Help for Free Parrot

# Free Parrot

Free Parrot is a web app for easily recording throwaway audio clips.

It was originally intended for pronunciation practice but may find other uses.

## How to Use Free Parrot

- First, plug in the input cable by clicking or swiping down on it.

  You will be asked to allow Free Parrot (“localhost”) to use your microphone, which is required to enable audio recording.

  When the input cable is unplugged (as it is initially or if you decide to unplug it), audio recording is not possible.

- To record an audio clip …
  - in “press to start/stop” mode

    … press the
    button. Audio will start recording the moment the button is pressed down. You can release the button and audio will continue to be recorded. To stop recording, press the
    button again.

  PRESS TO START / STOP
  HOLD TO RECORD
  - in “hold to record” mode (default)

    … hold the
    button. Audio will record until you release the button.

  If you have a keyboard, you can also use the `r` key on your keyboard the same way as the
  button. (You can remap or disable it below.)

  Keyboard shortcut for recording, using the shortcut key key.

  ⚠️ Starting a new recording erases and overwrites any existing recording.

  There is no way to save a recorded audio clip with Free Parrot—that’s not what it’s for.

- To play back a recorded audio clip …
  - in “press to start/stop” mode (default)

    … press the
    button. Audio will start playing back the moment the button is pressed down. You can release the button and audio will continue to be played back. To stop playback, press the
    button again.

  PRESS TO START / STOP
  HOLD TO PLAY BACK
  - in “hold to play back” mode

    … hold the
    button. Audio will play back until you release the button.

  If you have a keyboard, you can also use the `f` key on your keyboard the same way as the
  button. (You can remap or disable it below.)

  Keyboard shortcut for playback, using the shortcut key key.

  You can play back your recorded audio clip as many times as you want.

- Change the audio source (the microphone used to record)

  When the input cable is plugged in, a menu appears showing the current audio source (initially, the default one). Click/tap the menu to see a list of available audio sources. Select one of the options to use it as the audio source.

  ⚠️ After changing the audio source, the “record” and “play back” buttons don’t work right away. Click/tap anywhere on the screen first, then they will work as expected. (This is not a problem if you use the keyboard shortcuts.)

## License

Free Parrot is Free Software:

- Code is licensed under the GNU GPLv3 or any later version.
- Images, audio, and text are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.