Shortcut "Record Audio", how to save local

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iErkopf Author

Level 1

8 points

Shortcut "Record Audio", how to save local

Hi there,

new to shortcuts and automation, I need some help. My goal is an automation which

uses a schedule for daily audio recording of 1 hour at a defined time (got it)
recording in high quality aufio w/ an ecternal microphone (got it)
saving the recording local (NOT in a Cloud). This important, as there might be no internet connection for saving in the cloud (Didn't get it. No idea how to save local. Best would be to save it at a certain place in the files folder)

Maybe someone has an idea?

Cheers, Stefan

iPhone XS, iOS 14

Posted on Dec 9, 2020 2:28 AM

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Answer 1

Alancito

Level 7

30,408 points

Dec 9, 2020 9:34 AM in response to iErkopf

iErkopf wrote: "...saving the recording local (NOT in a Cloud). This important, as there might be no internet connection for saving in the cloud"

Stefan ~ Having no internet connection is not a problem as the recording will still be saved in iCloud Drive on your iPhone – if that's where you've told the Save File action to save it. In iCloud Drive, the file name will have a cloud icon containing an "!" next to it. Then, later, when you have a connection, the file will be automatically synced up to iCloud and the cloud icon containing an "!" will disappear – leaving the file appearing as normal in iCloud Drive on your iPhone and in iCloud Drive on the Web.

"No idea how to save local. Best would be to save it at a certain place in the files folder"

In the Save File action, if you have "Ask Where to Save" set to On, when your shortcut runs, it will allow you to choose a folder in "On My iPhone" instead of iCloud Drive. Then the file will always be local only.

On a related note, you may be interested in this free Data Jar app designed for Shortcuts.

And this Shortcuts sub-Reddit has many more Shortcuts experts than here on ASC.

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Answer 2

Alancito

Level 7

30,408 points

Dec 9, 2020 10:32 AM in response to iErkopf

"...it will allow you to choose a folder in "On My iPhone" instead of iCloud Drive". BUT: I cannot choose a folder "On my iPhone". There is just iCloud or dropbox to choose :(

Stefan ~ From my statement above, you omitted: "when your shortcut runs, it will allow you to choose a folder in "On My iPhone" instead of iCloud Drive."

...So in the Save File action, set "Ask Where to Save" to On, then run your shortcut and it should let you choose where to save the file. Unfortunately, as it's not saving the file automatically, it's probably not what you want. If you want automatic, I think you'll have to use iCloud or Dropbox with "Ask Where to Save" set to Off.

"When I try to automate that shortcut for a daily recording when being absent, the automation will start at the scheduled time and open my shortcut "Auto-recorder", but then waits for me to start the recording by tap (despite I chosed "execute without confirmation").

Assuming your shortcut is using the "Record Audio" action, in that action, tap on "Show More" and then, for "Start Recording", tap "Immediately" (instead of "On Tap").

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Answer 3

iErkopf Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 9, 2020 10:10 AM in response to Alancito

Alancito,

thx a lot for your quick reply. I tested my shortcut and indeed, the audio recording was saved local in iCloud first, later it was uploaded to iCloud.

Much appreciated: "it will allow you to choose a folder in "On My iPhone" instead of iCloud Drive". BUT: I cannot choose a folder "On my iPhone". There is just iCloud or dropbox to choose :(

Another problem to solve:

When I try to automate that shortcut for a daily recording when being absent, the automation will start at the scheduled time and open my shortcut "Auto-recorder", but then waits for me to start the recording by tap (despite I chosed "execute without confirmation").

Do You have an idea?

Cheers, Stefan

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Answer 4

iErkopf Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 9, 2020 1:39 PM in response to Alancito

Alancito, thx dor detailed info.

I need to run an audio recording daily for about a week absolutely automatically. The phone will be in a case during that period of time. It is for an enveronmental survey, some bird species have to be recorded.

So, my shortcut (in German: "Kurzbefehl") is already is set to "immediately" (in German: "sofort", as you can see in tbe attached screenshot.

When I start the shortcut alone, it runns correctly.

As soon as I start it as an automation, it asks for a tap:

So the automation above says:

__________

IF ("Wenn")

8:00 p.m., daily

THEN Shortcut "Audio-Recording"

__________

I have no idea, why the shortcut needs a tap when automated, and no tap when started as a shortcut directly.

Cheers, Stefan

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Answer 5

Alancito

Level 7

30,408 points

Dec 9, 2020 3:00 PM in response to iErkopf

Stefan ~ Your shortcut & settings appear to be correct. So perhaps it's a bug Apple needs to fix.

If, after restarting your iPhone, your automation still needs a tap to run, I suggest you ask for help in this Shortcuts sub-Reddit I mentioned previously.

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Answer 6

iErkopf Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2020 12:02 AM in response to Alancito

Alancito, thx for your helpful hints and suggestions.

My automation still needs a tap to run, despite I tried lots of variations.

So I'm trying to get it solved by the link you posted.

As soon as there is a solution (or the fact, that this kind of action cannot be automated) I'll let You know.

Cheers, Stefan

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Answer 7

iErkopf Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2020 1:51 AM in response to iErkopf

Problem solved!!!

In an other request regarding an similar automation someone suggested:

try to place "continue in shortcuts" after the time schedule and before the audio record shortcut.

From now on it works without any further taps :))

Cheers, Stefan

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Answer 8

iErkopf Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2020 4:08 AM in response to iErkopf

Sry, I was too fast telling success.

The same automation, w/o any changes, sometimes works, but mostly not.

I change the time of start recording (e.g. 1:52 am for 35 seconds), turn the screen off and wait..

at 1:52 the automation starts the shortcut, sometimes it wants a tap, sometimes it starts recording (counts backwards from 35s) and stops after some seconds counting without any saveing.

I really tart to hate that automation tool, as it doesnt work, is not intuitive, and makes many people crazy :((

Back to my android, it simply works as it should. Sry

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Answer 9

iErkopf Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 10, 2020 9:05 AM in response to iErkopf

Some more news and sry, I was so scared about those confusing reactions those shortcuts did.

But now I've checked the logic (and kind of a bug):

When I write a new automation, as described above, the automation records and saves right.

As soon as I change ANY setting in my recording options (esp duration of recording), the whole Automation OR Shortcut will not run correctly before I restarted the iPhone.

This behavior is repeatable, as soon as I cbange anything, the Shortcut asks for a tap after starting it. After a restart, the same Shortcut runs without further taps.

Thx for your help and patience!

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Answer 10

Alancito

Level 7

30,408 points

Dec 10, 2020 10:53 AM in response to iErkopf

iErkopf wrote: "As soon as I change ANY setting in my recording options (esp duration of recording), the whole Automation OR Shortcut will not run correctly before I restarted the iPhone."

Stefan ~ Yes, that sounds like a bug. The next version of iOS (14.3) may be released soon. I suggest waiting for that, then testing again to see if the problem is fixed. If it isn't, then let Apple know about it here:

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Also, instead of having your main "Audio-Recording" actions as a separate shortcut, try putting all the actions in the automation itself. Then perhaps you wouldn't need the "Continue in Shortcuts" action and your automation would work more reliably. ...Just a thought.

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Shortcut "Record Audio", how to save local

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