Why 12scribe?
12scribe is a lecture recording app that turns live audio into searchable, structured notes. Whether you are a student sitting in a lecture hall, a journalist conducting an interview, or a team lead running a meeting, the workflow is the same: record, mark important moments, and let AI do the rest.
You can start recording immediately as a guest. No account required, no setup screens, no tutorials to sit through. Just open the app and tap Record. Your audio is captured locally on your device, and you can transcribe it later whenever you are ready.
What sets 12scribe apart from a simple voice recorder is what happens after recording. One tap sends your audio for AI transcription, turning speech into searchable text. Another tap generates Smart Notes — AI-created markers at key moments like definitions, decisions, and topic changes. The result is a fully navigable knowledge base from a single recording session.
Install and Launch
Download 12scribe from the App Store on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 15 or later. The app is free to download and includes 150 minutes of audio transcription per month at no cost. No credit card is required to start.
When you first open the app, you land on the Projects tab. This is your home screen — every recording you make lives inside a project. Think of projects as folders that contain your recordings, markers, and transcriptions for a specific lecture, meeting, or event.
The app works immediately in guest mode. If you want to enable cloud sync, multi-device access, or protect your data with an account, you can link your Apple ID or email later from the Profile tab. Guest recordings are preserved when you upgrade — nothing is lost.
Create Your First Project
Follow these steps to make your first recording:
- Tap New Project on the Projects tab. Give it a name like "Biology Lecture 1" or "Team Standup 03/15". Choose the project type — Lecture, Meeting, or Other — to optimize AI analysis later. The project type affects what kind of Smart Notes the AI generates, so pick the one that matches your content.
- Open the project and tap the red Record button. The recording screen shows a live timer and real-time audio waveform so you know audio is being captured. The screen is designed for one-handed operation, letting you keep your focus on the lecture or meeting.
- While recording, tap Add Marker whenever something important happens. Do not worry about reacting late — the audio buffer automatically captures 30 seconds before your tap, so the beginning of the thought is already preserved. You can choose from three marker types — Flag, Favorite, or Fire — to create a priority hierarchy. Learn more in How to Record Audio.
- When you are done, tap Stop. Your recording is saved automatically inside the project. No manual save step is needed — the audio is preserved even if the app closes unexpectedly.
- Optionally, tap Transcribe to convert your recording to searchable text. The process usually takes 2-5 minutes for a one-hour recording. Once complete, you can search for any spoken word and jump to the exact moment it appears. See How Transcription Works for details.
Tips for Your First Session
These suggestions will help you get the most from your first recording:
- Place your device face-down on a desk for the best microphone pickup during lectures — the built-in microphone captures clearly from several meters away in a quiet room
- Add markers liberally — the 30-second buffer means every tap captures the preceding context automatically, so even late taps preserve the content you care about
- Use different marker types (Flag, Favorite, Fire) to create a visual hierarchy in your notes, making review sessions faster and more focused
- Enable auto-transcription in project settings if you want fully hands-free operation — every session is transcribed automatically the moment you stop recording
- After your first transcription, try searching for a word you remember hearing — the speed of jumping to the exact second is the feature that makes the biggest difference in daily use