Record family stories
Keep a family story in the voice that tells it.
The pauses, expressions and laughter are part of the story. Start with one relaxed conversation, not a formal interview. Ekkoes lets you keep the recording in a personal sound library, with an optional photo and place.
Make the first conversation easy
Ask before you start.
Explain what you would like to record and who will hear it. Choose a quiet, comfortable place together. For a child, keep it age-appropriate and respect their wish to stop; a favourite game or a small story can be enough.
Check the sound together.
Place the iPhone nearby on a stable surface without covering its microphone. Open Ekkoes and make a short test. Listen back together, then adjust the distance or move away from a television, fan or other background noise.
Ask one open question.
Try “What did your street look like when you were little?” Let the answer develop. A natural follow-up such as “What happened next?” usually works better than rushing through a long list of questions.
Name the memory while the details are fresh.
Save with a recognisable title such as “Grandad — his first job”. Add a photo if everyone is comfortable with it. Location is optional and is often unnecessary for a conversation at home.
Create a family collection.
Put related recordings in a group you can revisit. Keep the library private unless you choose to share. Before sending a recording or adding it to a shared group, confirm that the person is happy with the audience.
Five conversation starters
- What was your favourite place to play as a child?
- Who taught you to make a favourite family recipe?
- What do you remember about your first day at work?
- For a child: can you tell me about the game you invented today?
- What ordinary family tradition would you like us to keep?
Private first, shared by choice
Your private library stays on your device and, when available, syncs through your own iCloud account. Shared groups make recordings and their associated details available to group members. Exported audio or Sound Postcards can be kept by recipients. Review the title, photo and location, and agree on sharing before using either option.
Start with a few voices that matter
The free version keeps up to 10 recordings. A one-time Premium purchase unlocks unlimited recordings and watermark-free Sound Postcards; the app shows the current price before purchase. You can try a first family collection before choosing Premium.
Get Ekkoes on the App StoreQuestions before your first recording
Can I record without a photo or location?
Yes. Audio is the memory; camera and location permissions are optional. You do not need to attach your home’s location to a family conversation.
How long should a family recording be?
Start with one story and stop when the person feels ready. Short, clearly named recordings are easier to find and revisit. There is no need to turn every conversation into a long interview.
Will Ekkoes transcribe or publish the story for me?
This guide is about keeping and replaying the original audio, not automatic transcription. Your private recordings are not automatically published to a public feed.
How can I keep a copy of an important family voice?
Keep the recording in your library and export a separate copy somewhere you control. When iCloud is available, Ekkoes syncs through your private account; iOS decides when transfers run. Before replacing or erasing an iPhone, play the recording on your other device and check your exported copy. Do not treat automatic sync as confirmation that every file has finished uploading.
Can I import an existing Voice Memos recording?
The Library import button is for Sound Postcard videos created by Ekkoes, with their embedded recording information. It is not a general importer for ordinary M4A or MP3 files from Voice Memos or another recorder. Keep those originals in their existing archive; you can start new family recordings directly in Ekkoes.
Does iCloud sync share the story with my family automatically?
No. Syncing your personal library through your private iCloud account is different from inviting people to a shared group or sending an exported file. Choose the audience together before sharing a story, photo or location. A recipient can keep a copy of an exported file.