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Google is making the clear voice feature work for recordings which will help many users with crisp and detailed audio.
Pixel users will be getting a host of new AI features
Google is developing a new feature for its Pixel Recorder app to reduce background noise and enhance speech clarity. According to a report by Android Authority, this much-anticipated feature will improve audio quality by focusing on eliminating unwanted noise during recordings on Pixel smartphones.
While the app is known for its excellent audio capture and transcription capabilities, background noise can sometimes hinder clarity. The new “Clear Voice” feature will use noise-cancellation technology to address this issue, making recordings easier to understand.
The report highlights that the Clear Voice feature was discovered following an APK teardown of the Recorder app version 4.2.20241001.701169069. As the name suggests, it will remove the background noise and make recordings clearer and easier to understand, enhancing the app’s overall value for users.
The report further reveals that this feature is internally referred to as “hdmic” and is turned off by default for the latest recordings. Delving into the app’s code revealed strings referencing the feature. It states, “Reduce background noise while recording for clearer speech playback.”
This feature will particularly be beneficial for capturing meetings, lectures or interviews in noisy environments. Moreover, the app is exclusive to Google’s Pixel lineup of devices, such as the latest Pixel 9 series. It offers features such as speaker labelling and transcription, powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
However, it is important to note that there are a few limitations. This feature uses the phone’s internal microphone and will not work with external mics for starters. Based on the code analysis, it only supports mono audio and does not have support for stereo.
As of now, the Clear Voice feature has not been rolled out for the public and is likely in the development stage.
Earlier, Google announced a new update for the Recorder app in June that introduced a shortcut for the home screen. The new Record shortcut, which appeared as a red circle on a white background, matching the larger floating action button (FAB), can be placed on the home screen to quickly start a recording. This update is said to provide a boost to the live transcription capabilities by bringing quick access to it.