Microphone, playback, and system audio
Choose a microphone, configure recording chimes, and control whether Whisperstream leaves, lowers, or mutes the active Windows output while recording.
Choose a microphone
Open Audio to choose the input device Whisperstream records and to control what you hear during a recording.
| Input choice | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Use system default | Follows the microphone currently selected as the Windows default input. This is the new-install default. |
| Named microphone | Keeps Whisperstream on that device while it is available. If it cannot be found or opened, Whisperstream uses the Windows default input. |
Selecting a microphone in Whisperstream does not change the Windows default for other apps. Choose Use system default if you regularly switch headsets in Windows. Choose a named microphone when you want Whisperstream to keep using one device.
To confirm the selection, make a short recording and review the completed transcript. If the result is empty or unclear, check that the intended microphone is connected and working in Windows, then try another input.
If no inputs appear, allow microphone access for desktop apps in Windows privacy settings and reconnect the device. Then select Quit from the Whisperstream tray menu and start Whisperstream again.
Choose where audio plays
Recording chimes use the Windows default output that was active when chime playback started, normally when Whisperstream launched. To use another speaker or headset, change the Windows default output. If the chimes continue playing through the previous device, select Quit from the Whisperstream tray menu and start Whisperstream again.
Input and output are separate. Selecting a microphone in Whisperstream does not select where chimes or other Windows audio play.
Spoken Claude Code responses check the current Windows default output before each response. For their separate voice controls, see Agent Speak and the Claude Code plugin.
Configure recording chimes
Recording Chime plays one sound when recording starts and another when it stops. It is on by default and helps confirm the recording boundary when the Whisperstream window is hidden.
Use Chime Volume to set the chimes from 0 to 100 percent. The starting value is 100 percent. Your Windows output volume also affects what you hear. Turn Recording Chime off when audible cues would be disruptive.
Control other audio while recording
Use Audio While Recording to choose what happens to other Windows playback during a dictation.
| Setting | During recording |
|---|---|
| None | Leaves other audio unchanged. This is the new-install default. |
| Lower | Reduces the active Windows output to 20 percent of its previous level. |
| Mute | Mutes the active Windows output. |
Whisperstream restores the previous volume and mute state when recording ends. Choose Lower when you still need to hear a call or media. Choose Mute when playback should be silent for the entire recording.
Test Lower or Mute with the headset and calling software you plan to use. If other audio remains quiet after recording, restore the Windows volume or mute state manually. If the problem repeats, use the support actions in App basics and updates.