Otter.ai makes it easy to capture, transcribe, and share conversations. In this guide, we’ll provide some best practices for recording clear audio in person, so you can make the most of everything Otter has to offer.
🎙️ Recommended Microphone
By default, Otter will pull from your device’s built-in microphone. The audio quality and what it captures will depend on your device’s audio input. (e.g. Recording on your iPhone will pull directly from your built-in phone’s microphone, while recording on the browser will pull from audio from your built-in computer’s microphone). You have two options to record using Otter for in-person meetings or conversations.
- Record through Otter on any computer using any browser (Chrome recommended)
- Record on a mobile device (phones or tablets) using our Otter iOS or Android app
If you are recording a specific event, scenario, or multiple speakers, we recommend the following types of microphones
| Microphone Type | Description | Example Scenario |
| Uni-directional | Records audio coming from the direction the microphone is facing. | You are recording a lecture by a professor. Using this type of microphone, you will want to point the microphone towards them to capture their audio. |
| Bi-directional | Records audio coming from the front and back of the microphone. | You are interviewing a speaker. Using this type of microphone, you’ll want to position it right between you and the speaker to capture both of your audio. |
| Omni-directional | Records audio coming from all directions, regardless of placement. | You are at an event booth and want to capture the conversations you’re having with multiple customers. An omnidirectional microphone will be able to capture audio from all angles. We recommend positioning the microphone in the center of all speakers. |
There are many types of microphones you can use. The table above highlights just a few; however, there are many more different types of microphones. We recommend researching microphones based on where the speakers may be.
(image source: Polar Patterns in Microphones)
⏺️ Before recording a conversation
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Ensure your device, browser, and mobile app are up-to-date
- Check that your browser is up-to-date.
- Check if your device (laptop, computer, phone, etc.) has any software updates.
- Check the relevant Apple App Store or Google Play Store for any Otter mobile app updates.
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Ensure you have a good internet connection
Otter requires a stable internet connection to provide real-time transcription. We recommend a minimum uplink bandwidth of 512kbps. We recommend using a direct Ethernet cable if possible, but WiFi or cellular data is supported.
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Microphone placement
Place the microphone in the center of all speakers or near the speaker you are wanting to capture. Ensure the microphone is near the speakers.
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Check your device audio output settings
Navigate to your microphone settings and select the microphone name as the input. -
Do a test recording before the event
Log in to Otter.ai and click Record in the top right.
Your audio should be recording now and you’ll be able to see the live transcript in real-time produced on the screen (indicated by the live transcribing and audio waveform).
Network interruptions
If you encounter any interruptions due to a sudden network outage or drop in bandwidth, we recommend keeping the recording going. Otter will continue to record and cache to your computer’s browser or mobile device. Once the network connection is established again, Otter will finish the upload.
- Do not close the browser or mobile app during the network outage.
- Continue recording and stopping the recording as normal.
- Live transcript will not be available, but will be processed and transcribed once the network is connected again.
FAQs
Can I use Bluetooth headphones?
- Yes.
- However, please note since recording in Otter directly pulls from the microphone input, bluetooth headphones can be great for recording your own voice, but not other speakers around you.
- If you’re experiencing an issue with capturing other speaker audio, please try disconnecting your headphones and record through the device’s built-in microphone (e.g. iPhone’s microphone, laptop’s microphone, tablet’s microphone, etc.)
Can I use an external Bluetooth microphone?
- Yes.
- However, we recommend using a microphone directly plugged into the device to prevent any sudden disconnection and interruption of the recording.
Why is the audio playback quality not the same as my microphone input?
- Audio recorded to Otter’s server will be compressed.
- During playback of audio, the quality may sound different from what it would be if you were recording directly as a local file on your device.
Why is the live transcription not showing?
- Your upload internet speeds may be too low. Please check do a speed test check to you have a minimum uplink bandwidth of 512kbps.
- You may have a VPN, extension, plugin, or application that is interfering with the recording. Please review our Known apps, browser extensions, and plugins that affect Otter article for more information.
I am using an external microphone, but it’s still not capturing any audio. What should I do?
- Check if you have any background, noise suppressant, or noise reduction settings for your audio inputs.
- There may be various audio programs installed on your device that contain these settings. Please try disabling them to see if the audio improves. Check out our My audio isn't being recorded article for more info.
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