Installation & Setup
Download, install, and complete the first-run setup wizard.
Download & install
- Download the installer for your platform — macOS (
.dmg) or Windows (.exe). - Run it and follow the prompts (about a minute).
- Launch RecorderDesk. No account is required to start.
The setup wizard
On first launch, an 8-step wizard walks you through setup. You can Skip Setup and use defaults, but transcription may not work until it's configured.
- 1 Welcome
A quick intro to your privacy-first meeting assistant.
- 2 Experience
Choose Full (the default — the complete console) or Simple (a streamlined view that turns off the live assistant, meeting progress, and presenter tools). Changeable anytime in Settings.
- 3 Transcription
Downloads the best on-device model for your language — English, Japanese, Chinese, or Korean — plus a one-time translation model so live translation and assist work fully offline. Cloud (Gemini) transcription can be enabled later in Settings.
- 4 AI Model
Choose the model that powers summaries, recaps, and Ask AI: Local (on-device, private, no API key — or your own OpenAI-compatible endpoint), Cloud (highest quality, needs an API key), or CLI (use a CLI you're already signed in to — billed to your subscription). Test runs the real thing rather than a format check, so it stays disabled until a cloud provider has its API key and an endpoint has its URL.
- 5 Audio
Pick your microphone and confirm the input-level meter moves when you speak. System audio is captured automatically alongside your mic.
- 6 Permissions (macOS)
Grant Microphone and Screen Recording access. Screen Recording must be enabled manually under System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- 7 Output folder
Where recordings are stored (default: ~/Documents/MeetingRecorder/).
- 8 Complete
You're ready to record.