Although it’s useful in certain situations, Android doesn’t allow call recording in many countries, including Spain. How to get around this problem? The best solution is to use another phone or a recorder . And not just for voice recording, but also for text: it works great for interviews, for example.
For my work, I need a record of some calls, and the phone is often the most suitable medium for conducting certain interviews. Although I take notes on the calls, I often need to translate a specific phrase so it doesn’t get misrepresented. And with AI, I can achieve the perfect combination: transcribed call recordings . It works much better than it looks.
Recording calls and having them in text is possible
Your phone is most likely like mine: it can’t record calls because the option isn’t available in your country. Although it’s worth checking: make a call to any number, and if the recording icon doesn’t appear on the standby screen , it means you can’t record directly.
The most effective way to record calls is to use a second phone and use the hands-free function during the call —it never fails. Use the voice recorder on the second phone and you’ll get an audio file, which you can then transcribe from the app itself: most already incorporate AI-powered text conversion (Google, Xiaomi, Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, etc.).
But let’s go a step further: I usually record the call and also record the text on the fly . That way I have the audio and a document. There are several ways to do this.
Most compatible: with the Instant Transcription app
It’s an option included in your Android’s accessibility tools : once activated, it captures all the voices and sounds around you to transcribe them. It’s very effective, faithful to the conversation, and rarely makes mistakes. Google’s AI does a good job.
The process is as follows:
- Make sure Instant Transcription is installed on your phone: go to this Google Play link and check it.
- Open the app. One way to do this quickly is to type its name into the settings search box.
- With the app open and listening, make the call on the other phone and turn the speakerphone up to high volume .
- Place your phone nearby with Instant Transcription running, and the app will record everything you say.
- As an extra, I recommend that you also record the call with the recorder on the second phone.
You’ll get a text with everything said. And Instant Transcription keeps a record of all conversations.
Otter.ai
This tool is very powerful when it comes to transcribing calls: it can convert any live conversation to text, create summaries, and even differentiate between the speakers —very useful when you want to review what you discussed later.
Otter.ai is free for basic use, though you do need to register for an account . It can transcribe up to half an hour per conversation, which is more than enough for most calls. You just need to set up the app on your second phone after installing it from Google Play , make a call from your primary phone, put it on speakerphone, and use Otter.ai to capture the voices. Close the recording when you’re done and everything will be saved.
As with the previous method, my recommendation is to make a normal recording on the second phone, in addition to the transcription. Just in case.
With ChatGPT or Gemini
It’s a simple method to transcribe calls using AI apps: with voice dictation, they’ll transcribe everything you say during the call:
- Open the AI app on the second phone. This works for most phones; they all usually include voice dictation.
- Make the call on the first phone, put it on speakerphone, and tap on the dictation in the app on the other phone.
- End the call and close the recording app.
- You’ll have all the audio transcribed accurately: it rarely makes a mistake. Copy the text and that’s it. You can also send it, so you’ll have it saved in the conversation with the AI.
With all of the above methods, you’ll receive a transcript of what you discussed during the call. Remember to always record your conversations with audio: having the voice file is an extra security measure.
