Your First Recording
Chapter 2: Your First Recording
Welcome back! Now that you've installed SeaMeet and understand what it can do, let's make your very first recording. This chapter will guide you through recording audio in just 3 simple steps, show you around the main window, and teach you how to find and play back your recording.
Quick Start: Make Your First Recording in 3 Steps
Don't worry about settings or advanced features yet. Just follow these three steps to record your first audio clip:
Step 1: Open SeaMeet
If SeaMeet isn't already running:
- Windows: Click the SeaMeet icon in your Start Menu or on your desktop
- Mac: Open your Applications folder and double-click SeaMeet
You'll see the main SeaMeet window appear. It should look something like this:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SeaMeet Audio Recorder [⚙️] [⏪] [🔴 RECORD] │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ YOUR RECORDINGS │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ RECORDING CONTROLS │ │
│ │ (This list will fill │ │ │ │
│ │ up as you create │ │ • Select Audio Source │ │
│ │ recordings) │ │ • Choose Microphone │ │
│ │ │ │ • Start Recording │ │
│ │ No recordings yet? │ │ │ │
│ │ Click the red button │ │ [🔴 START RECORDING] │ │
│ │ to make your first! │ │ │ │
│ │ │ └───────────────────────────────┘ │
│ └─────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Tip: You can minimize SeaMeet and it will keep recording! │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Don't worry if your window looks slightly different—there are different viewing modes, and we'll explain them later.
Step 2: Click the Big Red Record Button
Look for the red circular button 🔴 in the top-right area of the window. It should say "RECORD" or show a red circle icon.
Click it once.
After you click:
- The button changes to show "STOP" or a square icon ⏹️
- A timer appears showing how long you've been recording
- You might see a small waveform moving if you're speaking
Step 3: Stop Recording
Record yourself saying something—anything! For example:
- "This is my first SeaMeet recording!"
- "Testing, one, two, three"
- Or just make a humming sound
To stop, click the stop button (the same button you clicked to start, now showing a square ⏹️ or saying "STOP").
🎉 Congratulations! You've just made your first recording!
What Just Happened?
When you clicked that red button, SeaMeet:
- Activated your microphone and started listening
- Converted your voice into a digital audio file
- Saved it automatically to your computer
- Added it to your recording list so you can find it easily
The whole process took less than a second. SeaMeet is designed to be instant—no waiting, no complicated setup.
Finding Your Recording
Now let's find and play back what you just recorded.
Look at the Sidebar (Left Side)
You should see your new recording appear in the list on the left side of the window. It will look something like:
📄 Microphone
0:05 • Just now
Audio recording from your microphone
What you're seeing:
- 📄 (or similar icon): Indicates it's an audio file
- Microphone: Tells you it came from your microphone
- 0:05: Shows the recording is 5 seconds long
- Just now: When it was recorded
Play Your Recording
- Click on the recording in the list to select it
- Look at the right side of the window (the player area)
- Click the play button ⏵ (triangle icon)
- You should hear your voice playing back!
The Player Controls:
- ⏵ Play: Start playing the recording
- ⏸️ Pause: Pause (click again to resume)
- ⏹️ Stop: Stop completely
- ⏮️ Previous: Skip to the start
- ⏭️ Next: Skip to the end
- 📍 Timeline: Click anywhere on the line to jump to that point
Understanding the Main SeaMeet Window
Now that you've made your first recording, let's explore the main parts of the window. Don't worry about memorizing everything—you'll learn more as you use SeaMeet.
The Window Layout
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ 1. TOP NAVIGATION BAR │
│ [SeaMeet Logo] [Settings ⚙️] [Flashback ⏪] [Record 🔴] │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │ │
│ 2. SIDEBAR │ 3. PLAYER / RECORDING AREA │
│ (Your Recording List) │ │
│ │ When not recording: │
│ • Recording 1 │ - Shows controls │
│ • Recording 2 │ - Source selection │
│ • Recording 3 │ │
│ • ... │ When recording: │
│ │ - Shows waveform │
│ [Search box] │ - Timer │
│ [Filter options] │ - Stop button │
│ │ │
│ │ When playing back: │
│ │ - Waveform display │
│ │ - Playback controls │
│ │ - Timeline │
│ │ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Part 1: Top Navigation Bar
This bar is always visible at the top:
⚙️ Settings (Gear Icon)
- Click this to open the settings menu
- Where you configure microphone, storage location, and preferences
- We'll cover this in detail in Part 6
⏪ Flashback Controls
- This is SeaMeet's special "time machine" feature
- Click to enable recording of the past (explained in Chapter 6)
- Shows status: Ready, Recording, or Off
🔴 Record Button
- The main button to start/stop recording
- Red circle = ready to record
- Square = currently recording (click to stop)
Part 2: The Sidebar (Recording List)
The left side shows all your recordings:
What You'll See:
- Recording name (e.g., "Microphone", "Zoom Meeting")
- Duration (how long the recording is)
- Timestamp (when it was recorded)
- Source label (where it came from)
Recording Card Example:
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ 🔴 │
│ Microphone │ ← Name/Label
│ 0:05 • 2 minutes ago │ ← Duration and time
│ Audio only │ ← Type
│ │
│ [Play] [Delete] [More...] │ ← Action buttons
└─────────────────────────────┘
Actions You Can Take:
- Click the card to select it
- Play button to listen
- Delete to remove it (be careful—this deletes the file!)
- More options (rename, reveal in folder, etc.)
Search & Filter:
- At the top of the sidebar, there's a search box
- Type to find specific recordings
- Filters help you find recordings by type or date
Part 3: Player / Recording Area
The right side changes depending on what you're doing:
When You're Not Recording: Shows recording controls:
- Audio source selection (microphone, system audio, or both)
- Microphone dropdown
- Quality settings
- Big red "Start Recording" button
When You're Recording: Shows active recording interface:
- Large waveform (visual representation of your audio)
- Timer showing elapsed time
- Stop button
- Pause button (if available)
When Playing Back: Shows playback controls:
- Waveform with a playhead (shows where you are in the recording)
- Play/Pause/Stop buttons
- Timeline scrubber
- Volume control
- Speed control (1x, 1.5x, 2x)
Different Views of the Interface
SeaMeet can show your recordings in different ways:
Compact View (Default)
Shows just the essential information:
- Recording name
- Duration
- Timestamp
- Quick play button
Best for: Quick browsing when you have many recordings
Expanded View
Shows more details:
- Larger waveform preview
- Full timeline
- More action buttons
- Source information
Best for: When you want to see details without fully opening the recording
How to Switch Views
Usually, you can:
- Click an arrow or "expand" button on a recording card
- Double-click a recording to open it fully
- Look for view toggle buttons in the sidebar header
Where Are Your Recordings Saved?
By default, SeaMeet saves your recordings to:
Windows:
C:\Users\YourName\Documents\SeaMeet Recordings\
Mac:
/Users/YourName/Documents/SeaMeet Recordings/
File Names: SeaMeet automatically names your files with the format:
Microphone_seameet_20260102143045.webm
- Microphone: The source of the recording
- seameet: Identifies it as a SeaMeet recording
- 20260102143045: Date and time (YearMonthDayHourMinuteSecond)
- .webm: The file format
Finding Your Files
Method 1: From SeaMeet
- Right-click (or Control-click on Mac) any recording
- Select "Reveal in Folder" or "Show in Finder"
- Your file explorer opens showing the file
Method 2: Browse Manually
- Open your Documents folder
- Look for "SeaMeet Recordings"
- Open that folder
Why This Location?
