diff --git a/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model.dart b/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model.dart
index 04ba44c..71ec762 100644
--- a/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model.dart
+++ b/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model.dart
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ abstract class VoiceToTextModel extends Listenable {
   Stream<List<double>> get waveformStream;
   Duration get elapsedDuration;
   bool get isTimerRunning;
+  RecordingState get recordingState;
 
   void setActiveWord(int index);
   void toggleCursorVisibility(bool visible);
@@ -17,18 +18,28 @@ abstract class VoiceToTextModel extends Listenable {
   void startTimer();
   void pauseTimer();
   void resetTimer();
+  void startRecording();
+  void pauseRecording();
+  void resumeRecording();
+  void stopRecording();
+  void restartRecording();
+  void discardRecording();
 
   // Other state already planned (timer, waveform, recording commands) lives here too.
 }
 
+enum RecordingState { idle, recording, paused, stopped }
+
 class VoiceToTextModelState extends ChangeNotifier implements VoiceToTextModel {
   VoiceToTextModelState({
     required List<String> initialTranscript,
     int initialActiveWordIndex = 0,
     bool initialCursorVisible = true,
+    RecordingState initialRecordingState = RecordingState.idle,
   }) : _transcript = List.unmodifiable(initialTranscript),
        _activeWordIndex = initialActiveWordIndex,
-       _isCursorVisible = initialCursorVisible;
+       _isCursorVisible = initialCursorVisible,
+       _recordingState = initialRecordingState;
 
   final List<String> _transcript;
   int _activeWordIndex;
@@ -39,6 +50,7 @@ class VoiceToTextModelState extends ChangeNotifier implements VoiceToTextModel {
   Duration _elapsedDuration = Duration.zero;
   bool _isTimerRunning = false;
   Timer? _timer;
+  RecordingState _recordingState;
 
   @override
   List<String> get transcript => _transcript;
@@ -61,6 +73,9 @@ class VoiceToTextModelState extends ChangeNotifier implements VoiceToTextModel {
   @override
   bool get isTimerRunning => _isTimerRunning;
 
+  @override
+  RecordingState get recordingState => _recordingState;
+
   @override
   void setActiveWord(int index) {
     if (index == _activeWordIndex) return;
@@ -120,6 +135,57 @@ class VoiceToTextModelState extends ChangeNotifier implements VoiceToTextModel {
     }
   }
 
+  @override
+  void startRecording() {
+    if (_recordingState == RecordingState.recording) return;
+    _recordingState = RecordingState.recording;
+    startTimer();
+    notifyListeners();
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void pauseRecording() {
+    if (_recordingState != RecordingState.recording) return;
+    _recordingState = RecordingState.paused;
+    pauseTimer();
+    notifyListeners();
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void resumeRecording() {
+    if (_recordingState != RecordingState.paused) return;
+    _recordingState = RecordingState.recording;
+    startTimer();
+    notifyListeners();
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void stopRecording() {
+    if (_recordingState == RecordingState.stopped) return;
+    _recordingState = RecordingState.stopped;
+    resetTimer();
+    notifyListeners();
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void restartRecording() {
+    _recordingState = RecordingState.recording;
+    resetTimer();
+    startTimer();
+    notifyListeners();
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void discardRecording() {
+    _recordingState = RecordingState.idle;
+    _waveformData = const [];
+    if (!_waveformController.isClosed) {
+      _waveformController.add(_waveformData);
+    }
+    resetTimer();
+    notifyListeners();
+  }
+
   @override
   void dispose() {
     _timer?.cancel();
diff --git a/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_screen.dart b/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_screen.dart
index b5c4ab6..978051f 100644
--- a/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_screen.dart
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import 'dart:math' as math;
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:provider/provider.dart';
 
+import '../widget/control_buttons.dart';
 import '../widget/text_display.dart';
 import '../widget/timer_display.dart';
 import '../widget/waveform.dart';
@@ -64,7 +65,6 @@ class _VoiceToTextViewState extends State<_VoiceToTextView> {
         _waveformTick,
         (_) => _pushWaveformSample(model),
       );
-      model.startTimer();
     });
   }
 
@@ -75,11 +75,20 @@ class _VoiceToTextViewState extends State<_VoiceToTextView> {
   }
 
   void _pushWaveformSample(VoiceToTextModel model) {
-    final sample = List<double>.generate(_waveformSampleCount, (index) {
-      final variance = math.sin(index / 4) * 0.3 + 0.5;
-      final noise = (_random.nextDouble() - 0.5) * 0.2;
-      return (variance + noise).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
+    final halfCount = _waveformSampleCount ~/ 2;
+    final leading = List<double>.generate(halfCount, (index) {
+      final phase = index / halfCount * math.pi;
+      final base = (math.sin(phase) * 0.5) + 0.5;
+      final noise = (_random.nextDouble() - 0.5) * 0.15;
+      return (base + noise).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
     });
+    final trailing = List<double>.from(leading.reversed);
+    final sample = [...leading, ...trailing];
+    if (sample.length < _waveformSampleCount) {
+      sample.addAll(
+        List<double>.filled(_waveformSampleCount - sample.length, 0.3),
+      );
+    }
     model.updateWaveform(sample);
   }
 
