FAQ

Storage Location

Where are my recordings stored on my device?

Your recordings are stored in a dedicated folder on your device's external storage. Depending on your Android version, the recordings are saved in one of the following locations:

  • For Android 12 (API level 31) and above: The recordings are stored in the "Recordings/SnapVox" directory.
  • For Android 11 (API level 30) and below: The recordings are stored in the "Music/SnapVox" directory. This ensures that your recordings are easily accessible and organized within your device's file system.

How can I access my recordings outside of the SnapVox app?

You can access your recordings using any file manager app on your device. Navigate to the external storage directory where your recordings are stored:

  • On Android 12 and above, go to the "Recordings/SnapVox" folder.
  • On Android 11 and below, go to the "Music/SnapVox" folder. From there, you can play, share, or manage your recordings as needed.

Can I change the location where my recordings are saved?

Currently, SnapVox saves recordings to a default directory based on your Android version to ensure compatibility and ease of access. Customizing the storage location is not supported at this time.

Audio Formats

What format does SnapVox use for recording?

SnapVox records all audio in M4A format using the AAC codec. This provides an excellent balance of audio quality and file size, making it ideal for voice recordings. The recordings use a 44.1kHz sample rate, mono channel configuration, and a 128kbps bitrate.

Why M4A/AAC instead of other formats?

M4A with AAC encoding is the native recording format for Android's MediaRecorder and offers several advantages:

  • Excellent compression while maintaining voice clarity
  • Wide compatibility across devices and platforms
  • Hardware-accelerated encoding on most devices
  • Efficient storage use without compromising quality
  • Reliable real-time recording performance

Can I get my recordings in other formats?

Yes! SnapVox allows you to convert any M4A recording to either MP3 or OGG format after recording. To convert a recording:

  1. Select one or more recordings in the recordings list
  2. Tap the convert icon in the selection actions bar at the bottom of the screen
  3. Select "Convert to MP3" or "Convert to OGG" The original M4A file is preserved, and a new file is created in your chosen format.

Which format should I choose for sharing?

  • M4A (default): Best for sharing with other mobile devices or modern systems. Excellent quality-to-size ratio.
  • MP3: Best for maximum compatibility with older devices or systems. Slightly larger files than M4A for similar quality.
  • OGG: Best for sharing with open-source systems or when you prefer a non-proprietary format. Similar quality to M4A.

What are the technical specifications for each format?

  • M4A/AAC:

    • 44.1kHz sample rate
    • 128kbps bitrate
    • Mono channel
    • AAC-LC codec in M4A container

  • MP3 conversion:

    • VBR (Variable Bit Rate) encoding
    • Quality level 2 (approx. 170-210kbps)
    • Same sample rate as source
    • LAME MP3 encoder

  • OGG conversion:

    • Vorbis codec
    • Quality level 4 (~128kbps average)
    • Same sample rate as source
    • Maintains mono channel configuration

Why doesn't SnapVox offer WAV recording?

While WAV provides uncompressed audio, it's unnecessary for voice recording purposes. WAV files would be approximately 10 times larger than M4A files without providing any meaningful quality benefit for voice recordings. Modern lossy codecs like AAC are specifically optimized for human voice and provide transparent quality at much smaller file sizes.

Will converting between formats affect audio quality?

Yes, each conversion to a lossy format (which includes M4A, MP3, and OGG) will cause some quality loss. This is why SnapVox:

  1. Records directly to M4A rather than recording in one format and converting
  2. Preserves the original M4A file when creating conversions
  3. Allows converting directly from the original M4A to any supported format

For typical voice recording use cases, the quality difference between formats will be negligible to most listeners.

Can I automate format conversion?

Currently, format conversion is manual and on-demand. This design choice was made to:

  • Maintain transparency about what's happening to your recordings
  • Avoid unnecessary conversions and storage use
  • Give you control over which recordings need alternative formats
  • Prevent delays when stopping a recording

What about streaming and playback?

SnapVox can play all supported formats (M4A, MP3, and OGG) natively. When sharing recordings with other apps or devices, the recipient's ability to play the file will depend on their system's codec support:

  • M4A/AAC: Excellent support on mobile devices and modern systems
  • MP3: Nearly universal support
  • OGG: Good support on open-source systems, may require specific apps on some platforms

Recording Timestamps

How do timestamps work in SnapVox recordings?

SnapVox recordings contain two different timestamp values that serve different purposes:

  1. Filename timestamp: Embedded in the filename (format: yyyy-MM-dd@HHmmss), this represents when the recording started. This timestamp is captured the moment you press the record button.

  2. Metadata timestamp: Stored in the audio file's internal metadata (creation_time field), this represents when the recording finished. This timestamp is written when the recording is stopped and the file is finalized.

For example, a recording that started at 15:26:50 and ran for 4 minutes 43 seconds would have:

  • Filename: 2024-01-15@152650.m4a (start time: 15:26:50)
  • Metadata timestamp: 2024-01-15 15:31:33 (end time: 15:31:33)

Why are there two different timestamps?

This dual-timestamp approach is a standard convention in audio recording:

  • The filename timestamp is captured at the beginning of recording because the file must be created with a name before recording can start
  • The metadata timestamp is written at the end because the audio container's metadata is finalized when the file is closed after recording stops

Having both timestamps available allows you to determine both the start and end times of your recordings.

How do I determine when a recording started?

You have two options:

  1. Parse the filename: The filename contains the start time in yyyy-MM-dd@HHmmss format
  2. Calculate from metadata: Subtract the recording duration from the metadata timestamp
    • Start time = Metadata timestamp - Duration
    • For example: 15:31:33 - 4:43 = 15:26:50

SnapVox displays the metadata timestamp in the recordings list and playback screen, as this is the most reliably accessible timestamp across all recordings.

How do timestamps work with split recordings?

When you split a recording into two parts, SnapVox maintains the timestamp conventions:

Original recording:

  • Started at time T, ended at time T+D (duration D)
  • Split at position S

After splitting:

First part:

  • Filename timestamp: T (same start time as the original)
  • Metadata timestamp: T+S (when the first part ends)
  • Duration: S

Second part:

  • Filename timestamp: T+S (when the second part starts)
  • Metadata timestamp: T+D (same end time as the original)
  • Duration: D-S

This ensures that split recordings maintain accurate temporal information, allowing you to reconstruct the exact timeline of when each part was recorded.

Do trim operations affect timestamps?

Yes, trim operations update timestamps to reflect the new content:

Trim Start (removes audio from the beginning):

  • Updates the metadata timestamp to reflect the new end time
  • The recording now represents audio from the trim point to the original end

Trim End (removes audio from the end):

  • Preserves the original metadata timestamp structure
  • The recording now represents audio from the original start to the trim point

In both cases, the timestamps accurately represent the temporal boundaries of the remaining audio content.