Dictation Mode

Dictation mode is for single-speaker recordings — memos, case notes, letters, and field dictation.

Start a dictation

1. Open New recording or an existing draft
2. On the Recorder tab, ensure Dictation is selected
3. Choose your microphone from the gear menu if needed
4. Click Start

Live transcription

While online, words appear in the transcript panel as you speak. Live transcription requires an active internet connection.

Pause and resume

• Pause — stops the current segment, saves progress, and begins upload/transcription
• Resume — starts a new segment on the same recording

Pausing is the normal way to finish a segment. Your first pause also auto-titles the recording if it is still "Untitled".

Continue on existing recordings

Open any saved recording and resume from the Recorder tab. New audio appends to the existing session — useful for long dictations split across sessions.

Recorder settings

Open the gear icon to configure:

Offline recording (PWA)

When installed as a PWA and offline:

1. Record as normal — audio saves to local storage
2. Status shows Awaiting Transcription
3. When back online, Ardela syncs and processes automatically

See Troubleshooting → Offline sync.

Crash recovery

If your browser closes unexpectedly during recording, Ardela attempts to recover unsent audio segments from local storage on next visit.

Processing lifecycle

After pausing:

1. Audio segments upload securely
2. Transcription runs on the server
3. Status moves to Transcript ready
4. Open the Transcript tab to review

If processing seems stuck, see Troubleshooting or ask an admin to use Manage recording.

Tips for better accuracy

• Use a headset or external mic in quiet environments
• Speak at a natural pace — avoid rushing
• Add firm terms to custom vocabulary
• Review and correct the transcript before generating final notes

Related

• Meeting mode — multi-speaker recordings
• Upload audio — import existing files
• Generate & export