What is the RECORD file format?
A .record file is a proprietary binary audio recording created by GarageBand Records, a third-party iOS app developed by DaveTech - not to be confused with Apple's own GarageBand application. The app allowed iPhone and iPad users to record audio and upload sessions to iTunes, and was available on the App Store around 2010-2011 before being discontinued.
The .record format is entirely undocumented. Based on the underlying iOS audio frameworks available at the time, the files are likely structured as CAF or M4A containers with AAC or Apple Lossless audio, but no public specification exists and the creating app is no longer supported.
Because the format is obsolete and no current software opens .record files directly, the most practical recovery approach is to rename the file - for example, changing recording.record to recording.m4a or recording.caf - and then attempting playback in QuickTime Player, iTunes/Apple Music, VLC, or Audacity. This rename workaround succeeds only if the file's internal codec is supported by the target application.
Key facts about .record files:
- Created only by the now-discontinued DaveTech GarageBand Records iOS app
- No current application natively opens
.recordfiles - Renaming to
.m4aor.cafis the best recovery option for legacy files - Not related to Apple's GarageBand, which records to standard formats such as AIFF
- The
.recordextension is also used generically by some screen-recording and logging tools on other platforms
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .record audio file is a passive data file; it cannot execute. If the extension comes from an unknown source or a web download, scan with antivirus before opening - any binary file could theoretically be a disguised executable.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMEGarageBand Records Audio Fileaka GarageBand Records file, .record audio
DEVELOPERDaveTechsince circa 2010 (GarageBand Records iOS app)
CATEGORYAudio Files
MIME TYPEapplication/octet-stream
TYPEbinary audio recording (proprietary, obsolete)
This extension is also used by…
- Generic Screen/Session Recording File - Some screen capture tools, test frameworks (e.g. Selenium IDE), and logging software use .record as a generic extension for recorded sessions or logs.
- Clementine / music player playlist record - Niche use by some Linux media tools for playback session records; plain text or binary depending on implementation.
Programs that open RECORD files
Windows2 apps
VLC media player (rename workaround)
Open-source Rename .record to .m4a or .caf, then open in VLC. Works if the file is a standard iOS audio container.
Audacity (rename workaround)
Open-source Rename to .m4a and import via File → Import → Audio (requires FFmpeg plugin). 
macOS2 apps
QuickTime Player (rename workaround)
Built-in Rename .record to .m4a or .caf and open in QuickTime Player.
iTunes / Apple Music (rename workaround)
Free Rename to .m4a and drag into iTunes/Apple Music library. Technical details
deep spec| Creator application | GarageBand Records by DaveTech (iOS, discontinued ~2011-2012) |
| Format type | Proprietary binary audio container (undocumented) |
| Likely audio codec | AAC or Apple Lossless (ALAC), based on iOS audio framework usage |
| Likely container | Possibly CAF or M4A wrapper (standard iOS audio APIs of that era) |
| Sample rate | Likely 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz (iOS platform standard) |
| Encoding | Binary |
| Magic bytes | None documented; proprietary binary with no public signature |
| Typical file size | 100 KB - 50 MB (varies with recording length) |
| Operating system | iOS (creation); Windows/macOS (legacy access attempts) |
| Recovery method | Rename to .m4a or .caf and open in QuickTime Player, VLC, or iTunes |
| Obsolescence | Fully obsolete; creating app removed from App Store circa 2011-2012 |
| Unrelated uses | .record extension also used by screen-recording and logging tools on other platforms |
| Released | circa 2010 (GarageBand Records iOS app) |
| Latest version | Obsolete; app discontinued circa 2011-2012 |
RECORD conversions
Community Q&A
asked by users
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Frequently asked questions
How do I play a .record file?
Try renaming the file to .m4a and opening in VLC or iTunes. If playback works, the audio is accessible. If not, the file may be from an application you no longer have.
What app created my .record file?
Most likely GarageBand Records (DaveTech, discontinued iOS app) or a screen/session recording tool. Check the source device or application that generated it.
Is GarageBand Records the same as Apple GarageBand?
No - GarageBand Records was a third-party app by DaveTech, unrelated to Apple's GarageBand. Apple's GarageBand records to standard formats (AIFF, M4A).
Can I recover audio from a .record file?
Possibly - try renaming to .m4a or .caf and opening in VLC or QuickTime. If that fails, the format may be unrecoverable without the original (defunct) app.
References
1FileInfo.com - RECORD file extensionfileinfo.com
