Frequently asked questions
Everything people ask before buying CallCove. If yours isn't here, email [email protected].
Recording
Does it record both sides of the call?+
Yes — system audio (their voice coming out of your speakers) and your microphone are captured at the same time and mixed into a single .m4a.
Do I need BlackHole, Loopback, or a virtual audio driver?+
No. CallCove uses Apple's native ScreenCaptureKit to capture system audio, which means no kernel extension, no virtual device, no admin password.
Does the other person know I'm recording?+
CallCove doesn't send any signal to the call — no bot joins, no 'recording' banner appears for the other participant. That also means you're responsible for complying with your local law on recording consent.
Is there a maximum recording length?+
No hard limit. We've tested multi-hour recordings. The only constraint is your disk space.
Where are my recordings saved?+
~/Recordings/CallCove/, named by timestamp. The app never moves or uploads them.
Transcription
Which Whisper model do you use?+
Whisper large-v3-turbo, compiled to Core ML so it runs on the Apple Neural Engine. It's roughly large-v3 quality at 4× the speed.
How fast is transcription?+
On an M-series Mac, transcription runs at roughly 15–30× real time — a 30-minute recording finishes in about a minute.
Which languages are supported?+
All 99 languages supported by Whisper large-v3, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi.
Does transcription work offline?+
Yes — the model ships with the app and runs entirely locally. Disconnect from Wi-Fi, it keeps working.
Legal & privacy
Is it legal to record my calls?+
It depends on where you (and the other party) are located. One-party-consent places (most US states, UK, Canada) allow you to record calls you're a party to. Two-party-consent places (California, most of the EU) require disclosure. CallCove is a tool — please use it within the law.
Does the app phone home?+
No. The binary is code-signed without the network entitlement, meaning macOS will refuse any outbound connection from the app. Verify with Little Snitch.
Compared to other apps
Is there an Otter.ai alternative that runs locally on Mac?+
Yes — CallCove. It records call audio on your Mac (system audio + mic) and transcribes on the Apple Neural Engine. No bot joins your meeting and no audio is uploaded. See /compare/call-recorder-vs-otter for a feature-by-feature comparison.
What's a cheaper alternative to Audio Hijack for one-click call recording?+
CallCove at $15 lifetime. Audio Hijack (~$79 one-time) is more capable for live streaming and audio routing — if you build session chains you'll want it. If you just want to hit record on a call and get a transcript, CallCove is leaner. See /compare/call-recorder-vs-audio-hijack.
How do I record a podcast interview on Mac without making my guest sign up for anything?+
Use a host-side recorder like CallCove. Your guest joins the call however they normally would (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, Meet) and never installs or signs up for a recording app. CallCove captures whatever your Mac is playing plus your mic. See /compare/riverside-alternatives-mac.
Can macOS record system audio without BlackHole or Loopback?+
Yes. CallCove uses Apple's ScreenCaptureKit (macOS 14+) — the native system-audio API. No kernel extension, no virtual audio device, no aggregate device in Audio MIDI Setup.
Pricing & support
Why is it so cheap?+
Because running the app costs us almost nothing — no server, no API, no cloud GPU. At $15 lifetime we cover support and macOS update maintenance.
Can I get a refund?+
Yes — 30 days, no questions asked. Email [email protected].
Team license?+
Email us with your seat count. We do simple volume pricing above 5 seats.