Your first recording

This guide covers the browser workflow for a solo legal dictation. Browser recording uses batch transcription after you explicitly select Finalise.

1. Open the recorder

Select Recordings in the sidebar, then New recording. You can also start from a matter so the client and matter are already selected.

2. Choose dictation mode

On the Recorder tab, select Dictation for solo speech or Meeting for a multi-speaker conversation. See Meeting mode for client meetings, witness interviews, and conferences.

For your first note, Dictation is the simplest option.

Select the client and matter in the recording header if they are not already set. The link is an association with that file. It does not publish the audio or generated drafts to the rest of the team.

If the matter is missing, create it first.

4. Capture audio

Allow microphone access when prompted.
Click Start and speak at a natural pace.
Select Pause to finish the current part and save it.
Select Resume if you want to add another part.

Pause saves a part. It does not start transcription. The browser does not show a live transcript while you record.

5. Review and Finalise

Play back the draft and make any available timeline edits. When the audio is ready:

Make sure pending parts have finished saving or uploading.
Select Finalise.
Keep Ardela open while it submits the current timeline.

Only Finalise submits the audio for processing. If your connection was interrupted, reconnect and reopen the draft before Finalising. Reconnection does not submit it automatically.

6. Review the transcript

Ardela transcribes the Finalised audio in the background. When the current transcript is ready:

Open the Transcript tab.
Correct names, dates, figures, legal terms, and substantive details.
Replay the source audio where the wording matters.

7. Generate a note

Return to the generation control.
Choose Note, or Document if your plan includes document drafting.
Select an accessible template.
Select Generate or use Ctrl+G on Windows and Cmd+G on macOS.

Generation is available only when the transcript matches the current Finalised audio. The draft belongs to you. It appears in the matter's My work until you share it.

Edit the draft directly.
Use the selection menu for a proposed formatting or grammar change.
Open Clara in split view for a larger rewrite.
Accept or reject Clara's proposed changes.
Select Share to matter when the team should see the document.
Export the reviewed note or document to PDF or DOCX, or copy it to the clipboard.

Completing a recording that is linked to a matter can place the transcript in the matter's Files. It does not automatically share generated documents.

Generation does not approve legal work. The responsible fee-earner must check the transcript and reviewed draft before export or filing. Sharing to a Matter is not approval.

9. Organise

Before marking complete:

Confirm the recording is linked to the correct client and matter.
Share the matter only with people authorised to work on it.
Send the recording to the Queue if your firm uses a transcriber workflow.
Select Mark complete when the reviewed work is finished.

Next steps

Recordings list: find past work in your personal collection
Matter workspace: see transcripts, drafts, and shared work on the file
Upload audio: import an existing file
Ardela Mobile: capture a local draft on iOS or Android