Beta Software - The BuildBetter Local Recorder is currently in beta.
Features
A comprehensive guide to everything the BuildBetter Local Recorder can do.Recording
Dual Audio Capture
The recorder captures both your microphone and system audio simultaneously:| Source | What It Captures |
|---|---|
| Microphone | Your voice |
| System Audio | Audio from calls, videos, or any app playing sound |
System audio capture requires the Screen Recording permission in macOS Privacy settings.
Recording Controls
- Start/Stop: Click the microphone button or use keyboard shortcuts
- Pause/Resume: Pause recording without creating a new session
- Mute Mic: Temporarily mute your microphone input
- Mute System: Temporarily mute system audio capture
Audio Quality
- High-quality audio capture (48kHz sample rate)
- Compressed M4A format for efficient storage
- Typical meeting: ~1MB per minute
Live Transcription
How It Works
Transcription is powered by OpenAI Whisper, running entirely on your Mac:- Audio is processed in small chunks (every few seconds)
- Whisper converts speech to text locally
- Text appears in real-time as you speak
Whisper Models
| Model | Size | Speed | Accuracy | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base English | 140MB | Fast | Good | English-only meetings |
| Small | 460MB | Medium | Better | Multi-language |
| Medium | 1.5GB | Slower | Best | Accuracy-critical |
Transcript Window
Click the transcript icon to open a dedicated transcript window showing:- Live updating text as people speak
- Scrollable history of the conversation
- Click any text to jump to that moment in playback
AI Chat
Local LLM
The AI Chat feature uses Llama 3.2 running locally on your Mac. No internet required. What you can do:- Ask questions about your recording
- Get summaries of conversations
- Extract action items and decisions
- Search for specific topics discussed
Example Prompts
AI Models Available
| Model | Size | Speed | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llama 3.2 3B | 2GB | Fast | Good (Recommended) |
| Llama 3.2 1B | 700MB | Faster | Basic |
Notes & Annotations
Taking Notes
- Click the notes icon during recording to open the notes panel
- Notes are automatically timestamped
- Auto-saved as you type (no save button needed)
- Saved as Markdown files alongside your recordings
Note Features
- Timestamps: Each note section is linked to a moment in the recording
- Markdown Support: Format with headers, lists, bold, etc.
- Auto-Save: Changes saved instantly
- Export: Notes saved as
.mdfiles you can open anywhere
Meeting Detection
Supported Platforms
The recorder can automatically detect meetings on:| Platform | Detection Method |
|---|---|
| Zoom | App detection, browser URL |
| Google Meet | Browser URL |
| Microsoft Teams | App detection, browser URL |
| Slack Huddles | App detection |
| Discord | App detection |
| Webex | Browser URL |
Detection Modes
Basic Detection (no extra permissions)- Detects running meeting apps
- Monitors microphone activity
- Checks network connections
- Checks browser URLs for meeting links
- More accurate detection
- Works with browser-based meetings
Auto-Recording
When enabled, the recorder can:- Prompt to Record: Shows a notification when a meeting is detected
- Auto-Start: Automatically begins recording high-confidence meetings
- Auto-Stop: Stops recording when the meeting ends
- Detection Sensitivity: When to show the “Record?” prompt
- Auto-Record Threshold: Confidence level needed to auto-start
Dashboard
Home Tab
Shows upcoming meetings (calendar integration coming soon) and quick access to recent recordings.Recordings Tab
Browse all your recordings with:- Search: Find recordings by title or content
- Sort: By date, duration, or name
- Filter: By date range
- Preview: See transcript snippets before opening
Recording Detail View
When you open a recording:Playback
Listen to the recording with playback controls
Transcript
Read the full transcript, click to jump to any moment
Notes
View and edit your notes
AI Chat
Ask the AI questions about this recording
Window Modes
Floating Bar
A compact, draggable window that can be placed anywhere on your screen.- Drag to reposition
- Shows recording status and controls
- Expands to show more options when recording
Notch Mode
Designed for MacBooks with a notch:- Tucks into the notch area at the top of the screen
- Minimal visual footprint
- Expands when you hover or during recording
Hide Until Meeting
Enable this to keep the recorder completely hidden until a meeting is detected. The app runs in the background and appears automatically when needed.Themes
Choose between:- Dark Mode: Easy on the eyes, matches macOS dark appearance
- Light Mode: Bright interface for well-lit environments
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Start/Stop Recording | Configurable in Settings |
| Open Dashboard | Click dock icon |
| Show/Hide Floating Bar | Click menu bar icon |
Data Storage
Local Storage
All data is stored locally on your Mac:Database
Recording metadata is stored in a local SQLite database for fast searching and organization.Backup
Your recordings are regular files—back them up with Time Machine, iCloud Drive, or any backup solution.Optional: BuildBetter Sync
If you have a BuildBetter account, you can optionally sync recordings to the cloud:- Team Sharing: Share recordings with colleagues
- Advanced AI: Access more powerful cloud-based analysis
- Cross-Device: Access recordings from any device
- Integrations: Connect to Slack, CRMs, and more
Cloud sync is completely optional. The Local Recorder works fully offline without any account.