#Configure Microphone & System Audio

Clearminutes captures two audio streams simultaneously:

1. Microphone — Your voice (usually built-in or USB microphone)
2. System Audio — Audio from your speakers (Zoom call, Teams meeting, video playback, etc.)

This guide covers setup for each platform and how to test your configuration.

#macOS

#How macOS System Audio Works

Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't require a virtual audio device. Clearminutes uses Core Audio tap, a system-level API that captures what's playing through your speakers directly — no virtual device needed.

Requirement: You must grant screen recording permission in System Settings. This allows Clearminutes to access audio through the Core Audio tap, which is a security safeguard on macOS.

#Grant Screen Recording Permission

Before recording system audio, ensure Clearminutes has permission:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
2. Navigate to Privacy & Security (left sidebar)
3. Scroll down and click Screen Recording
   • [SCREENSHOT: macOS System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording]
4. You should see Clearminutes in the list with a checkmark
5. If not, click the + button to add it:
   • Browse to Applications → Clearminutes
   • Click Open
   • Clearminutes is now listed
6. Return to Clearminutes and restart the app

#Select Your Microphone

1. Open Clearminutes
2. Click Settings (⌘, or gear icon)
3. Go to the Audio section
4. Find Microphone dropdown
5. Select your microphone:
   • Built-in Microphone — Your Mac's integrated mic (built-in to MacBook)
   • USB Microphones — External USB mics appear by name (e.g., "Blue Yeti", "Audio-Technica AT2020")
   • Aggregate Devices — If you've created audio aggregates in Audio MIDI Setup, they appear here
6. To test: speak into your microphone and watch the audio level meter bounce
   • [SCREENSHOT: Microphone selection dropdown with level meter]

Tips:

• If your external mic doesn't appear, restart Clearminutes after plugging it in
• Built-in mics are convenient but often pick up keyboard clicks and fan noise — consider a USB mic for better quality
• Macs with multiple microphones may have both built-in and external available

#Select Your System Audio

System audio is your computer's speaker output — what you hear from Zoom, Teams, YouTube, Spotify, etc.

1. In the same Audio settings section, find System Audio dropdown
2. Select:
   • None — Don't record system audio (only your microphone)
   • Built-in Speaker — Captures audio from all applications playing through your Mac speakers
   • Other output devices — If you have external speakers, headphones, or audio interfaces connected, they appear here
3. To test: play a video or open Zoom, watch the system audio level meter bounce
4. Verify screen recording permission is granted (see above)

[SCREENSHOT: System audio dropdown showing device options]

#Test Your Setup (Before Important Meetings)

1. Record a quick test:
   • Start a 30-second test recording
   • Speak naturally into your microphone
   • Open YouTube or a short video and play it
   • Stop recording
2. Playback the recording:
   • Find the test meeting in your meetings list
   • Read the transcript
   • Verify both your voice and the video audio are transcribed

If both appear in the transcript, your setup is correct.

#Troubleshooting macOS Audio

"System audio permission denied" or "Can't record system audio":

1. Verify screen recording permission is granted (see above)
2. Reboot your Mac
3. Ensure you've selected the correct system audio device (not "None")
4. Try disconnecting and reconnecting external speakers

"Microphone not detected":

1. Verify your mic is plugged in (USB) or built-in
2. Restart Clearminutes
3. Check System Preferences → Privacy & Security → Microphone — is Clearminutes listed? If not, add it
4. If external USB mic: unplug, wait 5 seconds, plug back in, restart Clearminutes

"System audio is silent, but I can hear it through speakers":

1. This is expected behavior on macOS — the Core Audio tap captures system audio, but your Mac continues to play it through speakers normally
2. Verify the system audio meter is bouncing when audio is playing
3. Check that your recording isn't muted: Settings → Audio → check no mute icon is visible

"Audio levels are too quiet or too loud":

1. Go to Settings → Audio
2. Find Microphone Gain and System Audio Gain sliders
3. Adjust as needed (see Recording Quality)

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#Windows

#How Windows System Audio Works

Windows uses WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API) loopback, which captures audio from all applications at the system level — no virtual device needed. WASAPI loopback is built into Windows and works automatically.

