How to Transcribe Meetings Without a Bot Joining Your Call

You want meeting transcription, but you don't want a bot joining your call announcing "Recording has started" while your client looks uncomfortable.

There's a better way.

Quick Answer

Granola transcribes meetings without joining your call. It captures audio from your device's microphone, so other participants never know it's running.

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Why Meeting Bots Are Awkward

When you use Otter.ai, Fireflies, or similar tools, this happens:

1. You start a Zoom/Teams/Meet call
2. "Otter.ai Bot has joined the meeting"
3. Your client/prospect/colleague sees a notification
4. "Oh, are you recording this?" (awkward pause)
5. The conversation becomes slightly guarded

Even with consent, visible bots change the dynamic. People speak differently when they see "Recording."

How Granola Works Differently

Granola captures audio from your computer's microphone—the same audio you hear. It doesn't join your call as a participant.

What others see: Just you on the call What you get: Full transcript and organized notes

The Process

1. You join your meeting normally
2. Granola detects the meeting (syncs with your calendar)
3. It captures audio from your device
4. After the meeting: transcript, summary, and action items

No bot. No notification. No awkwardness.

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Comparing Approaches

Feature	Bot-Based (Otter, Fireflies)	Device Capture (Granola)
Visible to others	Yes	No
Joins as participant	Yes	No
Changes meeting dynamic	Yes	No
Works on any platform	Usually	Yes
Works for in-person	No	Yes (mobile app)

Use Cases Where This Matters

Client Calls

Clients speak more freely when they don't see a recording bot. Capture discovery calls, strategy sessions, and sensitive discussions.

Interviews

Job candidates or research subjects may be more candid without visible recording. (Always follow consent laws.)

Internal Meetings

Sometimes the "official record" changes what people say. Capture honest discussions for your own reference.

Sales Calls

Prospects notice bots. They may wonder what you're doing with the recording. Granola keeps the focus on the conversation.

Beyond Video Calls

Granola also works for:

• Phone calls (iOS app)
• In-person meetings (mobile app captures from device mic)
• Any audio your device can hear

This makes it more versatile than bot-based tools that only work with specific meeting platforms.

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What About Consent?

You're still responsible for recording consent laws in your jurisdiction. Granola's invisible operation doesn't change the legal requirements—just the user experience.

One-party consent states: You can generally record calls you're part of Two-party consent states: All parties must consent

Know your local laws.

Getting Started

Try Granola free - syncs with your calendar and starts working automatically.

FAQ

Is this the same as secretly recording people?

You're responsible for consent. Granola is a tool—how you use it is up to you. Many users inform participants they're taking notes without specifying the tool.

Does it work with Zoom, Teams, and Meet?

Yes. Granola captures whatever audio comes through your device, regardless of platform.

What about audio quality?

Granola uses the audio you hear. If you can understand the meeting, Granola can transcribe it.

How is this different from just recording on my phone?

Granola provides AI-powered transcription, summaries, and action items—not just raw audio. It's an intelligent meeting assistant, not a voice memo.

Can I use this for webinars or presentations I'm attending?

Yes. Any audio your computer plays can be captured for your personal notes.

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The best meeting notes are the ones you don't have to take manually. Granola captures everything without changing how others behave.