Alice FAQs

Alice is a highly private and secure recording and transcription app designed for professionals handling confidential interviews and sensitive conversations. Built with privacy-first principles, Alice automatically transcribes your conversations while ensuring your data remains protected and under your control. Perfect for journalists with exclusive sources, researchers working with sensitive subjects, and professionals who need both accurate records and ironclad confidentiality.

Key benefits:

• Record and transcribe interviews with complete privacy (we don't even require your real name)
• Keep your data secure with no tracking, no social integrations, and no data selling
• Access your files instantly through secure email delivery
• Use discreet gestures to control recording without drawing attention
• Mark important moments with bookmarks for easy reference
• Get clean, accurate transcripts ready for your workflow
• Maintain confidentiality with automatic file deletion options

Start with 60 free minutes to try Alice! You can use Alice in two ways:

Option 1: iOS App (recommended for mobile recording)

1. Download Alice from the App Store (iOS only)
2. Sign up with your email address (any email works - we don't require verification)
3. Start using your 60 free transcription minutes
4. Begin recording your interviews

The iOS app is perfect for:

• Recording in-person interviews
• On-the-go recording
• Discreet recording with gesture controls
• Adding bookmarks during interviews

Option 2: Web Application (aliceapp.ai)

1. Visit aliceapp.ai
2. Sign up with your email address
3. Start using your 60 free transcription minutes
4. Choose how you want to record:
5. • Use our web recorder for browser-based recording
   • Upload existing audio/video files for transcription

The web app is ideal for:

• Transcribing existing recordings
• Recording from your computer
• Uploading and managing multiple files
• Accessing your complete recording & transcription history

Need more minutes? You can purchase additional transcription time anytime through the web application at aliceapp.ai/pricing. Both options automatically deliver your recordings and transcripts to your email. No complex setup needed - just sign up and start recording.

Alice excels at transcribing multiple accents and dialects within each language. This is especially valuable for journalists conducting international interviews or conversations where speakers may have different accents (like Australian, British, or American English speakers in the same recording).

Alice currently transcribes these languages:

• English (excellent handling of international accents including British, Australian, American, Canadian, and Indian English)
• Dutch
• Finnish
• French
• German
• Hindi
• Italian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Ukrainian
• Vietnamese

Note: Alice transcribes within each language but does not translate between languages. For example, it will transcribe English speakers with Australian accents talking to English speakers with British accents, but it won't translate a Spanish conversation into English.

The app automatically detects the spoken language and optimizes transcription accordingly, handling different accents and dialects with high accuracy.

Alice starts with 60 free minutes for all new users. After that, we use a simple pay-as-you-go model:

• Cost ranges from 3-8 cents per transcribed minute depending on your package
• No subscription required - you only pay for what you use
• Transcription minutes never expire
• Bulk purchases available for teams
• Receipts provided for easy expense reporting

Common Questions About Pricing:

Do you offer subscriptions? We've chosen a pay-as-you-go model instead of subscriptions because most of our users have varying transcription needs from month to month. This way, you never pay for minutes you don't use.

What about enterprise or high-volume usage? If you have significant transcription needs or require an enterprise solution, please contact us at alice@aliceapp.ai. We'll work to understand your specific requirements and can create a custom plan that fits your organization.

Can I share minutes with my team? Yes! You can purchase minutes in bulk and distribute them among team members. Just visit the settings page on aliceapp.ai to manage team sharing.

You can purchase additional minutes anytime through the web application at aliceapp.ai. There are no hidden fees or recurring charges, and all purchases include:

• Secure storage of your recordings
• Automatic email delivery of transcripts
• Access to both web and iOS apps
• Team sharing capabilities
• Full export options for your files

How do I record an interview?

On iPhone:

1. Open the Alice app
2. Tap the record button
3. Add a title for your recording (optional)
4. Start your interview
5. Swipe down anywhere on the screen to pause
6. Swipe up to resume
7. Double-tap to add a bookmark at important moments
8. Swipe right to finish recording

On Web Browser:

1. Log in to aliceapp.ai
2. Click the "Record" button
3. Allow microphone access when prompted
4. Add a title for your recording (optional)
5. Click to start recording
6. Use on-screen controls to pause/resume
7. Click finish when done

Your recording and transcript will be automatically delivered to your email once complete.