@@ -105,22 +114,49 @@ class _VoiceToTextViewState extends State<_VoiceToTextView> {
               flex: 3,
               child: Padding(
                 padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: 24),
-                child: WaveformStream(
-                  stream: model.waveformStream,
-                  initialAmplitudes: model.waveformData,
-                  height: 220,
-                  barColor: Colors.black87,
-                  barWidth: 3,
-                  spacing: 6,
-                  backgroundColor: Colors.transparent,
+                child: Center(
+                  child: ConstrainedBox(
+                    constraints: const BoxConstraints(maxWidth: 360),
+                    child: WaveformStream(
+                      stream: model.waveformStream,
+                      initialAmplitudes: model.waveformData,
+                      height: 220,
+                      barColor: Colors.black87,
+                      barWidth: 3,
+                      spacing: 6,
+                      backgroundColor: Colors.transparent,
+                    ),
+                  ),
                 ),
               ),
             ),
             TimerDisplay(duration: model.elapsedDuration),
+            ControlButtonsRow(
+              state: model.recordingState,
+              onMicTap: () => _handleMicTap(model),
+              onPause: model.pauseRecording,
+              onResume: model.resumeRecording,
+              onDiscard: model.discardRecording,
+            ),
             const SizedBox(height: 24),
           ],
         ),
       ),
     );
   }
+
+  void _handleMicTap(VoiceToTextModelState model) {
+    switch (model.recordingState) {
+      case RecordingState.idle:
+      case RecordingState.stopped:
+        model.startRecording();
+        break;
+      case RecordingState.recording:
+        model.stopRecording();
+        break;
+      case RecordingState.paused:
+        model.stopRecording();
+        break;
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/lib/features/voice_to_text/widget/control_buttons.dart b/lib/features/voice_to_text/widget/control_buttons.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4673a25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/features/voice_to_text/widget/control_buttons.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+
+import '../view/voice_to_text_model.dart';
+
+class ControlButtonsRow extends StatelessWidget {
+  const ControlButtonsRow({
+    super.key,
+    required this.state,
+    required this.onMicTap,
+    required this.onPause,
+    required this.onResume,
+    required this.onDiscard,
+  });
+
+  final RecordingState state;
+  final VoidCallback onMicTap;
+  final VoidCallback onPause;
+  final VoidCallback onResume;
+  final VoidCallback onDiscard;
+
+  bool get _showSecondary =>
+      state == RecordingState.recording || state == RecordingState.paused;
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final leftIcon = state == RecordingState.paused
+        ? Icons.play_arrow
+        : Icons.pause;
+    final leftLabel = state == RecordingState.paused
+        ? 'Resume recording'
+        : 'Pause recording';
+
+    return Padding(
+      padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(vertical: 24, horizontal: 32),
+      child: Row(
+        mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
+        children: [
+          AnimatedSwitcher(
+            duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 200),
+            child: _showSecondary
+                ? _SecondaryCircularButton(
+                    key: const ValueKey('pause_button'),
+                    icon: leftIcon,
+                    tooltip: leftLabel,
+                    onPressed: state == RecordingState.paused
+                        ? onResume
+                        : onPause,
+                  )
+                : const SizedBox(width: 64, height: 64),
+          ),
+          const SizedBox(width: 24),
+          _MicButton(
+            isRecording: state == RecordingState.recording,
+            onPressed: onMicTap,
+            state: state,
+          ),
+          const SizedBox(width: 24),
+          AnimatedSwitcher(
+            duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 200),
+            child: _showSecondary
+                ? _SecondaryCircularButton(
+                    key: const ValueKey('discard_button'),
+                    icon: Icons.delete_outline,
+                    tooltip: 'Discard recording',
+                    onPressed: onDiscard,
+                  )
+                : const SizedBox(width: 64, height: 64),
+          ),
+        ],
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+class _SecondaryCircularButton extends StatelessWidget {
+  const _SecondaryCircularButton({
+    super.key,
+    required this.icon,
+    required this.tooltip,
+    required this.onPressed,
+  });
+
+  final IconData icon;
+  final String tooltip;
+  final VoidCallback onPressed;
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    return Tooltip(
+      message: tooltip,
+      child: SizedBox(
+        width: 64,
+        height: 64,
+        child: Material(
+          color: Colors.transparent,
+          shape: const CircleBorder(),
+          child: InkWell(
+            customBorder: const CircleBorder(),
+            onTap: onPressed,
+            child: Ink(
+              decoration: BoxDecoration(
+                shape: BoxShape.circle,
+                border: Border.all(color: Colors.black.withValues(alpha: 0.2)),
+              ),
+              child: Center(child: Icon(icon, color: Colors.black87, size: 28)),
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+class _MicButton extends StatefulWidget {
+  const _MicButton({
+    required this.isRecording,
+    required this.onPressed,
+    required this.state,
+  });
+
+  final bool isRecording;
+  final RecordingState state;
+  final VoidCallback onPressed;
+
+  @override
+  State<_MicButton> createState() => _MicButtonState();
+}
+
+class _MicButtonState extends State<_MicButton>
+    with SingleTickerProviderStateMixin {
+  late final AnimationController _controller;
+
+  @override
+  void initState() {
+    super.initState();
+    _controller = AnimationController(
+      vsync: this,
+      duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 1200),
+    );
+    if (widget.isRecording) {
+      _controller.repeat();
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void didUpdateWidget(covariant _MicButton oldWidget) {
+    super.didUpdateWidget(oldWidget);
+    if (widget.isRecording && !_controller.isAnimating) {
+      _controller.repeat();
+    } else if (!widget.isRecording && _controller.isAnimating) {
+      _controller
+        ..stop()
+        ..reset();
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void dispose() {
+    _controller.dispose();
+    super.dispose();
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final tooltip = switch (widget.state) {
+      RecordingState.recording => 'Stop recording',
+      RecordingState.paused => 'Stop recording',
+      RecordingState.stopped => 'Start new recording',
+      RecordingState.idle => 'Start recording',
+    };
+
+    final button = Material(
+      color: Colors.transparent,
+      child: InkWell(
+        onTap: widget.onPressed,
+        customBorder: const CircleBorder(),
+        child: Ink(
+          width: 88,
+          height: 88,
+          decoration: const BoxDecoration(
+            shape: BoxShape.circle,
+            gradient: LinearGradient(
+              colors: [
+                Color.fromARGB(255, 0, 0, 0),
+                Color.fromARGB(255, 0, 0, 0),
+              ],
+              begin: Alignment.topLeft,
+              end: Alignment.bottomRight,
+            ),
+          ),
+          child: const Icon(Icons.mic, size: 36, color: Colors.white),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    return Semantics(
+      label: tooltip,
+      button: true,
+      child: SizedBox(
+        width: 120,
+        height: 120,
+        child: Stack(
+          alignment: Alignment.center,
+          children: [
+            if (widget.isRecording)
+              ...List.generate(3, (index) {
+                return AnimatedBuilder(
+                  animation: _controller,
+                  builder: (context, child) {
+                    final progress = (_controller.value + index / 3) % 1;
+                    final scale = 1 + (progress * 0.6);
+                    final opacity = (1 - progress).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
+                    return Transform.scale(
+                      scale: scale,
+                      child: Container(
+                        decoration: BoxDecoration(
+                          shape: BoxShape.circle,
+                          color: const Color.fromARGB(
+                            255,
+                            87,
+                            88,
+                            88,
+                          ).withValues(alpha: 0.1 * opacity),
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                    );
+                  },
+                );
+              }),
+            Tooltip(message: tooltip, child: button),
+          ],
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/features/voice_to_text/widget/waveform.dart b/lib/features/voice_to_text/widget/waveform.dart
index 8a489c5..c34d0ad 100644
--- a/lib/features/voice_to_text/widget/waveform.dart
+++ b/lib/features/voice_to_text/widget/waveform.dart
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import 'dart:math' as math;
 import 'dart:ui';
 
