***

title: Recording calls
slug: /guides/record-calls
description: Using SWML to record ongoing calls.
max-toc-depth: 3
----------------

In [Making and receiving phone calls](/docs/swml/guides/make-and-receive-calls) we learned how to use SWML Scripts to define what should happen when a call is received by one of your
SignalWire numbers. In that case, we just played some audio. In this article,
instead, we will use the same technique to record the audio of the call.

## Recording calls with SignalWire

We are going to define the instructions for recording the call in a SWML script hosted on SignalWire.
To create a new SWML script, navigate to the **Resources** section from your sidebar.
From there, create a new script, and select the **SWML** option.

Create a new script, and paste the following SWML in it:

```yaml
version: 1.0.0
sections:
  main:
    - record_call:
        format: mp3
        direction: "both"
    - play:
        url: 'say: Welcome to SignalWire. You should hear this in your call recording.'
```

We used the [`record_call`](/docs/swml/reference/record-call) method to start the recording in the background, then the [`play`](/docs/swml/reference/play) method to play a text-to-speech message.
The recording will be available from your SignalWire Space in the **Storage** section, within **Recordings**.

![Call Recording Example SWML.](https://files.buildwithfern.com/signalwire.docs.buildwithfern.com/docs/70dc9935022b6626063e01f2ec1dabbb47222a5b12aa55409b5059c9e724ebd2/assets/images/dashboard/sidebar/Call-Recording-Example-SWML.webp)

The [`record_call`](/docs/swml/reference/record-call) method accepts parameters to configure the format, direction of the recording, terminators, and more.
For additional information, see the `record_call` [technical documentation](/docs/swml/reference/record-call).

## Assigning the script to a SignalWire phone number

The final step is to configure one of your SignalWire phone numbers to answer calls using the SWML Script we just created. You can do that from the **Phone Numbers** section:

![Assign Resource.](https://files.buildwithfern.com/signalwire.docs.buildwithfern.com/docs/f0b50511622e76d7be927bd442190e2e41a88745515f22bc727fa5b480e23409/assets/images/dashboard/phone-numbers/assign-resource-voice.webp)

Refer to [Making and receiving phone calls](/docs/swml/guides/make-and-receive-calls#receiving-incoming-calls) for more information about this step.

## Conclusion

You are now ready to test the call recording script.

SWML scripts offer a quick and easy way to get started with common use cases. If you are an advanced developer, or you need more
flexibility and real-time control on your calls, you may be interested in our
guide about how to [make and receive calls in Node.js](/docs/server-sdk/node/guides/get-started-with-voice).