Plaud Desktop transcribes and summarizes your recordings automatically. Use Auto generation for quick background processing, or Custom generation to set language and template options in Plaud Web.
What is Transcribe and summarize?
Plaud Desktop turns your recordings into a transcript and an AI summary. Auto generation processes the recording in the background with default settings, while Custom generation opens Plaud Web so you can choose the language, summary template, and other options before generating.
Before you start, make sure you are logged in to Plaud Desktop (and Plaud Web if you use Custom generation), the recording is uploaded and visible in your Files list, and you have a stable internet connection.
How to generate with Auto generation?
- Open Files in Plaud Desktop.
- Select the target recording to open its details page.
- Click Auto generation. The pop-up closes and generation runs in the background. Wait for completion. A notification may appear when it is done.
How to generate with Custom generation?
- Open Files in Plaud Desktop and select the target recording.
- Click Custom generation.
- Adjust the settings in Plaud Web. Your browser opens Plaud Web for this recording. Adjust the available settings, such as language, template, and other options shown on the page.
- Start generation, then review the Transcript and Summary in Plaud Web.
FAQ about transcription and summarization
What is the difference between Auto and Custom generation?
Auto generation processes your recording in the background with default settings, with no additional steps needed. Custom generation opens Plaud Web so you can choose a specific language, summary template, and other options before starting.
What languages does Plaud Desktop support for transcription?
With Auto generation, Plaud automatically detects the language. For specific language control, use Custom generation to select the language in Plaud Web.
Where can I see the transcript and summary after generation?
Once complete, the Transcript and Summary are accessible in Plaud Web. They are also synced across Plaud App and Plaud Web automatically.
I did not get a notification and cannot find the results. What should I do?
Open your Recordings list, select the recording, and check its status. If it shows Complete, the Transcript and Summary are available on the all files page in Plaud Web.
Can it label speakers so I know who said what?
Yes. Plaud transcription can add speaker labels to distinguish who said what in multi-speaker meetings. Labels identify distinct speakers (for example, Speaker 1, Speaker 2) and may not map to real names automatically. If your version supports it, you can rename or edit speaker labels in the transcript. Speaker labeling works best with clear audio. Overlapping speech, background noise, or low-volume speakers may reduce accuracy or merge speakers.
Can I customize terminology such as names, acronyms, and product terms?
Yes. Plaud supports Custom Vocabulary to improve transcription accuracy for specialized terms. You set it up in Plaud Web or the Plaud App under Settings > Custom Vocabulary; this option is not configured in Plaud Desktop. Add the preferred spellings for terms you want Plaud to recognize. Custom Vocabulary applies to future transcriptions for your account, including synced Desktop recordings once they are processed.
What kinds of summaries can I get?
Auto generation produces a summary from your recording with default settings. To choose a summary template, use Custom generation, which opens Plaud Web so you can pick the template before generating. Plaud can also produce a mind map view of the content. The full set of summary templates and options is available in Plaud Web, not in Plaud Desktop.
Can I ask questions about my meeting afterward?
Yes. After your meeting is transcribed, use Ask Plaud in Plaud Web or the Plaud App to ask questions and get answers grounded in your recording and transcript. Open the recording and its transcript, go to Ask Plaud, and type a question or pick a suggested prompt. Ask Plaud can extract action items, list decisions and their reasoning, surface open questions, and draft a follow-up email or message. Answers may include transcript references such as quoted snippets or timestamps, and you can search across all recordings in your account. Save any useful answer as a note to keep it with the meeting.
My meeting has a lot of jargon. How do I improve transcription accuracy?
Use Custom Vocabulary and a few setup checks. In Plaud Web, go to Settings > Custom Vocabulary and add names, acronyms, and product or industry terms, including multi-word phrases. Custom Vocabulary applies to future transcriptions for your account, including synced Desktop recordings once processed. Also confirm the correct Transcription Language is selected (one language per recording), use the correct mic and output device, reduce background noise, and avoid heavy cross-talk. If a term is still wrong, double-check the spelling, add common variants, and reprocess the transcript if your workflow supports it.