Recording issues
Having trouble with recording or transcription? Here are the most common problems and how to fix them.
"Recording appears to be silent"
TellDone detected no speech in your recording. This usually means the microphone didn't pick up your voice.
- Check that TellDone has microphone permission - go to your device Settings > TellDone > Microphone and make sure it's enabled
- Make sure you're not covering the microphone with your hand or a case
- Hold the phone at a natural distance - about 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) from your mouth
- Try recording in a quieter environment
If you just granted microphone permission, restart TellDone and try again.
"Audio file is corrupt or unreadable"
The recording file was damaged during saving.
- Try recording again
- Check that your device has enough free storage space
- If the problem repeats, restart TellDone and try once more
"Recording exceeds maximum duration"
Each plan has a maximum recording length:
| Plan | Max duration |
|---|---|
| Free | 5 minutes |
| Basic | 10 minutes |
| Pro | 60 minutes |
| Ultra | 90 minutes |
If you hit the limit, TellDone stops the recording automatically. The portion already recorded is still processed normally.
Need longer recordings? Upgrade your plan, or split your thoughts into multiple shorter recordings.
"Speech-to-text minutes quota exceeded"
You've used all your transcription minutes for the month. Your STT quota resets on the 1st of each month.
| Plan | STT minutes/month |
|---|---|
| Free | 60 |
| Basic | 300 |
| Pro | 600 |
| Ultra | 1,500 |
What you can do:
- Use text input instead - tap the text field below the microphone button. Text notes go through the same AI analysis and don't use STT minutes.
- Wait for the quota to reset next month
- Upgrade your plan for more minutes
"Monthly notes quota exceeded"
You've reached the maximum number of notes for your current plan this month.
| Plan | Notes/month |
|---|---|
| Free | 50 |
| Basic | 300 |
| Pro | 1,000 |
| Ultra | Unlimited |
Your existing notes are safe - you just can't create new ones until the quota resets on the 1st of next month, or you upgrade.
"Failed to process the recording"
Something went wrong while analyzing your recording.
- Check your internet connection - transcription requires an active connection (unless you're using Apple Speech Recognition)
- Try recording again
- If the error persists, restart TellDone
If you're offline, TellDone saves the recording locally and retries automatically when you're back online (up to 3 attempts).
Recording is too short
TellDone automatically rejects recordings shorter than 2 seconds. This filter prevents accidental taps from creating empty notes.
If your recording was rejected, simply record again and speak for a bit longer.
Mixed language in one recording
TellDone works best when you stick to one language per recording. Mixing languages in a single recording reduces transcription accuracy.
If you regularly speak in two languages:
- Set your main transcription language in Settings > Transcription language
- Record separate notes for each language
- You can change the transcription language anytime - it applies to future recordings
Your transcription language and your app interface language are independent. You can have an English interface while transcribing in Spanish, for example.
Background noise affecting accuracy
For the best transcription results:
- Record in a quiet environment when possible
- Speak clearly and at a normal pace
- Hold the phone closer to your mouth in noisy settings
- Avoid recording near loud music, machinery, or crowds
- Consider using earphones with a microphone for better voice isolation
If you need maximum privacy and work in a quiet environment, try Apple Speech Recognition in Settings - it processes everything on your device.