Guide

Record a webinar on a Mac

echo99 is a bot-free, on-device recorder: it captures the webinar audio your Mac plays and transcribes it locally, so you keep your own searchable copy of a session you attended. Respect the organizer's terms, and consent where it applies.

A local copy of a webinar you attend

echo99 records what your Mac plays, so it captures the presenter’s audio the same way you hear it — a private copy on your own machine, with no bot in the session:

The webinar audio — everything your Mac plays, saved as system.wav; diarization labels the speakers “Them-1”, “Them-2”, …
Your microphone — mic.wav, labeled “Me”, for the moments you ask a question or speak up.

Afterwards, on-device transcription turns the session into a searchable transcript with timestamps — so you can find the one answer you needed without rewatching an hour. Nothing is uploaded.

How this differs from the platform’s own recording

Most webinar platforms treat recording as the host’s feature: the official recording, if there is one, is made and shared by the organizer on their terms. echo99 is different — it simply keeps a private copy on your own Mac for your own reference. It doesn’t join or alter the session, and it isn’t a way to obtain something the organizer chose not to share.

Respect the terms and consent

echo99 doesn’t announce itself, so any notice or consent is on you. Many webinars are covered by terms that restrict recording or redistribution, and consent laws still apply — capturing audio for your own reference is different from publishing it. Keep your use within the organizer’s terms and your local law.

Set it up, then record

echo99’s one-time setup — granting the two permissions and downloading the on-device models — is covered step by step, with screenshots, in getting started. After that, recording is two clicks from the menu bar: Start Recording, then Stop, and the transcript plus audio are waiting in ~/Documents/echo99/.

Webinar tips

You mostly listen, so the system track carries the session. Your mic track stays quiet unless you speak — that’s expected.
Audio only. echo99 captures sound and transcripts, not the slides or screen share — pair it with your own notes for the visuals.
Long session? Skip the silence. echo99’s optional silence-skipping speeds up transcription of long, sparse webinars.

Webinar platforms differ and change their recording rules; the notes above were last reviewed July 2026. Check your specific webinar platform’s own recording and usage terms for current details.