Making Perfect Audio Recordings with the KAI App

We understand that often it is hard to have a perfect recording environment and that where you record may be out of your control.

It can be frustrating if you have had a conversation returned because we are unable to process it. We do our best to ensure we only do this in exceptional circumstances.

If you look in the email you received you will see a reason why we couldn’t process it and maybe some additional comments. This guide will help you to correct the problem we found so that next time you will have perfect recordings.

The sections below deal with Face to Face using the KAI App and remote conversations using Teams or Zoom.

Recording Face to Face (audio only) conversations via the KAI App

Background noise

• Aim to be in a quiet location with minimal background noise. If you can hear noises the microphone can too, and they will always sound more prominent on the recording. Things such as background chatter, A/C units, cars, etc. can be picked up in the recording and ‘cancel’ out your audio completely if loud enough.

• Avoid echoes too. Sound bounces off hard surfaces and can be picked up several times by the microphone. To reduce echo, try choosing a room that is carpeted, has soft furniture, or has curtains.

No audio found

• Ensure the microphone is working on your device. To check this, try doing a test recording beforehand and listen to it to ensure the microphone is working.

Low speaker volume

• The positioning of yourself, the client, and your recording device will have a huge impact on the overall quality of the recording. Ensure you are positioned facing each other with your recording device placed equidistant between you. You should aim to be no more than 1.5 meters away from each other. However, always ensure you are both comfortable.

• If you try to use the app to record a virtual conversation, the audio of the other participant may be a problem. Ensure the volume on your computer is turned up so we can hear the remote person clearly. This approach is definitely suboptimal for audio performance and we do not recommend it.

Too many speakers

• At present, KAI can analyse conversations where there are two speakers. We are making new developments to have multi-participant calls which will be released soon.

Duplicate

• KAI has recognised that your conversation is a duplicate of one already being processed. KAI’s standard practice is to reject the duplicate conversation.

Too short or cut off

The conversation was not a complete recording. This may happen if the KAI App is not kept in view on the screen throughout the conversation. The app is recording if you can see a faint timer on the screen all the time. If you do any of the following after you start a recording then it will pause:

• navigate away to another app on the device eg to present some slides,

• press the sleep/power button on the phone to blank the screen, or

• receive an incoming call because your device was not set to silent mode / do not disturb.

You will be notified the recording is paused on screen briefly and the timer will no longer be counting.