An apparatus including a recording system including at least one microphone; a controller including a processor and a non-transitory memory, where the controller is configured to automatically adjust at least one recording parameter for a sound signal from the at least one microphone based, at least partially, upon a distance between the apparatus and a sound source; and a distance determinator configured to determine the distance between the apparatus and the sound source and provide the determined distance to the controller so as to adjust the at least one recording parameter, where the distance determinator includes at least one sensor and does not include the at least one microphone, where the apparatus is a portable electronic device.