How a call is recorded
In Call mode, KeptNote records two sources at the same time.
- Your microphone. In the transcript, this is Me.
- The sound your Mac plays. This is the other side of the call. In the transcript, this is Them.
This works with any app that plays call audio. KeptNote does not join the call, does not appear in the participant list, and does not share anything with the call. Its own sounds are not recorded.
To record the sound of the call, macOS needs your permission under Screen & System Audio Recording. KeptNote uses it for audio only. It does not save screen video. Microphone and screen permissions shows how to turn it on.
Start recording a call
You have three ways to start.
Use the prompt. When a call app starts using your microphone, KeptNote shows a small card at the top right of your screen. Press Record on it. This always starts Call mode. If you do not want to record this call, press Not now.
Press Record on Home, or press Command-N. If a known call app is using your microphone at that moment, KeptNote starts in Call mode. If not, it starts in the room, with the microphone only.
Choose Detailed Setup… in the File menu, or press Option-Shift-Command-N. Under Capture, choose Online call, then press Start recording. Use this for a call app KeptNote does not know.
How KeptNote notices a call
Every 10 seconds, KeptNote asks macOS which apps are using the microphone. It looks at the app only. It never sees what the app hears, and it never sees which tab or site is open. When the same call app has held the microphone for two checks in a row, KeptNote shows the prompt. That takes about 10 to 20 seconds.
KeptNote knows these apps.
- Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, FaceTime, Discord and Slack.
- Browsers, for calls on the web: Chrome (also Beta and Canary), Safari (also Technology Preview), Arc, Edge, Brave and Firefox. KeptNote cannot tell which site is using the microphone. Any site that uses it can start the prompt.
The prompt says Zoom call started for an app, or Call in Chrome for a browser. It floats above other windows and never takes focus from your call.
Record or Not now
The prompt has two words at its right edge: Not now and Record. Record is the solid button. Not now is plain text, and the whole height of the card is its target, so you do not have to aim.
- Click the card once, then press Return to record, or Escape for Not now. KeptNote never takes the keyboard on its own, because your Return and Escape belong to the call you are typing into. Hover over a button to see its key.
- Right-click Not now for Never for Zoom (or the name of the app). It stops KeptNote from offering to record that app.
- If you do not answer, a thin line along the bottom of the card empties over one minute. Then the card folds into a small version that still has Not now and Record. The line stops while your pointer is on the card or its options are open. Nothing is dismissed for you. The small card goes away when the app stops using the microphone.
VoiceOver users can use the escape gesture for Not now, and Never for Zoom is one of the card’s actions.
If KeptNote cannot show the card, it sends a macOS notification instead: Zoom call started with Record it and KeptNote will write the notes. Its buttons are Start Recording and Never for This App.
More options on the prompt
Press the small arrow after the title to show more.
- Always for Zoom (or the name of the app). When this switch is on, the next call in that app starts recording by itself, without a prompt. This only works when KeptNote already has your permissions. A small capsule shows at the top right for a few seconds so you know, then folds into the edge tab. See The menu bar and the recording capsule.
- Never. KeptNote stops offering to record for that app.
KeptNote does not show a consent prompt. Consent and telling people explains why, and what is up to you.
To manage these choices later, open Settings and look in General, in the Call detection section.
- The switch Suggest starting when a call begins turns the prompt on or off. It is on at first.
- Always record lists the apps and recurring meetings you set to record by themselves. Each has a Remove button.
- Stop when the call ends has three choices: Automatically after 60 seconds (the first choice), Ask me and Never.
- Under the Advanced disclosure, Call apps has one switch for each app and browser. Turn one off and KeptNote never prompts for it.
When the call ends
When the app that was using the microphone lets go of it, KeptNote shows a card that says Call ended. Stopping in 60s and counts down. Press Keep Recording (or Escape, after you click the card) to cancel the stop, or press the stop button to stop at once. A line along the bottom of the card empties over the 60 seconds. If the app takes the microphone again, the countdown cancels. With the Ask me choice, the card says Call ended. and waits for you.
This only applies to a call recording that started while the call app held the microphone.
Me and Them in the transcript
Your voice goes to the Me side. Everyone else on the call goes to Them. KeptNote does not tell the other people apart. If three people talk on the call, all three show as Them.
If you use speakers and no headphones, your microphone also picks up the call. Then the same words would show twice. After the meeting, KeptNote removes a line from your side when it repeats what the other side said within a few seconds. Headphones still give the cleanest result.
A note line and the transcript beside it. On a call, the transcript names the two sides Me and Them.
For more on the transcript, see The transcript panel.