Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I take notes while watching YouTube videos?

A: It's simple! Open VoiceSpark, select your audio source:

• System Audio: Records only the YouTube video audio
• Microphone: Records only your voice comments
• Both: Records YouTube audio + your voice simultaneously (recommended for learning)

Then just play your YouTube video and speak your thoughts out loud. When you're done, click "Transcribe" to convert everything to text. Your notes are ready to copy and paste!

Q: Can I use this for online learning and courses?

A: Absolutely! VoiceSpark is perfect for Coursera, Khan Academy, Udemy, edX, or any online course. The "always listening" feature means you don't need to pause the lecture to take notes - just speak your thoughts and they're already being captured in the background.

Pro tip: Enable "Auto Record" so new recordings start automatically after each transcription. Perfect for hour-long lectures!

Q: What's the best way to capture podcast highlights?

A: Here's the workflow:

1. Play your podcast in another browser tab or app
2. Open VoiceSpark and select "System Audio"
3. Enable "Auto Record" toggle
4. As you listen, speak to capture memorable quotes or your reactions
5. Click "Transcribe" to get everything in text

Works great with Spotify, Apple Podcasts (web), or any podcast player!

Q: How is VoiceSpark different from Otter.ai or Rev?

A: VoiceSpark focuses on learning and idea capture, not meeting transcription. Key differences:

• ✅ Always listening - No need to click "Record" before speaking
• ✅ System audio capture - Record from YouTube, podcasts, any browser tab
• ✅ Short bursts - 30s to 5m for focused idea capture (not 1-hour meetings)
• ✅ 100% private - Local storage only, no cloud uploads
• ✅ No registration - Start using immediately
• ✅ Free - No subscription required

When to use Otter.ai: Business meetings, interviews, long conversations

When to use VoiceSpark: YouTube learning, podcast notes, quick ideas, study sessions

Q: Is this better than Apple Voice Memos or Google Recorder?

A: Different use cases! VoiceSpark is specifically designed for learning scenarios:

• ✅ System audio support - Record YouTube, podcasts (Voice Memos can't do this)
• ✅ Always-on - Open once, speak anytime (no button clicking)
• ✅ AI transcription - Instant voice to text
• ✅ Works in browser - No app installation needed

When to use Voice Memos: General recordings, memos, music ideas

When to use VoiceSpark: Learning from videos/podcasts, capturing ideas while consuming content

Q: How does "Always Listening" work?

A: Unlike traditional recorders, VoiceSpark is constantly recording in the background (using a rolling buffer). When you click "Transcribe," you can choose how far back to capture:

• 30 seconds - Quick thoughts, single ideas
• 1 minute - Short explanations, podcast quotes
• 5 minutes - Longer segments, YouTube tutorials

This means you never miss that "aha moment" - it's already captured before you even think to record it!

Q: Can I record longer than 5 minutes?

A: Currently, VoiceSpark is limited to 5 minutes to keep it focused on capturing inspiration, not long meeting recordings. This keeps you focused on ideas that matter and ensures fast transcription.

Pro tip: Enable "Auto Record" to chain multiple 5-minute segments together for longer learning sessions!

Q: What languages are supported?

A: VoiceSpark supports 50+ languages through OpenAI Whisper, including:

• English, Spanish, French, German, Italian
• Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean
• Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian
• And many more!

The AI automatically detects your language - just speak naturally!

Q: Where is my recording data stored?

A: All recordings are saved locally in your browser using IndexedDB. Nothing is uploaded to VoiceSpark servers.

Only when you click "Transcribe": The audio is sent to AI transcription services (OpenAI or Google) and immediately deleted after transcription. No logs, no permanent storage on our side.

Q: Can others see my recordings?

A: No. Everything stays on your device. Since there's no account system, each browser session is completely isolated and private.

Q: Does this work on mobile?

A: Yes, but with limitations:

• ✅ Microphone recording: Works on all mobile devices
• ❌ System audio: Not supported on iOS/Android (browser/OS limitation)

For full functionality (including system audio), use a desktop browser like Chrome, Edge, or Safari on Mac/PC.

Q: Which browsers are supported?

A: VoiceSpark works best on:

• ✅ Chrome/Edge (Windows/Mac/Android) - Full support
• ✅ Safari (Mac/iOS) - Microphone only on iOS
• ✅ Firefox (Windows/Mac) - Full support

For system audio capture, Chrome/Edge recommended on desktop.

Q: How do I record system audio on my computer?

A (Desktop only):

1. Click the "System Audio" button in VoiceSpark
2. Your browser will show a screen-sharing dialog
3. Select "Chrome Tab" or "Entire Screen"
4. Make sure to check "Share system audio" or "Share audio"
5. Click "Share"

Now VoiceSpark will capture audio from that tab or your entire computer!

Q: Tips for using VoiceSpark effectively?

A: Here are our top tips:

• 🎯 Enable "Auto Record" for continuous listening sessions
• 📋 Enable "Auto-Copy" to paste transcripts directly into your notes
• 🔔 Enable "Notifications" so you know when transcription is done
• 🎤 Use "Microphone + System" for YouTube learning (captures video + your comments)
• ⏱️ Use 30s for quick ideas, 1m for quotes, 5m for tutorials
• 🌍 One language per recording for best accuracy

Q: Can I speak in multiple languages in one recording?

A: ⚠️ Best Practice: Use one language per recording for optimal results.

Mixing multiple languages in the same recording may cause partial transcription failure or missed words.

Recommended: If you need to switch languages, stop and start a new recording.

Q: System audio is not recording?

A: Check these common issues:

• ✅ Make sure you selected "Share system audio" in the browser dialog
• ✅ System audio only works on desktop browsers (not mobile)
• ✅ Try Chrome or Edge if using Firefox (better support)
• ✅ Make sure audio is actually playing in the tab you selected

Q: Transcription is not accurate?

A: Try these tips:

• 🎤 Speak clearly and at a moderate pace
• 🔇 Reduce background noise if possible
• 🌍 Use one language per recording
• ⏱️ Use shorter durations (30s-1m) for better accuracy