Why does Alice use swipe gestures instead of buttons?

We designed Alice to be as unobtrusive as possible during interviews. Swipe gestures mean you can:

• Control recording without looking at your phone
• Stay focused on your conversation
• Avoid distracting your interview subject
• Operate the app while walking or driving safely
• Discretely pause/resume when needed

How do I mark important moments in my recording?

Double-tap anywhere on the screen during recording to add a bookmark. Bookmarks appear in your transcript as -!- symbols, making it easy to:

• Find key quotes quickly
• Mark follow-up questions
• Note significant moments
• Navigate long interviews efficiently

You can find bookmarked sections easily in your email transcript or on the web player.

Can I record from multiple speakers or channels?

Yes! Alice handles different recording scenarios:

• Single-speaker recordings
• Multi-person interviews
• Dual-channel recordings (speakers on separate channels)
• Group conversations

For clearest results with multiple speakers:

• Position your device centrally when possible
• Consider using dual-channel recording for important interviews
• Mention speaker changes in your bookmarks for easier reference

What happens if my recording is interrupted?

Alice protects your recordings if interruptions occur:

• Phone calls: Alice automatically pauses and saves your progress
• Battery dies: Everything until that point is safely stored
• App closes: Your recording is preserved up to the interruption
• Internet issues: Recording continues offline and syncs when connected

All recordings are saved locally on your iPhone, even if they don't make it to our servers. If you don't receive your transcript via email, you can always:

1. Go to Settings in the Alice app
2. Scroll down to find the "Export All" option
3. Export your recordings
4. Upload the saved recording through the Alice web application or app to get your transcript

This ensures you never lose an important interview, even if there are connectivity issues or server problems.

What audio quality can I expect?

Alice optimizes your recording for transcription while maintaining high audio quality:

• Clear audio playback suitable for broadcast/podcast use
• Optimized file sizes for easy sharing
• Background noise reduction
• Multiple audio formats available (MP3, lossless)
• Support for high-quality audio inputs

To ensure the best quality:

• Position your device within 2-3 feet of speakers when possible
• Use the swipe-to-pause feature in very noisy environments
• Consider dual-channel recording for professional interviews

How does Alice protect my recordings?

Alice uses multiple layers of protection to ensure your recordings are safe:

Local Storage on iPhone:

• Every recording is saved securely on your device
• Recordings remain available even without internet connection
• Access your recordings anytime through the app

Backup and Recovery: If a recording doesn't automatically upload to our servers:

1. Open Settings in the Alice app
2. Scroll down to find "Export All"
3. Export your recordings to your device
4. Upload the file through Alice web application or app for transcription

This redundant storage system ensures you always have access to your important interviews, even in cases of technical difficulties or connectivity issues.

How should I manage transcription settings?

Best Practice Recommendation: Keep the "Transcribe" setting turned ON by default. If you occasionally don't need a transcript, you can unselect transcription for specific recordings or uploads. Here's why:

• Once a file is uploaded or recorded without requesting transcription, you cannot get a transcript later*
• To get a transcript for a non-transcribed file, you would need to upload it again as a new file
• This approach ensures you don't miss getting transcripts for important recordings

*Coming in 2025: The ability to request transcripts after recording or file upload.

How can I ensure the best transcript quality?

For optimal results:

• Position your device close to speakers
• Use dual-channel recording for important interviews
• Add bookmarks to mark speaker changes or key moments
• Consider background noise when choosing recording locations

How quickly will I get my transcript?

Transcription time depends on recording length:

• Example: 60-minute recording typically less than 5 minutes
• Email notification sent when your transcript is ready
• Both audio file and transcript delivered together

Where can I find my recordings and transcripts?

Your files are automatically:

• Delivered to your email
• Available in the web application (aliceapp.ai)
• Accessible in the Alice iOS app
• Synchronized with Google Drive (if enabled)

Can I edit my transcript?

Current Options (December 2024):

• Download your transcript in your preferred format (DOCX, RTF, TXT, PDF)
• Make edits using your preferred word processor or text editor
• The original transcript is always preserved in your account for reference

Coming This Month (December 2024):

• Built-in transcript editor directly in the Alice web application
• Edit speaker names, text, and formatting
• Save both original and edited versions

How do I customize transcript appearance?

