Introduction

Microsoft Teams is a popular communication and collaboration platform that allows users to chat, video conference, and share files with their colleagues. One handy feature of Teams is the ability to record calls and meetings, which can be useful for a number of reasons. Maybe you need to review a conversation for accuracy, or perhaps you want to share the call with someone who wasn't able to attend. Whatever the reason, it's easy to record Teams calls and we'll show you how.

Setting Up Your Teams Account

Before you can start recording Teams calls, you'll need to make sure your account is properly set up. This includes ensuring that you have the necessary permissions to record calls and that your device is compatible with the Teams recording feature.

To check your permissions, click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the Teams app and select "Settings." From there, go to the "General" tab and look for the "Meeting Recordings" section. Make sure that the "Allow attendees to record meetings" toggle is turned on.

As for device compatibility, Teams can be used on a variety of devices including Windows and Mac computers, as well as iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. Just make sure that you have a reliable internet connection and a microphone and camera (if you want to record video calls).

Starting a Recording

Once you've ensured that your account is set up properly and you have the necessary permissions, it's time to start recording your Teams call. Here's how to do it:

1. Start a Teams call with the people you want to record.

2. During the call, click on the "More options" (three dots) button in the top right corner of the screen.

3. From the dropdown menu, select "Start recording."

4. A notification will appear to confirm that the recording has started.

5. It's worth noting that the person who initiates the recording is the only one who can stop it. This means that if you start the recording, you'll need to stop it when the call is finished.

Stopping a Recording

To stop a Teams recording, simply click on the "More options" (three dots) button in the top right corner of the screen and select "Stop recording." A notification will appear to confirm that the recording has stopped.

Once the recording is stopped, it will be automatically saved to the "Recordings" folder in your Teams app. You can access this folder by clicking on the "Files" tab on the left side of the app and selecting "Recordings."

Sharing a Recording

If you want to share a recording with someone who wasn't on the call, it's easy to do so. Simply go to the "Recordings" folder in your Teams app and click on the recording you want to share. From there, you can select the "Share" button in the top right corner of the screen and choose how you want to share the recording (e.g., via email, OneDrive, etc.).

It's worth noting that you can only share recordings with people who have a Teams account. If you want to share a recording with someone who doesn't have an account, you'll need to download the recording and share it with them using a different method (e.g., emailing them the file).

Editing a Recording

Sometimes you may want to edit a Teams recording before sharing it with others. Maybe you want to remove a portion of the recording that's not relevant, or perhaps you want to add annotations or notes to help clarify certain points.

One way to edit a Teams recording is to use the built-in editor in the app. To access the editor, simply go to the "Recordings" folder in your Teams app and click on the recording you want to edit. From there, you can use the "Edit" button in the top right corner of the screen to open the editor.

The editor allows you to trim the beginning and end of the recording, as well as split the recording into multiple segments. You can also add annotations and notes to help clarify certain points. Once you're finished editing, you can save the recording and share it with others as described above.

Exporting a Recording

In addition to editing recordings within the Teams app, you can also export them as standalone files. This can be useful if you want to share the recording with someone who doesn't have a Teams account, or if you want to edit the recording using a third-party tool.

To export a Teams recording, go to the "Recordings" folder in your app and click on the recording you want to export. From there, click on the "Export" button in the top right corner of the screen and choose the format you want to export the recording in (e.g., MP4, MP3, etc.). You can then save the exported file to your computer or share it with others using a different method.

Best Practices for Recording Teams Calls

While recording Teams calls can be useful in a variety of situations, it's important to follow some best practices to ensure that you're doing so in a respectful and professional manner. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Obtain consent: Before starting a recording, it's important to make sure that all participants are aware that the call is being recorded. This can be done by announcing it at the beginning of the call or sending a notification beforehand.

• Protect sensitive information: If you're recording a call that contains sensitive or confidential information, be sure to take appropriate measures to protect that information. This may include using encryption or password-protecting the recording.

• Use recordings responsibly: Remember that recordings can be shared and may be used in ways that you didn't anticipate. Use recordings responsibly and only share them with people who have a legitimate need to see them.

Choosing a Recording Tool

There are many different tools available for recording team calls, each with their own set of features and pricing plans. Some common options include:

• Zoom: Zoom is a popular video conferencing platform that offers native recording capabilities. You can record both audio and video, and the recordings are automatically saved to the cloud for easy access.

• Google Meet: Like Zoom, Google Meet allows you to record audio and video calls and save them to the cloud for later access.

• Skype: Skype also offers native recording capabilities, allowing you to record both audio and video calls and save them to your computer or the cloud.

Recording Techniques

There are a few different techniques you can use to record team calls, depending on the type of call and the tools you have available. Some options include:

• Record on the host's device: Many recording tools allow the host of the call to start and stop the recording, which is then saved to the cloud or the host's device.

• Use a screen recording tool: If you want to capture both the audio and visual aspects of the call, you can use a screen recording tool like QuickTime Player (on Mac) or OBS (on Windows) to record the call as it appears on your screen.

• Use a separate recording device: If you have access to a separate audio recording device, you can use it to capture the audio from the call. This can be a useful option if you want to focus specifically on the audio and don't need to capture any visual elements.

Tips for Successful Recordings

To ensure that your recordings are successful, there are a few tips you should keep in mind:

• Test your recording setup before the call: Make sure that your recording tool is set up and working properly before the call begins. This will help ensure that you don't miss any important information due to technical issues.

• Use a high-quality microphone: Using a high-quality microphone will help ensure that the audio in your recording is clear and easy to understand.

• Avoid distractions: Try to minimize distractions during the call, such as background noise or multitasking on other tasks. This will help ensure that the focus stays on the discussion at hand.

• Edit the recording if necessary: If you need to remove any sensitive information or unnecessary content from the recording, you can use a video editing tool to do so.

Legal Considerations

It's important to keep in mind that in some countries, there are laws governing the recording of conversations. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the laws in your jurisdiction and obtain the necessary consent before recording any calls.

Conclusion

Recording Teams calls can be a useful tool for personal or professional use, but it's important to do so in a respectful and professional manner. By following the steps outlined in this blog post and adhering to best practices, you can easily record, edit, and share Teams calls with others.

How Hume Can Help

If you're looking for a more advanced solution for recording and transcribing Teams calls, Hume is a powerful tool to consider. Hume is an interview intelligence platform that not only records and transcribes calls, but also summarizes the content of the call to help you unlock key insights and move faster.

Some of the ways Hume can help with recording and transcribing Teams calls include:

• Automated transcription: Hume uses advanced machine learning algorithms to transcribe your Teams calls in real-time, so you don't have to worry about manually transcribing the call yourself.

• Summary generation: Hume not only transcribes your calls, but also generates a summary of the key points discussed during the call. This can be especially useful if you need to review the call quickly or share it with others who may not have the time to listen to the entire recording.

• Interview training: Hume can also help you improve your interview skills by providing feedback on your performance during the call. This can be particularly useful if you're looking to improve your communication and collaboration skills as a team.

Overall, Hume is a powerful tool that can help you get more out of your Teams calls and unlock valuable insights to help you make better hiring decisions.