For iPad only, I have a partial solution, but I too seek an app that doesn’t flash its recording status to the world. I’d be interested in having this in either iPad or iPhone if not both.
What I *can* offer is that Voice Record Pro—while painfully visible on iPhones in both locked and unlocked screens—is much more discreet on my iPad after the latest update. Now, there is a tiny icon in the shape of a microphone off to the side, next to other icons. Unless someone is ACTIVELY looking for it, it is pretty inconspicuous.
I wish the same app would display the same way on my iPhone. I also wish there was a stealth mode that made it invisible or able to be accessed only if you know what folder to look in.
It’s not always for something nefarious. I have done home documentaries for family, and when they know they’re being recorded at that moment, they freeze up and make mistakes versus when they feel the pressure is off and behave normally as a result.