Current Options:

• View transcripts without speaker names or timestamps using the web application viewer
• For downloads: Use Word or TXT format and edit speaker names and timestamps as needed in your preferred editor
• Bookmarks (-!-) are preserved in all formats

Coming in 2025:

• Custom transcript templates
• Saved format preferences
• More formatting controls

What formats are available for my transcripts?

Your transcripts are available in multiple formats:

• Microsoft Word (DOCX)
• Rich Text Format (RTF)
• Plain Text (TXT)
• PDF
• Direct in your email
• Through the web interface with integrated media player

All formats preserve your bookmarks (-!-) for easy reference.

How do I share transcripts with colleagues?

You're in complete control of who can access your transcripts. Alice keeps your content private and never shares with third parties. Here are your sharing options:

Email CC:

• Add colleague email addresses in Settings
• These contacts will automatically receive copies of your recordings and transcripts
• You can update your CC list anytime

Shareable Links (Web Application Only):

• Generate a secure sharing link from any transcript page on aliceapp.ai
• Share the link with specific colleagues
• Note: This feature is only available through the web application, not the mobile app

Coming in 2025:

• In-app sharing with other Alice users
• Granular sharing permissions
• Team collaboration features

Remember: Your recordings and transcripts are private by default. Only you and the email addresses you specifically designate will have access to your content.

How do I send my recordings and transcripts to other tools?

Alice integrates with popular productivity tools while keeping you in control of your data. Nothing is shared automatically until you choose to connect and activate an integration.

Available Integrations:

• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• Notion
• [List other available integrations]

How to Set Up:

1. Go to Settings in your Alice account
2. Find the Integrations section
3. Choose the service you want to connect
4. Authorize the connection
5. Your future recordings and transcripts will automatically be sent to your connected service

Important Privacy Note:

• Integrations are completely optional
• You must explicitly activate each integration
• You can disconnect any integration at any time
• Alice never automatically shares your content without your permission

Alice is built with privacy at its core. We:

• Only require an email address - which can be temporary or disposable
• Never collect unnecessary personal information
• Never sell or share your data with third parties
• Don't use social media tracking or analytics tools
• Don't require any personal identifiers
• Process and store your data securely
• Delete processed data immediately after transcription
• Maintain strict control over all data handling
• Allow you to maintain complete anonymity if desired

Unlike most services that only "soft-delete" (marking files as deleted but keeping them stored), Alice performs true "hard-deletion":

• Files are permanently erased from storage disks and databases
• Deleted content cannot be recovered
• You can set automatic deletion periods (1 day, 7 days, or 30 days)
• You always control when your content is deleted

We use enterprise-grade security:

• All data is encrypted in transit and at rest
• We use the same (or better) SSL technology as banks
• Server-to-server communication is encrypted
• Storage servers are locked down with strict access controls
• You can enable additional security features like auto-deletion

Your content is private by default:

• Only you and people you explicitly share with can access your files
• A small team of engineers can access files only when:
• • You specifically request help with an issue
  • They've received extensive privacy training
  • Access is granted by the CEO
  • Access is tracked and monitored
• Most support issues are resolved without accessing your content
• Coming soon: Option for complete encryption where even Alice staff cannot access your files

We maintain strict privacy controls even with team sharing:

• Team members can only access content explicitly shared with them
• Bulk minute sharing doesn't grant access to recordings/transcripts
• Each team member maintains their own private workspace
• Admins cannot access individual team members' content
• Team members can use separate email addresses for privacy
• Bulk purchasing allows one person to handle payment while preserving individual privacy

We have a clear stance:

• We won't share data unless legally compelled by a court order
• We can't identify users beyond their email address
• We support using disposable email addresses for anonymity
• When content is deleted, it's truly gone and unrecoverable
• If legally required to share data, we:
• • Require valid court orders
  • Verify account ownership through email
  • Only share what's specifically requested
  • Notify users when legally permitted

Minimal data collection:

• Email address only (can be disposable)
• Basic app crash data (deleted after 7 days)
• Payment processing is handled directly by Stripe
• No tracking of location, contacts, or usage patterns
• No social media integrations or cookies

Absolutely not:

• We never use customer content to train our AI
• We use only public, non-licensed data for training
• Your content remains yours - we claim no rights to it
• You retain all intellectual property rights