound card, microphones, browser audio, webcam audio, and other in-system sources, essentially recording anything audible through the speakers.

It supports several common output formats, including OGG, FLAC, MP3, and WAV, giving users flexibility depending on their intended use for the recording.

An advanced timer system allows recordings to start, stop, or pause at a specific clock time, after a set duration, once a file size limit is reached, or automatically based on voice or sound detection and configurable silence thresholds.

Pricing

Audio Recorder is completely free and open source, with no paid tiers, licenses, or account requirements.

It is typically installed via a Launchpad-hosted PPA on Ubuntu or Linux Mint, or built from source, at no cost.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free and open source
  • Lightweight and simple compared to full audio editing suites
  • Supports multiple common audio formats
  • Flexible timer and silence-detection options for unattended recording
  • Easy installation via PPA on Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Cons

  • Linux-only, with no native Windows or macOS version
  • No built-in multi-track editing or advanced production features
  • Interface and feature set have not changed dramatically in recent years
  • Support relies on community channels rather than dedicated customer support

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Audio Recorder free

Yes, it is free and open-source software with no paid tiers.

What operating systems does Audio Recorder support

It is built specifically for Linux, with official packages for Ubuntu and Linux Mint distributed via a Launchpad PPA.

What audio formats can I record in

It supports OGG, FLAC, MP3, and WAV output formats.

Can Audio Recorder record system audio, not just a microphone

Yes, it can capture anything that plays through the system's sound card, including browser and webcam audio, in addition to microphones.

Can I schedule recordings

Yes, it includes a timer that can start, stop, or pause recording at a specific time, after a duration, on a file size limit, or based on sound and silence detection.

How do I install Audio Recorder

The most common method is installing the official PPA hosted on Launchpad for Ubuntu or Linux Mint, though it can also be built from source.

Who maintains Audio Recorder

It is maintained as a community open-source project hosted on Launchpad rather than by a commercial company.

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