App for journalists: Cogi for more efficient interview recording

What is it: App for recording audio highlights and note taking

Devices: Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)

Cost: Free, with a paid-for option to record calls and access transcription services

How is it of use to journalists: If you ever dread having to listen back to all the interviews you recorded and transcribe hours of audio, Cogi can help.

To start a Cogi session, go to the 'capture' tab and tap the centre of the screen.

The audio recorder will start listening in to the conversation, and buffering the last few moments of audio, ready to rewind and start recording 'highlights' when you tap the screen again.

To stop the recording, tap again. The audio clip is added to your session while Cogi continues to listen to the interview.

A Cogi session enables you to take photos through the app, tag contacts from your phone's address book, as well as organise your notes with hashtags.

The session continues to run while you use other apps on your smartphone as well.

To end a listening session, hold your finger on the centre of the screen.


A Cogi session (left) and recording highlights (right), screenshots from Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone

With multimedia support and no limit on the number of highlights that can be recorded in each session, Cogi can be helpful when it comes to planning projects as well.

Use it to store all interviews, pictures and transcripts in once place once you get started on a feature.

If the idea of only recording interview highlights sounds a bit risky, Cogi can also be used as an organisational tool for recording memos, typing quick notes and storing useful snaps.

Once a session has been stopped, you cannot go back and continue recording highlights through it.

To connect pieces of audio from different interviews, the hashtag feature comes in handy.

This also offers an opportunity to think of a unique hashtag to use on social media if you're writing a series of stories or planning an event.

To find all your sessions, use the 'review' tab to search through your notes.

All the features included above are free to use, available on both Android and iOS devices.

On Android, sessions and individual audio clips can be uploaded to Google Drive or Dropbox, or shared via wi-fi and email among others.

Sharing features on iOS are limited in comparison, but it's worth keeping an eye on it for updates.

Cogi also has a membership service for Android users, priced at $5 (£3.18) per month, which lets you use the app on phone calls or conference calls.

Subscribers also have access to a transcription service, additionally priced on a pay-per-minute basis.

A membership plan for iOS users is currently in the works.

• Which apps have you found helpful for recording interviews and organising notes or transcripts? Share your favourites in the comments below or tweet us at @journalismnews

Update: This article has been updated to clarify audio sharing options using Cogi.

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