A voice recorder you control with your voice
Most “voice recorders” record voice — they don’t obey it. VoiceCue is a recorder app with real voice commands: say “BEGIN” to start recording, “DISCARD” for an instant retake, and “STOP” to save — without touching your phone.
The short answer: yes, a voice recorder app with spoken start and stop commands exists. VoiceCue listens on-device for a small set of spoken commands while you play. BEGIN starts a take, DISCARD deletes the take and restarts instantly, STOP saves it — the spoken command itself is trimmed off the saved recording. No voice assistant, no Bluetooth remote, no foot pedal, and no internet required.
Every voice command, in one table
The commands are short, distinct, single-purpose words, chosen so they can be spoken clearly from a music stand, 3–4 feet from the phone.
| Say | What happens | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| “BEGIN” | Starts recording (audio or video), or starts playback and timers inside the practice tools. | Recorder & tools |
| “DISCARD” | Instant retake: deletes the current take and starts a fresh recording immediately. | Recorder, mid-take |
| “STOP” | Ends and saves the take to the Studio Library, with the spoken command trimmed off. | Recorder & tools |
| “SNAP” | Takes a photo, or drops a live bookmark in the current take. | Recorder |
| “GO NEXT” / “GO BACK” | Turns sheet-music pages forward or back while you keep playing. | Sheet Music Reader (Premium) |
| “GO FASTER” / “GO SLOWER” | Adjusts tempo up or down without reaching for the screen. | Metronome & tools (Premium) |
| “GO UP” / “GO DOWN” | Transposes vocal warmups up or down a step. | Vocal Warmup Player (Pro) |
The instant retake: why DISCARD matters
Every musician knows the moment: the take is going well, then one wrong note ruins it. With an ordinary recorder the restart ritual — stop, delete, re-arm, count in — breaks the flow and the mood. DISCARD removes the ritual.
- You’re mid-take and it goes wrongKeep playing or pause — the recorder is still rolling.
- Say “DISCARD”VoiceCue hears the command on-device and deletes the ruined take on the spot.
- A fresh take is already recordingNo menus, no tapping, no putting the instrument down. Play the passage again while it’s still in your fingers.
It’s the most-used command in VoiceCue, because practice is mostly retakes.
How it works — and why it isn’t a voice assistant
On-device recognition
Commands are recognized entirely on your phone or tablet. Nothing is sent to a server, so responses are instant, it works in any practice room or on stage, and your recordings never leave your device.
Built into the recorder
Siri or Google Assistant can open a generic recorder app — then you’re on your own, tapping like everyone else. VoiceCue’s commands work inside the take: retake, bookmark, save, turn pages, change tempo.
Designed to be read from your stand
High-contrast screens show the state — listening, recording, saved — in type large enough to read from 3–4 feet away, mid-piece.
No extra hardware
No Bluetooth remote to charge, no foot pedal to cable, no watch to wear. If your phone can hear you, you can run the whole session by voice.
Put it to work
Record piano practice hands-free
Both hands and a pedal are busy at the piano. Here’s the stand setup and the session flow, step by step.
Read the piano guide →Record violin lessons hands-free
A bow in one hand and a violin in the other leaves nothing free for a record button. Voice commands fix that.
Read the violin guide →VoiceCue vs Voice Memos
An honest comparison for musicians: where the built-in recorder is fine, and where voice control changes everything.
See the comparison →Questions
Is there a voice recorder app with voice commands to start and stop recording?
Yes — VoiceCue. Say “BEGIN” and recording starts; say “STOP” and the take is saved. It also understands “DISCARD”, which throws the current take away and starts a fresh one instantly. The commands are recognized on your device, so no internet or voice assistant is involved.
How can I retake a recording instantly without stopping to use my hands?
Say “DISCARD” while recording in VoiceCue. The take is deleted and a new recording starts immediately, in the same breath — your hands never leave the instrument and your flow is never broken. It is the command VoiceCue users reach for most.
Do the voice commands work without internet?
Yes. VoiceCue recognizes commands entirely on your device — no internet, no account, no cloud. That makes it instant and keeps every recording private and on your phone.
How is VoiceCue different from starting a recorder with Siri or Google Assistant?
A voice assistant can open a generic recorder, but it cannot control the take: there is no spoken retake, no mid-take discard, and no practice tools. VoiceCue’s commands work inside the recorder while you play — start, retake, save, turn sheet-music pages, and adjust tempo, all by voice.
Which devices does VoiceCue run on, and what does it cost?
iPhone and iPad (iOS 15.6 or later) and Android phones and tablets. Hands-free audio recording is free forever; Premium ($2.99) and Pro ($9.99) are one-time purchases. There is no subscription.
Try the commands yourself
Free on iPhone, iPad and Android — unlimited hands-free audio recording, no account, no subscription. The full feature and pricing breakdown is on the VoiceCue page.