Start with both sides of the conversation
For an upcoming interview, open a recording in Whynote and check that each participant can be heard. The Mac app can capture your microphone and a remote conversation; the iPhone app can record an in-person interview. Agree on recording and the use of quotes before you begin.
For existing audio, choose Add files on Mac or Import audio or video on iPhone. Listen to the opening and a few exchanges from the middle to confirm the file. The Mac audio guide and iPhone import guide cover preparation.
Check where each person starts speaking
Transcribe the recording, then review the changes between questions and answers. If speaker labels are present, match them to the voices in the audio. A numbered label helps navigation but does not establish a person’s name.
On Mac, follow the speaker diarization setup to prepare local speaker identification. Overlapping speech and similar voices still need a review. Mark uncertain attribution before editing the interview into a cleaner form.
Decide how closely the draft should follow the speech
For a direct quote, check the exact words, negations and conditions against the audio. For a readable question-and-answer draft, you can remove unnecessary repetition while preserving the speaker’s position. Keep the source transcript available when you need to check the wording again.
An illustrative edit
Imagine a speaker saying, “We could probably launch the pilot in May if the budget is approved in time.” A readable edit should keep both the uncertainty about May and the budget condition.
“The pilot will launch in May” would change the answer. Replay the passage before publishing a quote and confirm it with the participant if your agreement requires that.
Organize the material around the interview questions
Group the text by the topics you discussed and keep important qualifications beside the answers. This makes a useful quote easier to find when you start writing. With Pro, you can also prepare a summary draft and review it against the transcript.
A summary helps you find the main ideas, while a direct quote should come from a checked passage. Label your own interpretation so it is not mistaken for the participant’s words. For a work discussion, the meeting recap guide offers a structure for the outcome.
Choose processing that suits the interview
Local recognition on Mac uses a downloaded model; cloud recognition sends the audio for processing. The recognition provider is separate from text enhancement and account synchronization. Check the complete workflow when an interview has restrictions on data sharing.
The local processing and privacy guide explains which operations run on the device. The app shows your transcription allowance and Pro access. Keep the original recording until the text is finished.
Bring your next recording into Whynote
Get Whynote for Mac to record a conversation or open a saved audio file. Choose the iPhone app for voice notes and recordings you keep on your phone.