 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
@@ -151,14 +150,14 @@ class WaveformPainter extends CustomPainter {
       return;
     }
 
+    final totalWidth =
+        amplitudes.length * barWidth + (amplitudes.length - 1) * spacing;
+    final startX = (size.width - totalWidth) / 2;
+
     final paint = Paint()
       ..color = barColor
       ..strokeWidth = barWidth
       ..strokeCap = StrokeCap.round;
-
-    final totalWidth =
-        amplitudes.length * barWidth + (amplitudes.length - 1) * spacing;
-    final startX = math.max((size.width - totalWidth) / 2, 0.0);
     final maxHeight = size.height;
 
     for (var i = 0; i < amplitudes.length; i++) {
diff --git a/pubspec.lock b/pubspec.lock
index 1956a6a..8f3e021 100644
--- a/pubspec.lock
+++ b/pubspec.lock
@@ -142,6 +142,11 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "6.0.0"
+  flutter_localizations:
+    dependency: "direct main"
+    description: flutter
+    source: sdk
+    version: "0.0.0"
   flutter_test:
     dependency: "direct dev"
     description: flutter
@@ -179,6 +184,14 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "2.5.2"
+  intl:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: intl
+      sha256: "3df61194eb431efc39c4ceba583b95633a403f46c9fd341e550ce0bfa50e9aa5"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "0.20.2"
   json_annotation:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index 3271841..05df03c 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ dependencies:
   flutter:
     sdk: flutter
   provider: ^6.1.5+1
+  flutter_localizations:
+    sdk: flutter
 
