Hi HN! I built Selfime after reading a few books that suggested recording messages or exercises to yourself and listening back. I wanted something engaging and private to do that with so I built this thing.

There is some getting used to listening to your own voice if you're not already accustomed to it (I certainly wasn't!), but there is something about hearing the words from yourself. You know what’s happening in your life and what those words mean to you. For me it feels closer to a guided journal of sorts that you can listen back to.

For the keeping engaged part, the app uses a cassette/field player interface. You can record a guided practice or start with a blank tape, redo/trim takes, adjust pauses, add gentle ambience and customize the cassette. There’s also a Read-Along option when you don’t feel like recording.

Recordings are encrypted on your device, with no account or ads. It’s available on iOS and Android, free to start with a one-time paid unlock.

Early feedback led me to add/feature easier tape sharing and on-device narration, but I’m also curious about the act of creating things with no audience in mind. Whether it’s recording a tape or creating something else - do the extra effort and uncertain payoff make it harder to get started?

Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you give Selfime a go, any feedback on the app is welcome.