The Plaud Note represents a new generation of voice recorders, combining traditional recording capabilities with ChatGPT-powered intelligence. This innovative approach promises to transform how we capture and process spoken information.

Design

The app features a minimalist, intuitive interface that prioritizes quick access to recording functions. The main screen presents a prominent record button with clear visual feedback, while AI features are thoughtfully integrated without overwhelming the core recording experience.

Navigation follows a logical hierarchy, with recordings, transcripts, and AI analyses easily accessible through a bottom tab bar. The dark and light themes adapt well to system settings, and the interface remains responsive even during intensive AI processing.

The device itself is a very thin gadget that reminds me of those MagSafe charging batteries like the Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack if it starved for a few weeks in the desert. The Plaud Note is super thin, and comes with a little MagSafe wallet size pouch so it’s always ready to record.

It only has two controls, one button to stop and start and and mode button. It also comes with a ring if your mobile is not an iPhone with MagSafe, and a USB-A to USB-C adapter.

Features

• High-quality audio recording
• Real-time transcription
• ChatGPT integration
• Multiple recording formats
• Customizable AI prompts
• Cloud backup
• Offline recording capability
• Share and export options
• Folder organization
• Bookmark important moments
• Background noise reduction
• Multiple language support

Recording Performance

The app delivers excellent recording quality, with options for different audio formats and quality levels. Background noise reduction works effectively, helping to isolate voices in noisy environments. You can also work with the gain, to make sure it captures the environment correctly and clearly. The ability to bookmark important moments during recording proves invaluable for later reference.

Audio Quality

Recording options include:

• High-quality WAV (48kHz/24-bit)
• Compressed MP3 (various bitrates)
• Optimized voice recording mode
• Adjustable gain control

The app handles sudden volume changes well, and the automatic gain control helps maintain consistent levels without introducing obvious artifacts.

AI Integration

ChatGPT integration sets Plaud Note apart from traditional voice recorders. The AI capabilities extend beyond simple transcription to provide intelligent analysis and organization of recorded content.

Transcription Accuracy

The transcription engine shows impressive accuracy, particularly with clear speech in quiet environments. Multiple language support works well, though accuracy varies somewhat between languages. Real-time transcription allows for immediate review and correction.

Here is a sample of a transcription when you export it as text including the name of the speakers:

Alex 00:10:05
Yes, I spoke with somebody from your department on Monday, not yesterday, but the week before, and they asked me for
my original invoice, which I sent, and they said they'll call me back the next day, but I never heard back.
It's been like a week and a month, a week and a day.

LG Rep 00:10:20
Oh, I see. My apologies, sir. Yeah, I can send that one if you want.

Alex 00:10:25
Sure.

LG Rep 00:10:26
I hope you have your phone number. Let me check with them.

And the audio that goes with it:

Here is an example of once I processed the recordings with ChatGPT.

As you can read and here, the recording is quite good with the default settings in a quite home office scenario. You can adjust the gain on the microphone, and if you want, you could even process the audio with audio processing tools to make it sound even better. This is basically raw audio that I trimmed off a long conversation.

And finally, you can use multiple templates and get different kind of output based on the templates. Here is one call as if it was a meeting and we asked ChatGPT to provide next steps and TODOs for each party involved.

AI Analysis Features

The ChatGPT integration enables:

• Meeting summaries
• Action item extraction
• Key point identification
• Question answering about content
• Topic categorization
• Sentiment analysis
• Follow-up suggestion generation
• and more!

Real-World Use

In daily use, Plaud Note proves particularly valuable for:

Meeting Documentation

• Automatic meeting summaries
• Action item extraction
• Participant dialogue separation
• Follow-up task generation

Personal Note Taking

• Quick idea capture
• Thought organization
• Content summarization
• Topic linking

Content Creation

• Interview transcription
• Content outline generation
• Quote extraction
• Topic research

Performance

The app maintains reliable performance across different usage scenarios. Recording continues smoothly in the background, and the AI features process efficiently when internet connection is available. Offline recording ensures functionality when connectivity is limited, though AI features require internet access.

I’ve had numerous issue with uploading the file to be processed by AI, and these are not necessarily large files. Sometimes 1 or 2 minutes. I had to try a second or third time to get it through. I’ll pin this one on ChatGPT, as their API is often unreliable.

Value Proposition

Plaud Note offers different subscription tiers:

• Starter: Basic recording and transcription (300 minutes per month)
• Pro: Full AI features, templates and cloud storage (1,200 minutes per month)

The Starter plan is free and comes with your Plaud Note, and then you can add a monthly plan (17.99 $CA) or a yearly plan (99.00 $CA, saving you 54% off the monthly plan!) You can also add minutes to your plan at the following prices:

• 120 minutes for 3.99 $CA
• 600 mins for 12.90 $CA
• 3,000 mins for 69.00 $CA
• 6,000 mins for 119.00 $CA

The subscription model, while necessary for some AI features, may deter casual users. However, for professionals who regularly record meetings or content creators who need intelligent processing of recorded content, the premium features justify the investment.

Conclusion

Plaud Note successfully combines traditional voice recording with powerful AI capabilities. The integration of ChatGPT proves genuinely useful rather than gimmicky, offering practical benefits for various use cases. While the subscription requirement for AI features may limit its appeal for casual users, the value proposition is strong for professionals who regularly work with recorded content.

The app’s strengths in both basic recording functionality and advanced AI features make it a versatile tool. The clean interface and thoughtful feature implementation demonstrate an understanding of user needs, while the AI capabilities provide genuine productivity enhancements.

For users seeking more than just basic voice recording, Plaud Note offers a compelling package that can significantly streamline the process of capturing and processing spoken content. The combination of reliable recording capabilities and intelligent processing features makes it a standout choice in the increasingly crowded space of AI-enhanced productivity tools.

Review Summary

Plaud NotePlaud

An AI-powered voice recorder that combines recording capabilities with ChatGPT integration for intelligent transcription and analysis.

Plaud Note

The Good Stuff

• Seamless ChatGPT integration
• High-quality audio recording
• Excellent transcription accuracy
• Clean, intuitive interface
• Real-time AI analysis
• Offline recording capability

The Bad Stuff

• Subscription required for some AI features
• ChatGPT connection delays
• Requires internet for AI features

The Ratings

Design

100%

Features

100%

Performance

80%

Accuracy

90%

Value

90%

Overall: 92%

Disclaimers: This product or service was provided by the company or partner for the purpose of this review.
For more information on how we score products, please read how we review products.

Arlo Essential XL 2nd Gen: Battery Life That Actually Lasts [Review]

Nomad Universal Cable Review: One Cable to Rule Them All [Review]

Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch [Review]

• More Reviews

If you have feedback, a product review request to make or simply a news tip, you can reach us here.

• hello@hipsterpixel.co
• @hipsterpixel