   # The following adds the Cupertino Icons font to your application.
   # Use with the CupertinoIcons class for iOS style icons.
diff --git a/test/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model_test.dart b/test/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model_test.dart
index 9416ad3..978dca5 100644
--- a/test/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model_test.dart
+++ b/test/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model_test.dart
@@ -132,5 +132,47 @@ void main() {
         model.dispose();
       });
     });
+
+    test('recording state transitions control timer lifecycle', () {
+      fakeAsync((async) {
+        final model = VoiceToTextModelState(initialTranscript: transcript);
+
+        expect(model.recordingState, RecordingState.idle);
+
+        model.startRecording();
+        expect(model.recordingState, RecordingState.recording);
+        async.elapse(const Duration(seconds: 2));
+        expect(model.elapsedDuration, const Duration(seconds: 2));
+
+        model.pauseRecording();
+        expect(model.recordingState, RecordingState.paused);
+        async.elapse(const Duration(seconds: 1));
+        expect(model.elapsedDuration, const Duration(seconds: 2));
+
+        model.resumeRecording();
+        expect(model.recordingState, RecordingState.recording);
+        async.elapse(const Duration(seconds: 1));
+        expect(model.elapsedDuration, const Duration(seconds: 3));
+
+        model.stopRecording();
+        expect(model.recordingState, RecordingState.stopped);
+        expect(model.elapsedDuration, Duration.zero);
+
+        model.restartRecording();
+        expect(model.recordingState, RecordingState.recording);
+        expect(model.elapsedDuration, Duration.zero);
+
+        async.elapse(const Duration(seconds: 1));
+        expect(model.elapsedDuration, const Duration(seconds: 1));
+
+        model.updateWaveform([0.2, 0.4]);
+        model.discardRecording();
+        expect(model.recordingState, RecordingState.idle);
+        expect(model.elapsedDuration, Duration.zero);
+        expect(model.waveformData, isEmpty);
+
+        model.dispose();
+      });
+    });
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/features/voice_to_text/widget/control_buttons_test.dart b/test/features/voice_to_text/widget/control_buttons_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c3e7e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/features/voice_to_text/widget/control_buttons_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_localizations/flutter_localizations.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+
+import 'package:iva_mobile/features/voice_to_text/view/voice_to_text_model.dart';
+import 'package:iva_mobile/features/voice_to_text/widget/control_buttons.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  testWidgets('shows only microphone button when idle', (tester) async {
+    await tester.pumpWidget(
+      MaterialApp(
+        localizationsDelegates: GlobalMaterialLocalizations.delegates,
+        supportedLocales: const [Locale('en', 'US')],
+        home: Scaffold(
+          body: ControlButtonsRow(
+            state: RecordingState.idle,
+            onMicTap: _noop,
+            onPause: _noop,
+            onResume: _noop,
+            onDiscard: _noop,
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.mic), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.pause), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.delete_outline), findsNothing);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('shows pause and discard while recording', (tester) async {
+    RecordingState currentState = RecordingState.recording;
+
+    await tester.pumpWidget(
+      MaterialApp(
+        localizationsDelegates: GlobalMaterialLocalizations.delegates,
+        supportedLocales: const [Locale('en', 'US')],
+        home: Scaffold(
+          body: StatefulBuilder(
+            builder: (context, setState) {
+              return ControlButtonsRow(
+                state: currentState,
+                onMicTap: () {},
+                onPause: () => setState(() {
+                  currentState = RecordingState.paused;
+                }),
+                onResume: () => setState(() {
+                  currentState = RecordingState.recording;
+                }),
+                onDiscard: () => setState(() {
+                  currentState = RecordingState.idle;
+                }),
+              );
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.pause), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.delete_outline), findsOneWidget);
+
+    await tester.tap(find.byIcon(Icons.pause));
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.play_arrow), findsOneWidget);
+
+    await tester.tap(find.byIcon(Icons.delete_outline));
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+    expect(currentState, RecordingState.idle);
+  });
+}
+
+void _noop() {}