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Beta Software - The BuildBetter Local Recorder is currently in beta. Report issues on GitHub.

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Troubleshooting & FAQ

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Common Issues

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No Audio Being Recorded

Symptoms: Recording shows no audio from your microphone.Solutions:
  1. Check that Microphone permission is granted:
    • Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
    • Ensure BuildBetter.ai Recorder is enabled
  2. Verify the correct microphone is selected in Settings
  3. Test your microphone in another app (e.g., Voice Memos)
  4. Try selecting “Use System Default” in audio device settings
Symptoms: You can hear yourself but not others on the call.Solutions:
  1. Check that Screen Recording permission is granted:
    • Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording
    • Ensure BuildBetter.ai Recorder is enabled
    • Restart the app after granting this permission
  2. Make sure the call audio is playing through your selected output device
  3. Some apps (like FaceTime) may block audio capture for privacy
Symptoms: Changed audio device, but it reverts after restart.Solutions:
  1. Update to version 0.1.28 or later (this was fixed)
  2. Select “Use System Default” to always use the OS default
  3. If selecting a specific device, make sure that device is still connected

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Transcription Issues

Symptoms: Recording works but no transcript shows.Solutions:
  1. Ensure a Whisper model is downloaded (check Settings → AI Models)
  2. Verify “Auto-transcribe recordings” is enabled in Settings
  3. Check that you have enough disk space (~500MB free)
  4. Try downloading a different Whisper model
Symptoms: Many errors in the transcript.Solutions:
  1. Try a larger Whisper model (Small or Medium) for better accuracy
  2. Ensure good microphone quality and positioning
  3. Reduce background noise
  4. Note: Whisper works best with clear English speech
Symptoms: Long delay before text appears.Solutions:
  1. Use the Base English model for fastest performance
  2. On Intel Macs, transcription will be slower than Apple Silicon
  3. Close other resource-intensive apps
  4. Ensure your Mac isn’t in low-power mode

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AI Chat Issues

Symptoms: Can’t ask questions about recordings.Solutions:
  1. Download an LLM model in Settings → AI Models
  2. The download is large (~2GB) - ensure stable internet
  3. Check that LLM is enabled in Settings
Symptoms: Long wait time for AI responses.Solutions:
  1. Use the smaller Llama 3.2 1B model for faster responses
  2. Apple Silicon Macs are significantly faster than Intel
  3. Close other apps to free up memory
  4. Shorter transcripts = faster responses
Symptoms: AI responses aren’t helpful or accurate.Solutions:
  1. Be specific in your questions
  2. For long recordings, ask about specific topics
  3. The local LLM is less capable than cloud AI - keep expectations reasonable
  4. Try rephrasing your question

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App Issues

Symptoms: App crashes on launch or won’t start.Solutions:
  1. Check macOS version (requires 12.0 Monterey or later)
  2. Try deleting preferences: 
    rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.buildbetter.recorder/
  3. Re-download and reinstall the app
  4. Check Console.app for crash logs
Symptoms: App is running but you can’t see it.Solutions:
  1. Check if “Hide until meeting” is enabled - disable it in the menu bar dropdown
  2. Click the dock icon to open the Dashboard
  3. Right-click the menu bar icon and select “Show Recorder”
  4. The floating bar might be off-screen - try Notch Mode to reset position
Symptoms: Mac running hot or slow during recording.Solutions:
  1. Use the Base English Whisper model (smallest/fastest)
  2. Close the AI Chat when not using it
  3. Disable live transcription if not needed
  4. Apple Silicon Macs are much more efficient than Intel

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Meeting Detection Issues

Symptoms: App doesn’t recognize when you’re in a meeting.Solutions:
  1. Enable “Advanced detection” in Settings (requires Automation permission)
  2. Grant Automation permission in System Settings
  3. Increase detection sensitivity (try Medium or Low)
  4. Some meeting apps may not be supported yet
Symptoms: App thinks you’re in a meeting when you’re not.Solutions:
  1. Increase detection sensitivity to High or Very High
  2. Disable “Auto-record on meeting” and use manual recording
  3. Adjust the auto-record threshold to Very High

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Frequently Asked Questions

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General

Yes. All processing happens locally on your Mac:
  • Audio is never uploaded to any server
  • Transcription runs locally via Whisper
  • AI chat uses a local LLM
  • No analytics or telemetry is collected
The only exception is if you explicitly enable BuildBetter cloud sync.
Yes. Once you’ve downloaded the AI models, the app works completely offline. No internet connection is required for recording, transcription, or AI chat.
Yes. The Local Recorder is completely free with no limitations. Optional BuildBetter cloud features require a subscription.
Yes, but performance is significantly better on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3). Intel Macs will have slower transcription and AI responses.
No. macOS requires Screen Recording permission to capture audio from other apps. This is a security feature of macOS.

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Recording

There’s no built-in limit. Recording length is only limited by your available disk space. A typical meeting uses about 1MB per minute.
Recordings are saved as M4A (AAC) files, which offer good quality with efficient compression. They can be played in any media player.
The app records your selected microphone and system audio together. It doesn’t currently support multiple separate microphones.
Yes. You can disable “Auto-transcribe recordings” in Settings. You’ll still have the audio file.

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AI Features

  • Transcription: OpenAI Whisper (running locally)
  • AI Chat: Meta Llama 3.2 (running locally)
Both models run entirely on your Mac with no cloud processing.
  • Whisper Base English: ~140MB
  • Whisper Small: ~460MB
  • Llama 3.2 3B: ~2GB
  • Llama 3.2 1B: ~700MB
You can delete models you’re not using to free space.
Not currently. The app uses specific optimized versions of Whisper and Llama.

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Privacy & Security

No. The Screen Recording permission is only used to capture system audio. The app never captures video or screenshots.
Recordings are stored as regular files on your Mac. They inherit your Mac’s FileVault encryption if enabled. The app doesn’t add additional encryption.
Yes. Delete recordings from the Dashboard, or manually delete the folder:
rm -rf ~/Documents/BuildBetter\ Recordings/

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Getting Help

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Report a Bug

Found a bug? Please report it on GitHub:

Report an Issue

Open a new issue on GitHub
 Include:
  • macOS version
  • App version (found in Settings → About)
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Any error messages

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Request a Feature

Have an idea for improvement?

Request a Feature

Submit a feature request

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Contact Support

For account or billing questions related to BuildBetter cloud services: