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Quick Start

Quick Start: 4 Steps

Step 1: Test Your Headset (2 minutes)

⚠️ DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP

Many people grab an old headset from a drawer that doesn't work with their phone. Test it FIRST before connecting RECAP.

How to test:

  1. Plug headset directly into your phone (no RECAP)
  2. Make a test call to a friend or voicemail
  3. Check:
  4. ✅ Can you hear them clearly?
  5. ✅ Can they hear you clearly?

Results:

  • ✅ Both YES → The direct-call audio check passed. Confirm the wired headset mic is active using the mic-routing check, then continue to Step 2.
  • ❌ Either NO → Check headset connections, the phone adapter and app routing before adding RECAP; this result alone does not identify which part needs attention.

Why this matters: If your headset doesn't work with your phone directly, RECAP cannot fix it.

"They can hear me, but they say I sound muffled or distant." That usually means there's no microphone on the headset cable, or the adapter isn't carrying the mic channel — see Callers Say I Sound Muffled or Distant. Sort this out before adding RECAP; RECAP can't improve what the phone is already sending.

Step 2: Pass-Through Test (2 minutes)

⚠️ You DON'T need your computer for this test

This checks the headset playback path through RECAP before connecting the separate recording device (REC). The recording channels remain untested.

Make the connections:

Phone ──→ RECAP ──→ Headset

Connection details:

  1. Plug your headset into RECAP's headset jack
  2. Plug RECAP into your phone's headphone jack (or Lightning/USB-C adapter)
  3. Don't connect to computer yet

⚠️ Connection order matters. Always connect the headset to RECAP before plugging RECAP into your phone. When a Lightning or USB-C adapter is plugged in, your phone immediately decides how to route audio. If the headset isn't already in the chain, the phone may not recognize it as a headset setup — causing audio to route to the speaker instead. See Connection Order troubleshooting for details.

Pass-through test:

  1. Make a test call on your phone
  2. Can you hear the call clearly in your headset?

Results:

  • ✅ YES → The headset playback path passed this test. The recording channels remain untested; continue to Step 3.
  • ❌ NO → Compare with the direct-headset baseline in Step 1, then check connections, adapter and app routing. This does not identify a cause; contact support if it remains unresolved.

Step 3: Check Computer Compatibility (1 minute)

⚠️ BEFORE plugging RECAP into computer, check compatibility

Run the device scanner:

👉 https://recapmycalls.com/audio/

This free browser tool scans your computer's audio inputs.

What you'll see:

  • "STEREO input detected (2 channels)" → The selected capture path reports two channels. Continue to Step 4 and verify independent two-sided capture; the scan alone does not prove the complete setup works.
  • "MONO input detected (1 channel)" → Check that the intended physical external input and stereo recording mode are selected. A mono capture cannot preserve S2's separate channels.

If the intended input is confirmed to lack stereo MIC capture, use another supported input or a suitable stereo microphone interface. Computer brand/age and scanner channel count alone establish neither a unit defect nor its absence. Follow the compatibility checklist and two-sided test.

Take a screenshot of the scanner results - helpful if you need support later.

Step 4: Connect to Computer & Record (2 minutes)

NOW connect to your computer:

Phone ──→ RECAP ──→ Headset
            │
            └──→ Computer MIC IN (or USB Adapter)

Connection:

  • Use included cable to connect RECAP's MIC output to:
  • If STEREO input: Computer's MIC IN port (pink or mic icon)
  • If MONO input: USB adapter's MIC IN jack → USB adapter → Computer USB port

⚠️ Must be MIC IN (not LINE IN)

⚠️ Unplug from the phone first, then rebuild with the phone LAST. Don't add the recording cable to a chain that's already plugged into your phone — that's the connection order problem again. Disconnect from the phone, connect headset → RECAP → recording cable, then plug into the phone last. See Connection Order troubleshooting.

Open recording software:

Windows:

  • Press Windows key, type "sound recorder", press Enter
  • Click "Start Recording" button

Mac:

  • Open QuickTime Player
  • File → New Audio Recording
  • Click dropdown next to record button → Select "External Microphone"
  • Click red record button

Make a two-sided test recording:

Follow the setup and two-sided test, including app routing and a phrase from each participant. Verify both voices at useful levels on separate recorded channels before relying on the setup.

Problems?

🎉 That's it! You're ready to record calls.

After first-time setup, it's plug-and-play. Just connect everything and hit record.