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On Thu, 5 Dec, 12:02 AM UTC
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Google Developing a Noise Cancellation Feature for Pixel Recorder App
The feature may require a server-side component for activation Google is developing a new feature for its native Pixel Recorder app to eliminate background noise and enable clearer speech playback when recording audio on its smartphones, according to a report. It was spotted during an APK teardown of the app for Android. The app is exclusive to Google's Pixel lineup of devices such as the latest Pixel 9 series and offers features such as transcription and speaker labelling, powered by artificial intelligence (AI). In a report, Android Authority, teaming up with Assemble Debug, highlighted 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 suppress the background noise and prioritise spoken content in the vicinity of the handset. The report reveals it is internally referred to as "hdmic" and is turned off by default for the new recordings. Delving into the app's code revealed strings referencing the feature which states, "Reduce background noise while recording for clearer speech playback." However, there are a few caveats. For starters, it uses the phone's internal microphone and will not work with external mics. Further, it does not have support for stereo and only support mono audio. The feature is reported to be inactive at the moment and even sideloading the latest version of the Recorder app for Pixel devices does not seem to activate it. It is said to require a server-side component for activation. In June, Google announced a new update for the Recorder app which introduced a shortcut for the home screen. It appears as a red circle on a white background, matching the larger floating action button (FAB). The new Record shortcut can now be placed on the home screen to quickly start a recording. Its arrival is said to provide a boost to the live transcription capabilities by bringing quick access to it.
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Pixel Recorder preps a feature that's essentially Audio Magic Eraser on auto mode
Key Takeaways Google's Pixel-exclusive Recorder app may soon prioritize speech in recordings. The upcoming feature will reduce background noise and enhance dialogue quality in recordings. Code found in the app's latest build suggests that the feature will be called 'Clear Voice,' and it will be limited to mono audio with stereo and external mics not supported. ✕ Remove Ads Google's Pixel-exclusive Recorder app, which boasts AI-enabled functionality like summaries, transcriptions, and speaker labeling, might soon gain a key new feature that automatically prioritizes human speech during recordings. The app, which works on Pixel 3 and later released Pixel devices, already allows users to edit recordings, search within transcripts and recordings, automatically detect languages (Pixel 6 and later), back up and view recordings on your Google account, and more. Related Google Recorder has fixed its biggest 'AI summaries' problem, but there's a catch The fix is exclusive to the Pixel 9 series (for now) Posts Now, however, it looks like Google is finally using AI to improve the app's fundamentals. As highlighted by Android Authority, the app's latest build (Version 4.2.20241001.701169069) offers hints at an upcoming functionality, which, as its name suggests, will aim to enhance the quality of dialogue within recordings. ✕ Remove Ads <string name="hdmic_setting_summary"> Reduce background noise while recording for clearer speech playback. External mic and stereo are not supported.</string> <string name="hdmic_setting_title"> Clear voice</string> string name="hdmic_tooltip">Keep human speech and remove background sounds</string> string name="hdmic_tooltip_with_learn_more">Keep human speech and remove background sounds. Learn more in Settings.</string> <string name="not_mono_channel">This action requires mono audio. Please change your audio channels to mono.</string> <string name="off_for_new_recordings">Clear voice is off for new recordings</string> <string name="stereo_clear_voice_off">Clear voice is turned off in stereo mode</string> Strings found within the app clearly indicate that the feature would "reduce background noise while recording," in addition to an option to "keep human speech and remove background sounds." The former appears to be a feature that will run in the background every time you initiate a new recording, while the latter appears to be a post-recording trick to further refine dialogue and reduce background noise -- akin to Audio Magic Eraser within Google Photos. It's worth noting that the feature appears to be limited to mono audio, with stereo and external mics not supported. Also worth noting is that the feature has only been spotted in code, and it remains inaccessible in the app's latest build -- so there might be some tied features that we're currently missing. Regardless, this should be a solid update for users that rely on the app for taking notes, recording interviews, and summarizing/transcribing dialogue in general. ✕ Remove Ads
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Google is developing a new AI-powered feature called 'Clear Voice' for its Pixel Recorder app, designed to reduce background noise and enhance speech clarity in audio recordings.
Google is set to introduce a groundbreaking feature to its Pixel Recorder app, leveraging artificial intelligence to significantly improve audio recording quality. The new feature, dubbed 'Clear Voice', aims to suppress background noise and prioritize human speech, offering users clearer and more focused audio playback 1.
The existence of this feature was discovered through an APK teardown of the Recorder app version 4.2.20241001.701169069. Clear Voice is designed to "reduce background noise while recording for clearer speech playback," as revealed in the app's code 2.
While the Clear Voice feature promises enhanced audio quality, it comes with certain limitations:
The Pixel Recorder app already boasts several AI-enabled features, including transcription, speaker labeling, and automatic language detection (for Pixel 6 and later models). The addition of Clear Voice further enhances its AI capabilities, potentially offering two modes of operation:
This update could significantly benefit users who rely on the Recorder app for various purposes:
The ability to automatically prioritize human speech and reduce background noise could greatly improve the clarity and usability of recorded content 2.
While the feature has been spotted in the app's code, it is not yet accessible in the latest build. The Clear Voice feature is expected to be exclusive to Google's Pixel lineup of devices, including the latest Pixel 9 series. As AI continues to play a crucial role in smartphone capabilities, this development showcases Google's commitment to enhancing user experience through innovative AI applications in everyday tools 1 2.
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Google is set to release a new Recorder app for Chromebooks with ChromeOS 130, offering features like offline transcriptions and AI summaries. The app will be available to all Chromebooks, with enhanced AI capabilities for Chromebook Plus devices.
3 Sources
Samsung is rumored to be working on an 'Audio Eraser' feature for its smartphones, similar to Google Pixel's Audio Magic Eraser. This AI-powered tool aims to eliminate unwanted sounds from videos, potentially launching with One UI 7.
6 Sources
Google is rolling out new AI-powered features for Chromebook Plus devices, including a Recorder app with transcription capabilities, Live Translate for videos and meetings, and enhanced video call features.
2 Sources
Google's upcoming Pixel 9 series is rumored to feature new AI-powered capabilities, including on-device call transcription and summarization, as well as an improved panorama mode. These advancements aim to enhance user experience and compete with Apple's latest offerings.
4 Sources
Google is developing a new AI-driven feature for the Pixel 9 series that will automatically generate to-do lists from phone calls, enhancing the existing Call Notes functionality.
3 Sources
