⌘⇧R
Start with a shortcut.
Record your microphone and Mac audio with a click or ⌘ ⇧ R. You choose when recording starts and stops.
Your invisible
AI note-taker.
No meeting bot. No floating recording pill. Whale records quietly in the background, then turns your conversations into transcripts, summaries, and next steps.
Download for MacBring your own OpenAI API key. First-time setup ↗
↗ No bot joining your call⌘ No floating recording pill◎ Records with the window closed
MEETING NOTES, AUTOMATICALLY
Transcripts, decisions, and action items.Preview your meeting notes
WhaleIllustrative preview
Launch planning
The team agreed to focus the first release on core features, improve onboarding, and invite five testers.
Decisions
Start with the essentials. Save shared workspaces for a later release.
Action items
Refine the first-run experienceMaya · Before Friday
Share the app with five testersAlex · Next week
Open questions
What would make someone come back for their second meeting?
A sample of the conversation behind the notes.
Maya
Let's keep the first release focused on the essentials. We can come back to shared workspaces later.
Maya
I'll refine the first-run experience before Friday, so it's easier to get started.
Alex
I can share the app with five testers next week. I'd love to hear what brings them back for a second meeting.
Review the summary or read the full transcript.
HOW IT WORKS
Record. Transcribe.
Review.
Start recording. Close the window. Stay in the conversation.
Your notes will be there after the meeting.
Close the window. Keep talking.
Whale records in the background, even with its window closed. Local echo reduction helps clean up speaker bleed afterward.
Review your meeting notes.
After the meeting, get a speaker-labeled transcript, decisions, action items, and open questions. Search or export your notes.
LOCAL STORAGE
Your meetings.
Saved on your Mac.
Your recordings and notes are saved in a searchable library on your Mac. You can use Whale without creating an account.
How your data is handledSaved locally
Your meeting library and original recordings stay on your Mac until you delete them.
AI, with your own key
Transcription sends audio to OpenAI. Summaries send transcript text. You use your own API key, stored in macOS Keychain.
Less echo. Originals kept.
Echo reduction runs on your Mac before transcription. It saves a cleaned copy and keeps the original audio.
INSTALLATION
Set up Whale.
Install the app and configure recording and AI processing.
Download Whale for freeInstall the app.
Open the DMG and drag Whale into Applications.
Open Whale on your Mac.
Whale isn't notarized by Apple. If macOS blocks the app, try opening it, then go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway. Apple's guide ↗
Add your API key and permissions.
Add your OpenAI API key in Settings for transcripts and summaries. Allow microphone and system audio access when prompted. You're ready to record.
FAQs
Common questions.
Is Whale really free?
Whale is free to download and use, and always will be. AI processing requires your own OpenAI API key, and OpenAI charges your account for that usage. Recording itself doesn't require a key.
Which Macs does it work on?
This download supports Apple Silicon Macs (M-series chips) running macOS 15 or later. It doesn't include an Intel build. Check your Mac under Apple menu → About This Mac.
What does “invisible” mean?
Whale doesn't add a meeting bot or floating recording pill. Recording continues with its window closed. macOS recording indicators remain visible, and an open Whale window can appear when sharing your screen.
Does a bot join my meeting?
No. Whale records your microphone and your Mac's audio locally. It doesn't join the call as another participant. macOS recording indicators remain visible. Let other participants know you're recording.
Is everything processed on my Mac?
Recording, storage, and echo reduction happen on your Mac. Transcription uploads audio to OpenAI, and summaries send transcript content to OpenAI using your API key. The app doesn't offer a fully offline transcription mode.
Can I use it with my usual meeting app?
Whale captures system audio rather than relying on a meeting-app integration. It records all Mac audio except its own output, so pause unrelated audio before recording. Try a short test call with your setup first.
Can I take my notes with me?
Yes. Export your notes as Markdown, search your meeting library, and open the saved audio in Finder. Original recordings are kept alongside derived audio until you delete the meeting.
GET WHALE
AI meeting notes.
Without the meeting bot.
Download for Mac Your OpenAI API usage is billed separately. Installation guide