Char

What is Char?

Char is a local-first meeting notes app that records and transcribes meetings directly from system audio, without any bots joining calls. Notes are saved as plain Markdown files on your device, keeping your data fully under your control. You can run it entirely offline with local models, bring your own API keys for cloud LLMs, or use Char's managed cloud service — and switch between these modes at any time. Formerly known as Hyprnote, Char is open-source and built with Tauri and Rust for native desktop performance on macOS.

Key Features

• Bot-Free Audio Capture

  Captures system audio directly from your computer — no meeting bots, no calendar guests — so it works seamlessly across Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, phone calls, and in-person conversations.

• Local-First Transcription & Summaries

  Transcribes and summarizes meetings on-device by default. No data leaves your machine unless you explicitly opt into cloud features.

• Flexible AI Stack

  Run fully offline with local models (Ollama, LM Studio), bring your own API keys for Claude, Gemini, or GPT, or use Char's managed cloud — all switchable at any time without reinstalling or migrating data.

• Plain Markdown File Storage

  Every meeting is stored as a .md file you own. Open notes in Obsidian, Notion, VS Code, or any editor — no proprietary database, no vendor lock-in.

• Contextual AI Chat

  Query your entire meeting history in natural language — ask about past decisions, action items, or what a specific person said — before, during, or after a meeting.

• Open Source & Extensible

  Fully open-source with React extension support, shell automation hooks, REST API, and CLI access. Teams can self-host, inspect the code, and customize the stack.

Use Cases

• Privacy-Conscious Professionals : Individuals and teams in regulated industries can capture meeting notes without sending audio to third-party servers, satisfying compliance requirements or internal data policies.
• Remote & Hybrid Teams : Teams using Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams can automatically generate structured meeting summaries without deploying intrusive bots that appear as call participants.
• Sales & Client-Facing Teams : Sales professionals can maintain searchable notes and contact context across every client conversation, making follow-ups faster and more informed.
• Developers & Technical Teams : Developer teams can self-host Char, extend it via API or shell hooks, and integrate meeting notes into existing local toolchains like Obsidian or VS Code.
• Researchers & Knowledge Workers : Researchers can upload existing audio recordings or transcripts and turn them into a searchable, AI-queryable knowledge base linked to contacts and prior conversations.

FAQs