Getting Started

Download, install, and set up the BuildBetter Local Recorder

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

   1. Open the downloaded .dmg file
   2. Drag BuildBetter.ai Recorder to your Applications folder
   3. Eject the DMG
   4. Open the app from Applications or Spotlight
3. Grant Permissions

   On first launch, macOS will ask for permissions. These are required for the app to function:

   Permission	Why It’s Needed
   Microphone	Record your voice
   Screen Recording	Capture system audio (what others say on calls)
   Accessibility (optional)	Smart meeting detection

   If you skip permissions, you can grant them later in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

4. Download AI Models

   The setup wizard will prompt you to download AI models:

   Transcription Model (Required)

   • Whisper Base English (~140MB) - Fast and accurate for English
   • Other options available for multilingual support

   AI Chat Model (Optional)

   • Llama 3.2 3B (~2GB) - For local AI chat and summaries
   • Can be downloaded later from Settings
5. Choose Your Style

   Pick how you want the recorder to appear:

   Style	Description
   Floating Bar	Draggable window, place anywhere on screen
   Notch Mode	Tucks into the MacBook notch area

   You can also enable “Hide until meeting” to keep the app hidden until a meeting is detected.

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. 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.

Where Are My Recordings?

Recordings are stored locally in your Documents folder:

~/Documents/BuildBetter Recordings/
├── 2024-01-15_Meeting_with_Team/
│   ├── audio.m4a
│   ├── transcript.txt
│   └── notes.md
└── ...

You can access recordings through:

• The Dashboard in the app
• 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