How to record and transcribe a call
- Start "Record from App" before or during the call. It records the computer's audio (the other side) and your microphone (you).
- Tell the other side you are recording. No bot announces it for you.
- Stop when the call ends. If their voice came through your speakers, the echo is removed. Then Whisper transcribes the call on your computer and labels the speakers.
- Use the result. Read the summary, ask the AI chat about the call, export to Word, PDF or text.
On a Mac, recording the computer's audio needs the Screen Recording permission once. Without it, Scrieb records your microphone and says that the call audio is missing.
Phone calls
A phone call can be transcribed if you have its audio on your computer:
- Call from the computer. FaceTime and iPhone calls on a Mac, a phone linked to Windows, WhatsApp or Signal desktop, or a softphone: record with "Record from App".
- Call recorded on the phone. If your phone or carrier records calls, send the audio file to your computer and drag it into Scrieb. M4A, MP3, AAC, 3GP and Opus files are read directly.
What a call transcript looks like
You: Thanks for making time. You mentioned the current tool is slow for long files?
Client: Two-hour workshops take all afternoon, and we can't upload them anyway because of the NDA.
You: Then let's test one recording on your laptop this week. I'll send setup steps today.
The summary below the transcript lists the key points and the follow-ups. For a fixed structure, for example sales calls or support calls, write your own summary type with the headings you need.
Who transcribes calls this way
Sales and customer success
Discovery and follow-up calls with the customer’s own words, without a recording bot in the call.
Journalists and researchers
Phone and video interviews that stay on your machine.
Lawyers and consultants
Client calls as file notes, with no third party processing the conversation.
Support and HR
Calls documented accurately, then deleted when they are no longer needed.
Call transcription options compared
| Scrieb | Meeting bot | Built-in platform transcript | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joins the call | No | Yes, as a participant | No |
| Where audio is processed | Your computer | Vendor’s cloud | Platform’s cloud |
| Works across apps | Any app with sound | Supported platforms | That platform only |
| Speaker labels | Yes, local | Yes | Usually |
| Phone calls | If the audio is on your computer | No | No |
More on meetings: AI meeting notes without a bot.
Pricing
Free plan: 1 hour of recording per day with speaker labels and summaries. Pro: no minute limits, one licence for Mac and Windows.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get a transcript of a call?
- Record the call on your computer with Scrieb ("Record from App" captures the call audio and your microphone), stop when it ends, and Scrieb transcribes it locally with a label for each speaker. Export the transcript to Word, PDF or text.
- Can I transcribe a phone call?
- Yes, in two ways. If the call runs on your computer (FaceTime or a phone linked to your Mac or PC, WhatsApp or Signal desktop, a softphone), record it with "Record from App". If your phone records calls itself, import that audio file into Scrieb.
- Does anyone see a bot in the call?
- No. Scrieb records on your own computer and never joins the call. That also means no one is notified automatically, so tell the other side you are recording.
- What about the echo when the other person plays through my speakers?
- Scrieb removes it after the recording, and only when there is an echo to remove. Recordings made with headphones stay as they are. The other person is also not mistaken for you in the speaker labels.
- Is it legal to record calls?
- It depends on where you and the other side are. Some places require everyone’s consent, others only one party’s. Ask at the start of the call; it is the simplest way to be on the safe side.
- Is it free?
- The free plan includes 1 hour of recording per day with speaker labels and summaries. Pro removes the limit and covers Mac and Windows with one licence.