The last factor you need to consider is how your audio is recorded and stored. In most cases, a programmable button will simply have its own built-in mic. You turn on the record function, and record your audio directly into the mic. This is convenient when you’re making a simple voice recording, since you don’t need any other equipment. That said, you might want your button to play pre-recorded music or sound effects. In that case, you’ll want a button that allows you to upload audio files via USB. Snipping Tool comes as part of Windows 11 and is also available via the Microsoft Store. Snipping Tool already allows you to take an image from your screen, but now it also allows you to select a portion of your screen and start video recording: Sound button battery life can be hard to measure, because it depends how much you’re using the button. If you’re pressing the button day in and day out, you’ll get less battery life. If it’s sitting idle, you’ll get more battery life. Keep in mind that most buttons will slowly drain the battery if the switch is left in the “on” position. In most cases, you’ll want to shut the button off whenever it’s not in use, to save battery life. Storage and Recording Capability Select the Camera icon to open a window for capturing your screen. From here, you can choose to record your screen as a video or a screenshot. We’re about to review three of the best custom programmable (recordable) sound buttons available. We’ll start out with the Talking Tiles Voice Recordable Sound Button. This is a customizable sound button that can be accented with photos, artwork, and more.

Different sound buttons will require different kinds of batteries. Many use simple, off-the-shelf batteries that you can buy from any hardware store. Alternatively, others use rechargeable batteries, and you plug them into a USB outlet when they’re drained. A rechargeable battery can be helpful, since you won’t have to open the housing. Then again, most buttons that take off-the-shelf batteries are designed with replacement in mind. Before joining How-To Geek, Joe worked at XDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google ecosystem. He got his start in the industry covering Windows Phone on a small blog, and later moved to Phandroid where he covered Android news, reviewed devices, wrote tutorials, created YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast. There is no keyboard shortcut to jump directly into Recording like there is for Snipping (CTRL+Shift+S).

Screen capture meets powerful online video editing

From smartphones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe is interested in all kinds of technology. After several years of jailbreaking and heavily modifying an iPod Touch, he moved on to his first smartphone, the HTC DROID Eris. He's been hooked ever since. We’re going to take a close look at all four of these sound buttons. We’ll talk about the battery performance, the method of operation, and the aesthetics. After considering these and other factors, we’ll be well equipped to render our final verdict. Let’s get started! Recordable Sound Button Buying Guide

Screen recording can be an incredibly useful tool. If you’re a video creator, have plans to become one, or share gaming or demonstrational content, this could be something you use all the time. While taking a screenshot on Windows 11 couldn’t be easier, knowing how to record your screen on a desktop or laptop isn’t as obvious. Follow these steps to learn how to screen record on Windows 11. This is the easiest way to record your screen. However, there are some limitations currently that you should know about: My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme. Looking for a voice recording app instead? Here is our curated list of the best voice recording apps on both the Apple App store and Google Play store. Recording your screen in Windows 11 allows you to capture anything that’s taking place on the screen, just like you’d record something with a camera. You can record a process or just something funny you’d like to share with others or save for later. Thankfully, Windows 11 has a built-in application for recording your screen, but there are other methods as well.After you finish, press Stop. Your recording can then be copied into memory, shared via the Share dialog, or Saved (by default, it will be saved in the Videos folder). We’ll finish by evaluating the MultiPlay Push Button Recordable Sound Chip. This is a tiny button with a circuit board attached, and capacity for multiple recordings. He enjoys DIY projects, especially if they involve technology. He regularly repairs and repurposes old computers and hardware for whatever new project is at hand. He has designed crossovers for homemade speakers all the way from the basic design to the PCB.

Joe Fedewa has been writing about technology for over a decade. He has been covering Android and the rest of the Google ecosystem for years, reviewing devices, hosting podcasts, filming videos, and writing tutorials. Audio recording is not yet supported, nor is a “Spot Light” feature. However, you can edit the video in a program like Microsoft’s Clipchamp app.

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: Another related concern is the aesthetic. This isn’t an issue for a concealed button. But if the button is meant to be used on its own, the physical appearance can be important. Do you want something playful or sentimental? Formal or casual? The nature of the recording will dictate the design you choose. Battery Performance The word MultiPlay refers to this gadget’s ability to replay more than one audio file. You can upload as many as you like, up to the maximum of 2MB, or about 120 seconds total. If there are multiple files, they will simply cycle through. Each time you press the button, the next sound in the sequence will be replayed. Final Verdict So, what is it that makes one recordable sound button better than another? There are many possible factors, but our concerns fall loosely into three categories. These are the look and feel, the battery performance, and the recording capability. Before we look at any particular button, let’s take a minute to discuss these basics. Look and Feel

A recordable sound button can serve a number of functions, and the look and feel can be a major limiting factor. For example, some buttons are big and beefy. As a result, they’re easy to press, even for small children and people with conditions that affect their dexterity. Other buttons are smaller, designed to be put into a stuffed animal, or integrated into a larger device. Depending on your application, you’re going to want to look for a different form factor.Along with the type of recording method, the storage capacity is just as important. In many cases, you’ll only get a few seconds of recording time. This is just fine if you’re only making a very short recording. And given the nature of sound buttons, that’s all you’re normally going to need. On the other hand, you may want to record a longer message, or use multiple sound effects. There are some buttons with more storage, as long as a few minutes. But no matter how you cut it, you’re not going to get huge amounts of storage. That’s not what sound buttons are designed for. Xbox Game Bar is built right into Windows 11 as a native application, but it is also available as an add-on. The Game Bar has several features specifically related to gaming, like access to game-specific widgets and the ability to chat with friends while playing Xbox games. It also has a widget for capturing and recording your screen: