Making meeting notes searchable by project with Otter so I stop re-listening
I used to scroll recordings hunting for one decision. Otter transcribes everything and lets me search the words instead.
I sat through a fifty-minute call, forgot the one number that mattered, and wasted twenty minutes re-listening. Otter ended that.
Step one: record or import the meeting. Otter transcribes live with speaker labels, so the mess is already text when you leave the call.
Step two: search the transcript, not the clock. Type a keyword and jump to the moment. I find the decision in seconds instead of scrubbing.
Step three: tag by project. I rename each note with the client and the date so a search later pulls the right call, not the tenth one this month.
Step four: pull the action items. Otter's summary lists who said they would do what; I copy that into my tracker and close the tab.
The catch: accuracy dips in a loud room or with heavy accents, so I still confirm the numbers before I act. The transcript is a map, not the territory.
Otter (otter.ai)
Best for: live transcription and searchable notes.
Key features: live captions; speaker labels; search across meetings.
Free plan: free tier with a minutes cap
Pricing: paid from around $10 a month.
Pros: searchable history; good accuracy.
Cons: dips in noisy rooms; paywall on long meetings.
My verdict: Otter pays for itself the first time you skip re-listening.
Frequently asked questions:
Q: Does it work in real time?
A: Yes. It transcribes during the call with speaker labels.
Q: Is it accurate enough to trust?
A: Mostly, but confirm numbers in noisy rooms before you act.
Q: Can I search across old meetings?
A: Yes, that is the main win: find the word, jump to the moment.