How to record an in-person meeting and get AI notes

Most AI note takers are built for Zoom and Teams. But plenty of the meetings that matter happen in a room: a client lunch, a site visit, a board meeting, a one-to-one in the office. Here's how to get the same transcript and notes from those.

Step by step: record an in-person meeting with Wazomind

1. Open wazomind.com/app on your phone or laptop and sign in with Google or your email.
2. Put the device in the middle of the table, screen up, away from coffee cups, laptop fans and air vents.
3. Tell everyone you're recording and that an AI will write the notes.
4. Tap Record in person, give the meeting a name if you like, and allow the microphone once.
5. Talk normally. The transcript appears as people speak, with speakers labelled. You can pause at any time.
6. Tap Stop and write notes. Wazomind re-checks who said what across the whole recording, then writes a summary, decisions, action items with owners and a ready-to-send follow-up email.
7. Name the speakers on the Transcript tab, then share, export or email the notes.

Recordings can run up to 2 hours. On a phone, keep the screen on and the tab open while it records.

4 ways to get notes from an in-person meeting

Other tools change often; check their current features before you buy.

1. Record in the browser

The quickest option when you're already in the room: no app to install, works on whatever device you have, and the notes land in the same library as your Zoom, Meet and Teams calls. This is what Wazomind's in-person recorder does.

2. A note taker's mobile app

Several meeting note takers have phone apps that record in person. They work well if you already use that tool for your online meetings and don't mind installing another app.

3. Record a voice memo, then upload it

Any phone's voice recorder works, and it's a good fallback when there's no signal. Afterwards, upload the file to Wazomind (MP3, M4A, WAV or video) and you get a speaker-separated transcript and notes. You don't get anything during the meeting, though.

4. A dedicated AI recorder

Small wearable or desk recorders have become popular for people who are in meetings all day. They're convenient, but you're buying hardware, and most need their own subscription for the AI notes.

How to get a clean recording

• Middle of the table, not in front of you. The person furthest from the mic is the one the transcript gets wrong.
• Keep it off hard surfaces that rattle, and away from laptop fans, projectors and air conditioning.
• One conversation at a time. Side conversations and cross-talk are hard for any transcription.
• Say names early. "Thanks, Priya" in the first few minutes makes naming the speakers afterwards easy.
• For big rooms, use two devices at opposite ends, or a USB conference mic on a laptop.

Is it legal to record an in-person meeting?

It depends on where you are. Many US states, and many countries, require everyone in a private conversation to agree to a recording. The simple rule: tell people at the start, and stop if anyone objects. More detail in is it legal to record a meeting?.

FAQ

How do I get AI notes from an in-person meeting?

Record the meeting on a phone or laptop placed between the speakers and run the recording through an AI note taker. With Wazomind you open wazomind.com/app in a browser, tap Record in person, and get a live transcript, then notes, action items and a follow-up email when you stop.

Can I record an in-person meeting for free?

Yes. Wazomind's free plan includes 3 calls a month with full notes, and an in-person recording counts as one call. It runs in the browser on a phone or laptop with nothing to install.

Can AI tell different speakers apart in an in-person meeting?

Yes, if the recording is clear. Speaker separation (diarization) labels Speaker 1, Speaker 2 and so on, and you can rename them afterwards. It works best with the device in the middle of the table and one person talking at a time.

Do I need consent to record an in-person meeting?

Usually, yes. Many US states and countries require everyone's consent to record a private conversation. Tell people at the start that you are recording and using AI for notes.

Is the audio stored?

With Wazomind, no. The audio is processed to make the transcript and is not stored on Wazomind's servers. Only the transcript and notes are saved to your library.