Handheld multitrack recorders are great for field recordings and using those for later sampling. But what about using your handheld device that you always carry around, i.e. your smartphone.

I was inspired to write this post by an email I have received a while ago, where someone was trying to use Alligator Bytes as a multitrack recorder and saw it as the most viable option from F-Droid for them, and they were asking for some multitrack functionality.

There are in fact better options available, and this is my take on them.

Since Android can recognise class-compliant USB audio interfaces, or Bluetooth audio devices, and will use them as the default hardware, I am focusing on them instead of the built-in microphone or plugged in headsets. My class-compliant USB interface is a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd generation with 4 audio inputs, so we can test the maximum number of channels each app can record.

List of Tested apps

Name

Tested Version

Release date

Links

Stock LineageOS Recorder

15

(unknown)

source code

Fossify Voice Recorder Beta

1.7.1

2026-02-18

F-Droid, source code

Recording Studio Lite

0.2.0

2024-10-30

F-Droid, source code

Audio Recorder

0.9.99

2024-10-17

F-Droid, source code

Sound Recorder Plus

1.1.1

2024-10-13

F-Droid, source code

The tests were conducted with a Fairphone 3 running LineageOS 22.2 (Android 15), and a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (3rd generation). The following things were tested with each app:

  1. Recording from the built-in microphone.

  2. Recording with the USB interface connected.

  3. Start recording with USB interface connected and then disconnect.

  4. Start recording with USB interface disconnected and then connect.

Functionality

Name

Audio Formats

Additional Functionality

Stock LineageOS Recorder

wav

Fossify Voice Recorder Beta

m4a, mp3, opus

Selectable sample rate and bitrate

Recording Studio Lite

3gpp, mpeg4, aac ADTS, AMR Narrowband, AMR Wideband, ogg, wav

Selectable codec, channels, sample rate, processing of audio source

Audio Recorder

m4a, wav, 3gp

Selectable bitrate and naming scheme

Sound Recorder Plus

mp3

Settable sample rate and bitrate

The most versatile option is Recording Studio Lite, where you can select a processing of the audio source for later usage, e.g. voice recognition. Other than that, all apps seem to use the normal audio stream from the input.

All apps can record stereo with the USB audio interface, inputs 3 and 4 of the interface are not recorded, I could not find a setting in Android, but will try to enable these inputs as well. There will be a follow-up post.

Recording stops when plugging in or disconnecting the audio interface in all apps.

So in conclusion: All apps are up to the job. If you are running LineageOS, then just use the Stock recorder, except when you need the additional functionality.