Hindenburg Lite aka Field Recorder Trial Version

Hindenburg Lite is a recording app for iOS phone or iPad only. There is and will never be an Android version. The actual name of the full version of the app is Hindenburg Field Recorder. With the app, you can record, edit and export audio. It is a bit quirky but it is worth more than a surface look.

The lite version has all of the features of the paid version of Field Recorder except that there is a 60 second recording limit. Most folks would balk at that limit, even for free. 

For time challenged folks that need hit it and quit recording, this could be something to consider.

If you can deal with the limitations and are willing to work with it; Hindenburg Lite could be an app that gives you value in the long run.

Audiograms/Social Media

Recording audio for audiograms or your social media account.

Bonus Content

Recording mini episodes on the go.

Give a quick opinion on a breaking story related to your show.

Using it to build content for your longer podcast.

Recycling Old Tech 

Reuse of an old iPhone/iPad as a mini recording tool. If you have access to Wi-Fi you are good to go if the device OS is still functional. 

Advantages:

• It is free.
• Able to record audio in 44.1 kHz or 48kHz with choice of .WAV, .AAC or ALAC
• Has built in audio compression.
• The app features are unrestricted except for the 60 second time limit.

Disadvantages:

• 60 second recording limit.
• Can only increase the Gain while recording.
• PC users will find it fussy about exporting audio to another location. 
• If you want to do more to your audio, you will have to export it to an audio editing program.

The Fiddley Parts 

Editing: I have average size hands. On an iPhone 6s, I could not select the editing handles. Might be easier on an iPad.

Exporting and You Have a Mac: Not going to be an issue for you. You have AirDrop or you can use the Apple Cloud or other cloud services. Or connect directly to your Apple computer.

Exporting and You Have a PC: 

If the audio is small enough you might be able to email it to yourself. There may or may not be a size restriction from your email service about large files. .WAV files by their nature are large files.

However if you have a cloud storage account like Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox that might be the easiest path to get the recording off of the device. 

Is it for you?

Depends.  It is a free app. If you can roll with the 60 second time limit and how to work with audio then I think it is a score. 

The paid version of the app is $29.99 and for that you get unlimited recording time. There is no other difference in the app that I can see. 

For casual or frugal folks, I think there are more appropriate user friendly apps for you. 

Mac Users aren't going to have problems working with .AAC and .ALAC files. Slide them into GarageBand or your audio editing programs and get on with the day.

PC Users are going to need to export audio as WAV files. Or hunt down converter software. For PC Audacity users, you are going to need to install a plug-in for .AAC audio files.

If you lean nerdy or like to figure stuff out - it could work for you. 

If not, it might be more trouble than it is worth. 

There are other recording apps that are a tad easier to work with. But the sound quality and variety of export options are not to be ignored.