Shiyin
How to record Zoom, Teams and Google Meet on a Mac
Recording the other side of a call on a Mac used to mean installing a virtual audio driver like BlackHole. macOS now lets apps capture the computer’s audio directly. Here is how the common methods compare, and how to record with a live transcript in Shiyin.
The common methods
| Method | What you do | Downsides |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in recording | Click Record in Zoom, Teams or Meet | Usually needs the host’s permission, sometimes a paid plan; you get a video file and still need a transcript |
| Virtual audio driver (BlackHole, Loopback) | Install an audio driver and build a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup | Fiddly setup; the volume keys don’t work while a Multi-Output Device is selected |
| A meeting bot from a cloud note taker | Invite the bot to the call | Everyone sees the bot; audio goes to the vendor; some companies don’t allow it |
| Capture system audio directly (Shiyin) | Allow “System Audio Recording” the first time | Mac only; needs macOS 26 and Apple Silicon |
Recording a call with Shiyin
- Download Shiyin. On first launch, allow the microphone and download the transcription models (about 1.7 GB; macOS built-in recognition is used until they’re ready).
- Set the source to “Microphone + computer audio”. To record only the other side, choose “Computer audio only”.
- When the meeting starts, click Record (⌘R), or press ⌃⌥⌘R from any app. The first time, macOS asks for System Audio Recording permission: click Allow.
- You can close the main window while recording. The menu bar shows that you’re recording and lets you pause or stop.
- Click Stop when the meeting ends. Shiyin transcribes on your Mac, tells the speakers apart and writes the meeting notes.
When Zoom, Teams or Google Meet starts using the microphone, Shiyin asks whether to record, and reminds you to stop when the meeting seems to be over. It only asks; it never starts recording on its own.
Things to know
- Headphones are fine. Shiyin records what the Mac plays, not what the speakers put back into the microphone.
- You and the others are on separate channels. Your microphone and the computer audio are recorded to the left and right channels, which helps transcription and speaker identification.
- All of the Mac’s audio is captured. Notification sounds and music get recorded too, so mute them during the call.
- Silence gets flagged. If no computer audio arrives for 15 seconds, or the microphone hears nothing, is too quiet or the room is too noisy, the recording screen tells you.
- Switching headphones mid-call is fine. Shiyin reconnects to the new output and keeps recording.
- Tell people you’re recording.
After the meeting
Draft notes appear right after you stop, written from the live transcript, and are replaced when the final transcript is ready: a summary, decisions, action items and open questions, each with a timestamp that plays the moment it came from. Export notes as Markdown, PDF or Word, and transcripts as txt, srt, vtt or Word.
Questions
Will the meeting app tell others I’m recording?
No. Shiyin doesn’t join the meeting or go through the meeting app, so nothing shows up in the call. Tell the other participants yourself.
Which meeting apps work?
Anything that plays audio on your Mac: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Webex, Slack huddles and so on.
Can it record in-person meetings?
Yes. Choose “Microphone only”. In a crowded or noisy room, tell Shiyin roughly how many people there are and speakers are separated more accurately.
Which macOS version do I need?
macOS 26 or later on Apple Silicon (M1 or later), with 8 GB of memory or more.