> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.buildbetter.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Settings Reference
> Complete guide to all BuildBetter Local Recorder settings
**Beta Software** - The BuildBetter Local Recorder is currently in beta.
# Settings Reference
Access Settings from the Dashboard by clicking the **gear icon** in the sidebar, from the menu bar dropdown, or by searching with **⌘K / Ctrl+K**.
Settings open as an integrated in-app page with sidebar navigation and built-in search. Search results can take you directly to the relevant setting, which is useful when you need to adjust permissions, meeting detection, dictation, AI providers, or appearance without browsing every section.
## General Settings
### Audio Devices
The app uses your system defaults automatically. Only change these if you have multiple audio devices and need to select a specific one.
| Setting | Description |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Microphone** | Select which microphone to use for recording |
| **System Audio** | Select which audio output to capture |
**Use System Default**: Select this option to always use whatever device macOS has set as default. This is recommended for most users.
If you change audio devices (e.g., plug in a USB mic), the app will use the new system default automatically if "Use System Default" is selected.
### Recording Preferences
| Setting | Description | Default |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| **Auto-transcribe recordings** | Automatically transcribe when recording stops | On |
| **Launch at login** | Start the app when you log into macOS | On |
| **Offline mode** | Work without network connection | On |
| **Auto-open notes on recording** | Open the notes panel when you start recording | Off |
| **Retain audio for transcripts** | Keep the audio needed to generate or regenerate transcripts later | On |
***
## Meeting Detection
### Basic Settings
| Setting | Description | Default |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| **Enable meeting detection** | Detect meetings using mic, apps, and network | On |
| **Advanced detection** | Also check browser URLs (requires Automation permission) | Off |
| **Auto-record on meeting** | Automatically start/stop recording | On |
### Detection Sensitivity
Controls when the app shows the "Record this meeting?" prompt.
| Level | Threshold | Best For |
| ------------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **Low** | 40% confidence | Catching more potential meetings |
| **Medium** | 60% confidence | Balanced approach |
| **High** | 85% confidence | Fewer false positives (Recommended) |
| **Very High** | 95% confidence | Only obvious meetings |
### Auto-Record Threshold
Controls when automatic recording starts (if auto-record is enabled).
| Level | Threshold | Behavior |
| ------------- | --------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Medium** | 60% | More aggressive auto-recording |
| **High** | 85% | Balanced (Recommended) |
| **Very High** | 95% | Only very confident detections |
### Auto-Stop Settings
| Setting | Description | Default |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
| **Auto-stop when meeting ends** | Automatically stop recording when the meeting ends | Off |
| **Grace period** | Wait time before stopping (prevents false stops) | 30 seconds |
### Calendar Access
Calendar-based meeting detection can be connected or disconnected from inside the app. Disconnecting calendar access fully stops calendar reading and calendar-based meeting detection until you reconnect.
### Hide Until Meeting
| Setting | Description | Default |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| **Hide until meeting** | Keep the floating bar hidden until a meeting is detected | Off |
When enabled, the recorder runs silently in the background and only appears when it detects a meeting.
***
## Appearance
### Theme
| Option | Description |
| --------- | --------------------------- |
| **Dark** | Dark background, light text |
| **Light** | Light background, dark text |
### Window Style
| Style | Description |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Floating Bar** | Draggable window that can be placed anywhere on screen |
| **Notch Mode** | Compact mode that tucks into the MacBook notch area |
***
## Dictation
### Hotkey Behavior
| Setting | Description |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Hold to dictate** | Dictate while the hotkey is held, then paste when released |
| **Tap to toggle** | Start dictation with one press and stop with another |
| **Double-tap to toggle** | Use a double-tap gesture as the toggle |
| **Esc to cancel** | Cancel active dictation without pasting text |
### Dictation Engine
Choose a specific dictation engine or let the app automatically select the best available option. Engine choices can include local transcription for privacy-first use and cloud transcription when you are signed in or have configured a supported provider.
### Cleanup and Snippets
| Setting | Description |
| ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Cleanup dictated text** | Add punctuation, remove filler words, and format dictated text before paste |
| **Save failed dictation audio** | Preserve captured audio in Snippets when transcription fails so you can retry |
| **Snippets library** | Store reusable dictated clips for later search, retry, or reuse |
***
## AI Models
### Transcription and Dictation
Manage speech-to-text providers and local models:
| Action | Description |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Download** | Download additional local transcription models |
| **Set Active** | Choose which model or provider to use for transcription |
| **Delete** | Remove downloaded models to free space |
| **Automatic Selection** | Let the app pick an available local or cloud engine based on your setup |
**Available Models:**
| Model | Size | Description |
| ------------ | ----- | -------------------------- |
| Base English | 140MB | Fast, accurate for English |
| Small | 460MB | Multi-language support |
| Medium | 1.5GB | Higher accuracy |
### AI Chat (LLM)
Manage local language models:
| Action | Description |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------- |
| **Download** | Download LLM models for AI chat |
| **Enable/Disable** | Turn AI chat feature on or off |
**Available Models:**
| Model | Size | Description |
| ------------ | ----- | -------------------------- |
| Llama 3.2 3B | 2GB | Recommended - good balance |
| Llama 3.2 1B | 700MB | Faster, less capable |
If a selected cloud option is unavailable because you are signed out or no workspace is selected, the app can fall back to an available local option and show a clearer status message.
***
## Recording Library and Playback
| Setting or Area | Description |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Call Recordings** | Manage meeting recordings and cloud playback availability |
| **Screen Recordings** | Manage captured videos and transcript generation |
| **Snippets** | Review dictated clips and retry failed dictation when audio was captured |
| **Favorites** | Keep important recordings and snippets in one place |
| **Folders** | Organize recordings by project, customer, or workflow |
| **Archive** | Move older items out of active views without deleting them |
Supported cloud recordings can be played in the app. If a playback link expires, the recorder refreshes it automatically when possible.
***
## Privacy & Security
### Content Protection
| Setting | Description | Default |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| **Hide from screenshots** | Prevent the app from appearing in screenshots and screen recordings | On |
When enabled, the recorder window appears black in screenshots and screen shares.
### Data Location
View where your recordings are stored:
```
~/Documents/BuildBetter Recordings/
```
***
## About
### Version Information
View current app version and check for updates.
| Action | Description |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Check for Updates** | Look for new versions |
| **Current Version** | Shows installed version number |
The update button appears only when a newer version is available.
### Support Links
* **Documentation**: Link to these docs
* **Report a Bug**: Submit issues on GitHub
* **Request a Feature**: Suggest improvements
***
## Permissions Reference
The app may request these macOS permissions:
| Permission | Location in System Settings | Required? |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **Microphone** | Privacy & Security → Microphone | Yes |
| **Screen Recording** | Privacy & Security → Screen Recording | Yes (for system audio) |
| **Accessibility** | Privacy & Security → Accessibility | Optional (for meeting detection) |
| **Automation** | Privacy & Security → Automation | Optional (for browser URL detection) |
### Granting Permissions
1. Open **System Settings** (or System Preferences on older macOS)
2. Go to **Privacy & Security**
3. Select the permission type
4. Enable the toggle for **BuildBetter.ai Recorder**
After granting Screen Recording permission, you may need to restart the app for changes to take effect.
***
## Resetting Settings
To reset all settings to defaults:
1. Quit the app completely
2. Delete the preferences file:
```bash theme={null}
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.buildbetter.recorder/
```
3. Restart the app
This will reset all settings but will **not** delete your recordings.