Everything you need to go from singing in the shower to sharing your music with the world. No studio required.
1. Record an MP3 on Your Phone
Your phone is a recording studio in your pocket. Here's how to capture a song.
iPhone
- Open the Voice Memos app (it's pre-installed - red waveform icon)
- Tap the red circle to start recording
- Sing, play, or perform your song
- Tap the red square to stop
- Tap the recording, then tap the ... (three dots) menu
- Choose Share, then save or email it to yourself
Voice Memos saves as M4A. HearIt accepts this format, but if you need MP3, use a free converter (see tools below).
Android
- Open your Recorder or Voice Recorder app (pre-installed on most Android phones)
- Tap the microphone button to start recording
- Perform your song
- Tap stop when you're done
- The file is saved automatically - find it in your Files app under Recordings
Want Better Quality?
These free apps give you more control over your recordings:
GarageBand (iPhone - free) - Multi-track recording, built-in instruments, exports to MP3. Apple's gift to musicians.
BandLab (iPhone + Android - free) - Full recording studio, effects, mixing. No account required to record.
Dolby On (iPhone + Android - free) - One-tap recording with automatic noise reduction and audio enhancement. Great for live performances.
Pro tip: Record in a quiet room. Close the windows. Put your phone on a table or stack of books about 12 inches from your mouth. That alone makes a huge difference.
2. Record a Music Video on Your Phone
A music video doesn't need to be fancy. Some of the best videos on the internet are one person, one camera, one take.
iPhone or Android
- Open your Camera app and switch to Video mode
- Prop your phone up (lean it against something, use a stack of books, or get a cheap phone tripod)
- Make sure the light is in front of you, not behind you
- Tap record, step back, and perform
- Tap stop when you're done
- The video is saved in your Photos/Gallery - it's already an MP4
That's it. Don't overthink it. Authenticity beats production value every time. A songwriter on a porch with a guitar is more compelling than a bad green screen.
Want to Edit?
iMovie (iPhone - free) - Trim, add titles, basic editing. Simple and effective.
CapCut (iPhone + Android - free) - More advanced editing, filters, text overlays. Popular with musicians.
InShot (iPhone + Android - free) - Quick trim and resize. Good for cutting out the part where you walk to the camera.
3. Create Cover Art with AI
Every song on HearIt has a cover image. You don't need to be a graphic designer - AI tools will create something great in seconds.
Free AI Image Tools
How to Describe Your Cover Art
Be specific. Instead of "album cover," try:
- "A lone cowboy silhouette against a red sunset, dark and cinematic"
- "Electric guitar on fire with a black background, rock album style"
- "Watercolor painting of a small town main street, folk music feel"
- "Close-up of piano keys with dramatic lighting, jazz album cover"
Image size: Any size works on HearIt - we'll resize it automatically. But square images (same width and height) look best as cover art.
5. Upload Your Music to HearIt
Now the fun part.
- From the home page, click Share Your Music
- Choose Share Music (not Create Auction - that's for selling rights later)
- Read and agree to the terms
- Enter your song title and a description - tell people what inspired it, what it's about, whatever feels right
- Upload your cover image - click Upload As-Is or use the cropper
- Upload your MP3 - click the audio upload button and select your recording
- Upload your video (optional) - same process
- Select the genres that fit your song
- Click Submit
Your song goes live immediately. It appears on the Music page, in the Jukebox, and on your artist profile. Share the link with friends, post it on social media, send it to your mom.