I feel like I have seen mention of this on here, but am not technology savvy, so am not sure how to search the site for this, but...does anyone know if there is a way to always be recording on your phone (iPhone)?
Short answer: Yes, use the Voice Recorder app. Once you start a session, the app will record continuously until the battery is dead and/or you run out of storage.
Long answer: For a time, I used a 3rd party DVR (digital voice recorder) purchased on Amazon for a few bucks. It was highly rated, cheap, and had lots of storage. It could remain in my pocket while I used my phone, without risk of accidentally ending a session. It recorded in MP4 format, which generally creates small file sizes and is easy to transfer. The challenge with the stand-alone DVR is that it needs to be charged, and requires some focused attention to maintain and backup, vs. the upside of the iPhone - which is always with you anyway...
Fast forward - I went through 2 DVRs which failed or broke for various reasons. At this point, I picked up an old iPod touch, with a ton of memory. The iPod touch is basically a mini iPhone. In addition to logging the time of each new session, it also automatically logs the location in the file name (e.g., "home" or "main street") - which could be useful. It includes a built-in editing function which can be great for duplicating files and then cutting them to only the most relevant segments. And it can be backed up to iCloud or directly to a Mac or PC - so you can manage storage and backups in a familiar way.
I live in a 2-party consent state, so secretly recording anyone is technically against the law - be sure you know your local laws. However I worry about false accusations - and after a lot of research, I've never found a case where a recording led to legal consequences or penalties in a family law case - remember, the primary point of doing this is defensive - you only disclose the existence of a recording to a) dispute a false accusation, b) negotiate with opposing counsel to avoid litigation, or maybe c) diminish opposing counsel and/or the credibility of their client with evidence. I'll add d) play back clips to
yourself to diffuse gaslighting attempts ("did I say that? wait, let me play it back...") and/or become more grounded in reality.
Protip: Keep any recordings backed up, in a logical/chronological file/folder structure, behind a super secure password.
The iPhone or iPod touch can record for many hours, continuously. Mine needs to be charged long before it runs out of storage, i.e., I can record for many days, maybe weeks - but it will need to be charged daily - it's become part of my regular routine.
Keeping recordings on a separate device from the iPhone minimizes the chance that a recording will inadvertently stop when you receive a call or connect to bluetooth in your car, etc., and enhances discretion - recording on the iPhone will always show a "live" session in the island at the top of the screen, or on the lock screen. You bypass all of this by using a separate device...
Good luck.
