Dictation Mode

Dictation mode is for solo legal work such as file notes, letter drafts, attendance-note source material, and matter updates.

Start a dictation

Open New recording, an existing draft, or start from a matter.
Select Dictation on the Recorder tab.
Confirm the client and matter if the recording belongs on a file.
Choose a microphone if needed.
Select Start.

Pause and resume

Pause finishes and saves the current audio part.
Resume starts another part on the same timeline.

Pausing does not start transcription. The browser does not display words while you speak.

Wait for the save or upload indicator to settle before closing the page. You can reopen the draft and continue later.

Review the audio timeline

Before submission, play back the draft and use the available trim, cut, insert, or overwrite controls to correct the timeline. These edits change the audio that Ardela will transcribe.

Finalise and transcribe

When the timeline is ready:

Confirm that every part has finished saving or uploading.
Select Finalise.
Keep Ardela open while the timeline is submitted.
Wait for batch transcription to finish.

Only Finalise starts processing. When the transcript is ready, open the Transcript tab and correct names, dates, figures, legal terms, and substantive details.

If you change the audio after transcription, the previous transcript becomes out of date. Finalise again and wait for a transcript that matches the new audio.

If the connection drops

Ardela stores browser capture parts locally while it works to save them. After reconnecting:

Keep or reopen the recording page.
Allow pending parts to upload.
Review the recovered timeline.
Select Finalise yourself.

Reconnection can recover or upload a draft, but it does not automatically Finalise or transcribe it. See Troubleshooting.

Recording tips

Use a headset or external microphone in a quiet environment.
Speak at a natural pace.
State punctuation or structure only when that is part of the firm's dictation practice.
Treat the transcript as a draft and compare important passages with the audio.