How fast does Wave transcribe an interview?

Wave transcribes faster than real time: an interview is usually ready within minutes of the recording ending, with speaker labels, timestamps, and an AI summary.

Can I record phone interviews with Wave?

Yes. Wave records both sides of phone calls on iPhone and Android on every plan (Pro is unlimited), with automatic transcription and speaker labels. Place the call from Wave's Phone tab, or merge Wave into a call already in progress if your carrier supports three-way calling.

How accurate are Wave transcripts for quotes?

Wave's transcripts are most accurate on clear audio with each speaker close to the microphone; noise and crosstalk add errors. Every line has a timestamp, so always play back the audio and verify a direct quote before publication. Custom vocabulary helps Wave spell names and places correctly.

Does Wave work for in-person field interviews?

Yes. Open Wave on your iPhone or Android phone, or start from an Apple Watch or Wear OS watch, hit record, and Wave captures the interview wherever you are.

Can I search across all my recorded interviews?

Yes. Wave's searchable library lets you find any word from any past recording by keyword, speaker, or date, and you can ask Wave questions that cite the exact session and line.

Are my source recordings used to train AI?

No. Wave never uses your recordings, transcripts, or summaries to train AI models, on any plan. Recordings are encrypted in transit and at rest, and you can permanently delete any recording at any time.

The Voice Recorder App Built for Journalists

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Wave AI is a voice recorder app for journalists on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, and smart watches: record field interviews, source calls, and press conferences, then get timestamped, speaker-labeled transcripts and AI summaries in 76 languages. Free to start.

Recording interviews as a journalist

How do I record and transcribe a source interview?

Tap record in Wave, or place the call from Wave's Phone tab, and get consent on the recording. Wave transcribes the interview with speaker labels and timestamps, so you can find a quote, play the audio back, and check it before publishing.

In the field: tap record on your phone or watch; Wave keeps recording with the screen off.
On the phone: place the call from Wave's Phone tab, or merge Wave into a call you're already on (on every plan; on Free, calls count toward the 30 minutes a month).
On video: record the Zoom, Meet, or Teams call with the Wave desktop app or the meeting bot.
Name each source once; Voice ID labels their voice by name in later recordings.
Search for the quote, play the audio at that timestamp, and verify it before it runs.

Recording consent for phone interviews

In the US, federal law and 38 states plus DC let you record a call you're part of with your own consent; twelve states require everyone's. When a source is in another state or country, follow the stricter rule. Wave doesn't play an announcement, so say it yourself. This is general information, not legal advice.

One-party and all-party consent states

Comparing call recorders?

Wave, Apple's built-in iPhone call recording, Google Voice, TapeACall, Rev, Plaud, and Otter compared on platforms, transcription, price, and whether the other person hears an announcement.

Best call recorder apps with transcription

The problems you know too well

Manual Transcription Kills Your Deadline

Transcribing a 45-minute interview by hand takes hours. Wave transcribes it automatically, usually within minutes, so you can write your story faster.

Misquoting Sources Is Career-Ending

Accurate quotes are non-negotiable. Wave keeps the audio with a timestamped transcript, so you can play back the exact moment and verify every quote before it runs.

Recordings Scattered Across Devices

Phone calls, field recordings, Zoom interviews — Wave pulls everything into one searchable library so you never lose a source.

Features

Everything you need to capture every conversation

Record Anywhere, Even From Your Watch

Capture audio in the field, at a press conference, or on a call from your phone, Apple Watch, or Wear OS watch. Wave keeps recording in the background with the screen off.

Automatic Transcription

Get transcripts with speaker labels and timestamps, usually within minutes. No more hours at the keyboard transcribing recordings.

Phone Call Recording

Record source calls on iPhone and Android. Both sides of the conversation are captured and transcribed. Free covers 30 minutes a month; Pro is unlimited.

Searchable Quote Library

Find any quote from any interview instantly. Search by keyword, source name, or date, or ask Wave a question across your entire recording archive.

Speaker-Labeled Quotes With Voice ID

Wave labels each speaker so you know which quote belongs to which source. Name a source once and Voice ID recognizes their voice in later interviews.

Works Everywhere

iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Chrome, and the web — record phone interviews, video calls, or in-person sessions from any device.

Perfect for

One-on-one source interviewsPress conference recordingPhone interview transcriptionPanel discussion notesVideo call interview recordingBackground briefing capture

FAQs

Common questions

Meeting Recording Laws: What You Need to Know

Understand meeting recording laws across the US and abroad. Learn one-party vs two-party consent rules and how to record meetings legally.

All The Ways to Wave: Every Device, Every Scenario, One App

The complete guide to recording with Wave — iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, Wear OS, Desktop, Chrome Extension, Meeting Bots, Phone Calls, Web App, and Import. Every way to capture, transcribe, and summarize your conversations.

Introducing Voice ID: Wave Learns Who’s Talking

Voice ID creates a mathematical fingerprint of each speaker’s voice, then automatically identifies them in every future recording — making transcripts and summaries more useful without any manual labeling.