- Easy to find: Documents folder is standard and accessible
- Easy to back up: Most backup systems include Documents
- Safe: Not in system folders where it could be accidentally deleted
Want to change the location? See Chapter 15: Storage Settings
Your Recording Format (WebM)
Your first recording was saved as a WebM file. Here's what that means in simple terms:
Think of WebM like a special envelope that holds your audio (or video). It's:
- Modern: Designed for today's internet and computers
- Efficient: Same quality as other formats but smaller file size
- Compatible: Works with most modern players (including web browsers)
Why not MP3? MP3 is great for music, but WebM with Opus audio (what SeaMeet uses) is better for voice recordings:
- Smaller files for the same quality
- Better for speech and conversations
- Free and open format (no licensing fees)
Can I convert to other formats? Yes! You can:
- Use SeaMeet's export features (if available)
- Use free online converters
- Use tools like VLC Media Player
We'll explain formats in detail in Chapter 5.
Common Questions About Your First Recording
"I don't see my recording in the list!"
Possible causes:
- Recording was too short - Some versions don't save recordings shorter than 1 second
- Save location issue - Check your storage settings
- View filter - Make sure you're not filtering by a specific type
Solutions:
- Try recording for at least 3-5 seconds
- Check Settings → Storage to verify save location
- Clear any filters in the sidebar
"The recording sounds bad or is too quiet"
Try these fixes:
- Check microphone distance - Get closer to your microphone
- Adjust microphone gain - Go to Settings → Audio and increase the gain
- Test different microphones - If you have multiple mics, try another
- Reduce background noise - Close windows, turn off fans, etc.
"The file is bigger than I expected"
Audio recording sizes:
- 1 minute of audio ≈ 1-2 MB
- 1 hour of audio ≈ 60-120 MB
If files are too large:
- This is normal for high-quality recordings
- You can compress files later using other tools
- Consider if you need such high quality (SeaMeet uses excellent quality by default)
"I accidentally deleted my recording!"
Check the Recycle Bin/Trash:
- Deleted recordings go to your system trash first
- Look in Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac)
- Restore if found
If permanently deleted:
- Unfortunately, it cannot be recovered
- SeaMeet does not have a "cloud backup" or "recycle bin"
- This is why we recommend backing up important recordings
Tips for Your Next Recordings
Now that you've made your first recording, here are some tips for better results:
🎤 Microphone Tips
Distance matters:
- Too far: Quiet, echoey sound
- Too close: Distorted, "boomy" sound
- Just right: 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) from your mouth
Positioning:
- Point the microphone toward your mouth
- Not directly in front (causes "popping" sounds)
- Slightly to the side is often best
🔇 Minimizing Background Noise
Before recording:
- Close windows and doors
- Turn off fans and air conditioning temporarily
- Silence your phone
- Close unnecessary browser tabs (some make noise)
During recording:
- Try to stay in one position
- Avoid typing or clicking loudly
- Let others know you're recording
⏱️ Recording Length Tips
Short recordings (under 1 minute):
- Great for quick notes and reminders
- Easy to find and review
- Less storage space
Long recordings (30+ minutes):
- Good for meetings and lectures
- Consider breaking into smaller chunks for easier navigation
- Make sure you have enough storage space
What You've Learned
Congratulations! You now know how to:
✅ Open SeaMeet
✅ Start and stop a recording
✅ Find your recording in the list
✅ Play back your recording
✅ Navigate the main window
✅ Find where files are saved
Next Steps
Now you're ready to explore more features:
👉 Chapter 3: Audio Recording Explained
Learn about recording your microphone vs. computer sounds, and how to record both at once.
Or skip ahead to:
- Chapter 6: Flashback Recording (record the past!)
- Chapter 7: Auto-Detection (automatic meeting recording)
- Chapter 15: Change where your recordings are saved
Quick Reference Card
Keep this handy:
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ QUICK START GUIDE │
├────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1. Open SeaMeet │
│ 2. Click 🔴 RECORD button │
│ 3. Speak or make sounds │
│ 4. Click ⏹️ STOP when done │
│ 5. Find recording in left sidebar │
│ 6. Click ⏵ PLAY to listen │
├────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ FILES SAVED TO: │
│ Documents/SeaMeet Recordings/ │
├────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ FORMAT: WebM (small, high quality) │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
Last updated: 2026-02-01
Part of the SeaMeet User Manual
Previous: Chapter 1 - Welcome to SeaMeet
Next: Chapter 3 - Audio Recording Explained
Published: