🎙️ How to Use the Audio Recorder in H5P (WordPress)
The Audio Recorder module in H5P is a lightweight tool that allows users to record their voice, pause/resume, and download their audio. While limited in terms of assessment or feedback features, it can still be quite useful—especially for language practice or self-reflection tasks.
🧭 What Does It Do?
The Audio Recorder allows users to:
- 🎤 Record their voice by clicking a button.
- ⏸️ Pause and resume the recording.
- 🎧 Listen to their recorded audio.
- 💾 Download the audio file for personal use.
- 🔁 Retry and re-record.
⚠️ Important: The recording is not saved to the server and is not accessible by instructors/admins. It’s strictly local and user-controlled.
🔄 Example Use Case
Prompt:
“Can you list all the months of the year in order?”
Students:
- Read the prompt.
- Click “Record” and speak.
- Pause if needed.
- Click “Done” to finish.
- Play back their recording or download it.
This tool is ideal for pronunciation practice, verbal fluency drills, or adding a simple voice recorder to your site.
🛠️ How to Set It Up
1. Install the Module
- Go to H5P Content in your WordPress dashboard.
- Click “Add New”.
- Search for “Audio Recorder”.
- Click Get to install (if not already installed), then select it.
2. Create Your Recorder
- Add a title (e.g., “Audio Recorder”).
- Add a task prompt (e.g., “Can you list the months of the year in order?”).
- Optionally customize interface text (under “Text overrides and translations”).
✅ That’s it—very minimal setup.
👁️ Preview & Test
Once created:
- The user sees a prompt, record button, and timer.
- After recording, they can:
- Listen to the audio.
- Download it.
- Retry and record again.
- You’ll also see a live audio waveform while recording, which is a nice visual touch.
🔒 Browser Permissions: On first use, the browser will ask for mic access. The user must click “Allow” for it to work.
🌐 Embedding It into a Post
To use the recorder in a blog post or lesson:
- Copy the shortcode from your created H5P activity.
- Go to Posts > Add New.
- Give it a title (e.g., “Audio Recorder Activity – #40”).
- Add a Shortcode block.
- Paste the shortcode, then publish the post.
The recorder will appear in your post, ready to use.
❗ Limitations
- ❌ No server-side storage — audio is not submitted to the backend.
- ❌ Instructors cannot access user recordings.
- ❌ Not ideal for graded assignments or formal feedback.
- ✅ Can be included in Interactive Workbooks or Columns in H5P.
💡 Final Thoughts
The Audio Recorder is simple, clean, and easy to implement. While it’s limited in functionality, it’s a great tool for:
- 💬 Pronunciation drills
- 🗣️ Speaking practice
- 🎙️ Adding basic voice capture to any page
📢 Want more interactive content tutorials?
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Got questions or creative ways you’re using H5P? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear what you’re building!
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