Accelerometer-based orientation and/or movement detection for controlling wearable audio recorders, such as wrist-worn audio recorders, resulting in button-free operation of the audio recorders. Operating a button-free wearable audio recorder does not rely on conventional switches that are often small, difficult to operate, and not very reliable. A wrist-worn audio recorder can use an accelerometer to detect the natural orientation and/or movement of a user's wrist and subsequently activate a corresponding audio-recorder function, for instance recording or playback, without requiring the user to remember to activate the audio-recorder function. In addition, a wearable audio recorder with a vibration mechanism can use this method to remind a user of an undesirable repeated movement, such as restless leg movement. In such applications, and many others, accelerometer-based control of a wearable audio recorder offers significant advantages over conventional means of control, particularly in terms of ease of use and durability.