Hello Everyone,

Recently, I’ve had the need to make extensive use of Voice Memos I record on my iPhone 3GS. 

The following method is one that I find most favorable in an average situation.  Please note that this is only one of several methods for converting/exporting an iPhone/iPod Touch Voice Memo to a universally recognized audio format.  Please also note that the following steps apply to those using the latest version of iTunes for Windows. 

NOTE 1:
This document assumes that you have iTunes set to a standard, Auto-Sync configuration. 

1.
Record and save a Voice Memo on your iPHone/iPod.

2.
Connect the iPhone to your iTunes computer.  Allow up to 10 seconds for your device to be recognized by the system.

3.
In the iTunes Source Tree, located on the left side of the display, select your device.  A multi-tabbed Dialog Box populates the greater portion of the iTunes Window. 

4.
Select the Music Tab located near the top center of the Window.  Several Lists will be displayed. 

5.
From within the Playlists section, make sure there is a Checkbox next to the Voice Memos Item. 

6.
For good measure, Click the Apply Button or, in its absence, Click the Sync Button.  Once the “OK To Disconnect iPhone” message appears near the top of the iPhone Window, proceed to the next step. 

7.
In the iTunes Source Tree, located on the left side of the display, select  the Music Item.  This will most likely be located at the top of the Source Tree.  Once selected all of the music currently registered in your iTunes Library will be displayed.  We are now going to locate the Voice Memo you just recorded. 

8.
On your computer keyboard, Tap the F6 key until focus is on the Search Box.  It is important to understand that the iPhone/iPod Touch saves each Voice Memo with the date and time it was recorded.  So, if you recorded a Voice Memo on December 11th at 10:00am, assuming you’re using the United States date format of mm/dd/yyyy, the Memo would be automatically named 12/11/2009.  There would also be a time included in the name as well in order to allow for multiple recordings on the same date.  However, for this example, the date is all that is necessary. 

9.
To locate a Voice Memo recorded on December 11th, simply type in 12/11.  As you type, the music display will be populated with files matching your text. 

10.
Select the Voice Memo for either playback or exporting. 

NOTE 2:
The previous steps assumes that you know the date a Voice Memo was recorded.  Should this not be the case, then simply sort your iTunes Library by name and scroll through the list until you locate Voice Memos all of which will have a date and time naming combination. 

To export a Voice Memo to .MP3 audio format, do the following: 

1.
From within iTunes, locate and place focus on the desired Voice Memo.

2.
Right Mousje-Click on the desired Voice Memo.  A Shortcut Menu will appear. 

3.
Select “Export To MP3”.  Allow up to 20 seconds for this process to complete.  A new Item will be added to your iTunes Library with the same name as the original source file; however the date and time items will differ in the iTunes Library.

NOTE 3:
Exported .MP3 files are saves in the same Folder as the source file.

4.
Place focus on the newly added file, described above, and Right Mouse-Click.  A Shortcut Menu will appear. 

5.
Select “Show in Windows Explorer”.  A Windows Explorer Window will open on top of the iTunes Window with the target file selected. 

6.
While not necessary, I strongly suggest that you copy and paste this file to a familiar Folder where it can be renamed and/or edited. 

That’s all there is to it.

Good Luck,

Mark