Instead of inviting a bot to your meeting, the tl;dv desktop app records system audio in the background while you participate normally.
How bot-free recording works
Bot-free recording uses the tl;dv desktop app to capture audio from your computer during a meeting.
It works with any meeting platform that outputs audio, including Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other conferencing tools.
Because it records system audio, it does not depend on a specific meeting integration.
What gets recorded
Bot-free recording captures audio only:
Your microphone input
Any system audio playing on your computer (including your participants' speech)
It does not record:
Video
Screen sharing
Chat messages
All recordings are saved to your tl;dv library, where they are automatically transcribed and processed into AI-generated notes.
Important: Any sound playing on your computer during the meeting (such as music or notifications) will also be recorded.
Record a meeting using bot-free recording
Follow these steps to record a meeting without a bot:
Open the tl;dv desktop app before or during your meeting
Inform participants that the meeting will be recorded
Locate your scheduled meeting in the app (if applicable)
Click Start Recording
The app will begin capturing system audio in the background
When the meeting ends, click Stop Recording
After the recording ends:
The transcript and AI notes are generated automatically
The recording appears in your tl;dv library within a few minutes
You can also use Record instant meeting to capture unscheduled conversations, even if they happen outside a meeting room.
When to use Bot-free recording
Recording without a bot is useful when:
You don’t want a notetaker to join the meeting
You are using a platform that doesn’t support tl;dv bots
You need to record an ad-hoc, spontaneous or quick meeting
Set up Bot-free recording
Requirements
To use botless recording, you’ll need:
The latest version of the tl;dv desktop app
A Mac or Windows computer
Audio recording permissions (Mac only)
Mac: Grant audio permissions
To enable no-bot recording on macOS:
Open System Settings (or System Preferences)
Go to Privacy & Security
Select Screen Recording and Microphone
Enable permissions for the tl;dv app
Restart the tl;dv app if required
Without these permissions, audio cannot be recorded.
On Windows, Bot-free recording works automatically after installing the tl;dv desktop app. No additional setup is required.
Recording consent and privacy
Before recording, make sure participants are aware of the recording.
Depending on the platform, recording notifications may not appear automatically when using Bot-free recording. It is your responsibility to inform participants and follow applicable privacy laws.