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Record a short spoken note on iPhone during an observation. Sightline transcribes it on your computer and adds the text to the observation. You can continue using the scoring controls without recording any audio.

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Prepare voice notes

Pair your iPhone with Sightline. Companion requires Pro or an active Pro trial. The transcription model turns recorded speech into text. Download it on your computer before using voice notes, through either of these controls:
  • From Settings: open Settings → Companion. If Turn on voice notes appears, select Download now.
  • If you dismissed that offer: open the phone icon in Sightline’s title bar. Under Voice notes, select Download; the button also shows the download size.
Wait for the download to finish. The download prompt disappears once the model is ready. If downloading fails, use Retry download. The model download needs an internet connection. Transcription itself runs locally on your computer. Downloading a model does not transcribe a clip on your phone. Allow microphone access on the device you will use to record. Companion may ask when you first open it. Before relying on voice notes, try a short note in a fictional observation and check the text on your computer. Begin the observation before recording a note. For an observation prepared to use away from your computer, begin on iPhone as described in Record away from your computer.

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Record on iPhone

  1. Find Hold to record at the bottom of the recording screen. In an Anecdotal voice observation, use the large microphone control.
  2. Press and hold the control. Check that the recording duration appears, then speak your note. For example: “The teacher repeated the instruction, and the student opened the workbook.”
  3. Release to stop. A quick tap does not record a note. Recording stops automatically at 20 seconds.
  4. Check the message after releasing, as described below.
  • Computer nearby: Sending… can remain visible while the note transfers and is transcribed. Check for its text on the computer.
  • Away recording: the phone stores the audio with the observation and returns to Hold to record. It does not transcribe the note on the phone.
If Voice note failed, Retry, or Tap to retry appears, follow the recovery steps below before assuming the note was recorded successfully.

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When your computer is nearby

The phone sends the audio to the paired computer during the observation. Keep the apps connected and let the note finish processing before ending the desktop observation. Check the resulting text in the desktop recording, then finish and save the observation using the recording guide. A phone recording indicator alone does not confirm that the text was added.

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When you are away from your computer

iPhone keeps the audio with the prepared observation. You will not see a transcript on the phone. Stop recording before ending on iPhone. Finish and return the observation using Record away from your computer. The computer transcribes the audio as the observation returns. Check each voice note’s text separately. Saved on this phone confirms the phone copy, and Observation returned confirms that the computer received the observation. Neither confirms that every note was transcribed successfully.

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Find and review the text

  1. On your computer, open the student, find the observation in Sessions, and open it.
  2. For an interval or other structured observation, look under Observation Notes. In Anecdotal Results, look under Observation log.
  3. Read each note and check that it matches what you said. Correct transcription errors before using the text in a write-up. See Viewing Results for the relevant note and editing controls.
If a returned note reads Voice note — transcription failed, the observation was saved but that clip did not produce a transcript. Use the steps below.

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Note missing or not transcribed

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Recording did not start

Check that the observation has begun and that microphone access is allowed for Companion on the recording device. Hold the control and look for the recording duration. For nearby recording, also check the phone’s connection to the computer and the transcription-model download. Restoring a connection or downloading the model prepares the next attempt; it does not establish that an earlier note was saved.

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iPhone offers Retry

During nearby recording, Retry or Tap to retry means the phone has a clip available to resend. Restore the connection, keep the same observation open, and tap that control. Check for the text on your computer afterward. During away recording, notes are stored with the observation until it returns to the computer. This resend control is not used while you are away.

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The observation has not returned

Keep the phone observation and follow Companion troubleshooting. The text will not appear on your computer before the observation and its audio have reached it. Avoid deleting phone data or resetting pairing to force the return.

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The observation returned, but transcription failed

Check the transcription model on your computer and confirm whether other voice notes in the observation have text. Downloading the model afterward does not automatically replace Voice note — transcription failed in an already returned observation. There is no control to try transcription again for a note marked Voice note — transcription failed. Keep the desktop observation and contact support with the message, device, and app versions. You do not need to send student information or audio with the initial request. For details on where audio is stored and when it is removed, see the Companion privacy policy.