#Select Your Microphone

1. Open Clearminutes
2. Click Settings (gear icon, or Ctrl+,)
3. Go to Audio section
4. Find Microphone dropdown
5. Select your microphone:
   • Microphone (Built-in) — Your laptop's integrated microphone
   • USB Microphones — External USB mics appear by name (e.g., "Blue Yeti", "Rode Wireless")
   • Line In — If you have audio input from another source
6. Test: speak into your microphone and watch the level meter bounce

[SCREENSHOT: Windows Microphone dropdown in Settings]

Tips:

• If your USB mic doesn't appear, install drivers from the manufacturer, restart Clearminutes
• Laptops often have noisy built-in mics — consider a USB microphone for clearer recordings
• Check Windows Volume Mixer (Sound settings) to ensure your mic isn't muted

#Select Your System Audio

System audio is the audio playing through your speakers — from Zoom, Teams, YouTube, etc.

1. In Settings → Audio, find System Audio dropdown
2. Select:
   • None — Don't record system audio (only your microphone)
   • WASAPI Loopback — Captures audio from all applications on your system
   • WASAPI Loopback (Secondary) — If you have multiple audio outputs, this captures secondary output
3. Test: open Zoom or YouTube and play audio, watch the system audio level meter bounce

[SCREENSHOT: Windows System Audio dropdown showing WASAPI Loopback option]

#Exclusive Mode Issues

Some applications use WASAPI Exclusive Mode, which prevents other apps (like Clearminutes) from accessing audio.

If you see "Audio device in exclusive mode" error:

1. Find which app is using exclusive mode (usually music players like Spotify, TIDAL, or gaming apps)
2. Pause or close that application
3. Return to Clearminutes and try recording again

Prevention:

• In the app that uses exclusive mode, disable Exclusive Mode in settings (not available in all apps)
• If you frequently need both, keep recording short and close exclusive-mode apps beforehand

#Test Your Setup (Before Important Meetings)

1. Configure your devices: microphone and system audio selected
2. Test recording:
   • Start a test 30-second recording
   • Speak into your mic
   • Open Zoom or YouTube and play audio
   • Stop recording
3. Verify:
   • Find the test meeting
   • Check transcript shows both your voice and the audio from the meeting

If both appear, your setup is correct.

#Troubleshooting Windows Audio

"WASAPI Loopback not available" or appears greyed out:

1. Check Windows version: Settings → System → About
   • Ensure Windows 10 22H2 or later, or Windows 11
   • If older, update: Settings → Update & Security → Check for updates
2. Restart Clearminutes and Windows
3. Check System Audio Drivers: Right-click Start → Device Manager → Sound inputs/outputs
   • Ensure no devices show a warning icon
   • Update drivers from manufacturer's website if available

"Microphone not detected":

1. Check it's plugged in (USB) or enabled (built-in)
2. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone — toggle "Allow apps to access your microphone" ON
3. Add Clearminutes to the allowed apps list
4. Restart Clearminutes
5. For USB mics: unplug, wait 5 seconds, plug back in

"System audio is silent in my recording":

1. Verify WASAPI Loopback is selected (not "None")
2. Check system audio level meter is bouncing when audio is playing
3. If meter is silent but you can hear audio, there may be a driver issue — update audio drivers
4. Try a different output device if you have multiple (e.g., if you have multiple speaker outputs)

"Audio levels too loud/quiet":

1. Go to Settings → Audio
2. Adjust Microphone Gain and System Audio Gain sliders
3. See Recording Quality for optimal levels

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#Audio Quality Settings

After selecting your devices, you can fine-tune audio quality:

1. Go to Settings → Audio
2. Find:
   • Microphone Gain (0–200%) — Increase if quiet, decrease if loud
   • System Audio Gain (0–200%) — Same for system audio
   • Noise Suppression — Toggle on for noisy environments
3. Test levels before important meetings

See Recording Quality for detailed guidance on these settings.

#Recommended Microphone Setup

For Best Quality:

1. Use a USB microphone instead of built-in

   • Recommendations: Audio-Technica AT2020 USB, Blue Yeti, Rode Wireless
   • USB mics dramatically improve clarity

2. Position your mic 6–12 inches from your mouth

   • Closer = louder, warmer tone; Farther = quieter, more background noise

3. Reduce background noise

   • Close doors, mute notifications, close browser tabs
   • See Recording Quality for noise suppression tips

4. Test before important meetings

   • Record a 30-second test, play it back to verify quality

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#Related

• Recording Quality & Settings →
• Record Your First Meeting →
• Troubleshoot Recording Issues →