Beta Software - The BuildBetter Local Recorder is currently in beta.
Getting Started
Get up and running with the BuildBetter Local Recorder in just a few minutes.Download & Install
1
Download the App
Download the latest version of BuildBetter Local Recorder:
Download for macOS
BuildBetter.ai Recorder (Apple Silicon)
The app is notarized by Apple and signed with a Developer ID certificate.
2
Install the App
- Open the downloaded
.dmgfile - Drag BuildBetter.ai Recorder to your Applications folder
- Eject the DMG
- Open the app from Applications or Spotlight
3
Follow Guided Setup
On first launch, the setup flow asks what you want to use the recorder for — meetings, dictation, screen recording, or a mix — and then shows only the most relevant setup steps.You can sign in to connect a BuildBetter workspace, or continue without an account and use local recording features first. During setup, you can also test live transcription before completing setup; test audio is not saved as a normal recording.
4
Grant Permissions
macOS will ask for permissions based on the features you enable. The main permissions are:
5
Choose Transcription and AI Options
Setup helps you choose a transcription engine, language, dictation hotkey, AI summary behavior, and any local models you want to use.Transcription
- Pick a local option for privacy-first use
- Pick a cloud option when you are signed in or using a supported provider
- Download local models during setup, or later from Settings
- Choose whether to enable summaries, chat, and dictation cleanup
- Download local LLMs later if you want fully local AI features
- Let the app fall back to an available local option when a cloud option is not available
6
Review and Finish
Pick how you want the recorder to appear:
You can also enable “Hide until meeting” to keep the app hidden until a meeting is detected.The final review screen lets you confirm and change your main setup choices before finishing.
First Recording
Once setup is complete, you’re ready to record:1
Start Recording
Click the microphone button in the floating bar, or use the keyboard shortcut.The button turns red when recording is active.
2
Watch Live Transcription
As you speak, the transcript appears in real-time. You can open the full transcript window for a better view.
3
Take Notes
Click the notes icon to open the notes panel. Your notes are timestamped and saved automatically.
4
Stop Recording
Click the microphone button again to stop. Your recording is automatically saved.
5
Review Your Recording
Open the Dashboard (click the dock icon) to see all your recordings. Dedicated pages for Call Recordings, Screen Recordings, Snippets, Favorites, folders, and Archive make it easier to browse and filter. Click any recording to:
- Play back the audio
- Read the transcript
- Review your notes
- Chat with AI about the content
Quick Tips
Auto-Launch
The app starts automatically when you log in. Disable this in Settings if you prefer.
Menu Bar Access
Right-click the menu bar icon for quick actions. Left-click shows the dropdown menu.
Dock Icon
Click the dock icon to open the Dashboard with all your recordings.
Meeting Detection
Enable auto-recording to automatically start when meetings are detected.
Global Search
Use ⌘K / Ctrl+K to search recordings, notes, transcripts, snippets, and settings.
Replay Setup
Rerun onboarding from Settings if you want to change your setup path later.
Where Are My Recordings?
Recordings are stored locally in your Documents folder:- The Dashboard in the app
- Dedicated pages for call recordings, screen recordings, snippets, favorites, folders, and archive
- Finder at the path above
- Spotlight search
Next Steps
Explore Features
Learn about AI chat, meeting detection, and more
Configure Settings
Customize audio devices, themes, and behavior