If you’re a product manager, you already know talking to customers is critical. But capturing those discovery calls—so the gold doesn’t slip through the cracks—is another story. This guide is for PMs who use (or are considering) Vowel to record customer interviews. We’ll cover not just how to hit “record,” but how to get actual value from your recordings—minus the fluff.
Whether you’re new to Vowel or just want sharper habits, here’s how to set yourself up for calls you’ll actually use later.
Why record at all? (And what not to expect)
Let’s set expectations: recording isn’t a magic bullet. It won’t make bad interviews good, or do your thinking for you. But it does mean:
- You don’t have to rely on memory (which, let’s be honest, is terrible after a few days)
- You can share real customer voices with your team
- There’s a record for follow-ups and quotes, not just “I think they said…”
But don’t expect your team to watch hour-long videos. Your job is to make it easy for them (and your future self) to extract what matters.
Step 1: Get consent and set expectations
The right way to ask
Surprising someone with a recording is a surefire way to kill trust. Always:
- Ask for permission at the start—before you hit record.
- Explain why you’re recording (“I want to focus on listening, not just taking notes”).
- Make it clear how the recording will be used and who will see it.
Pro tip: Have a short script ready. “Is it alright if I record this call? It helps me focus and share your feedback accurately with our team. The recording won’t be shared beyond our product group.”
What doesn’t work?
- Burying a “calls may be recorded” line in a calendar invite and hoping they read it.
- Starting the recording as soon as the call connects (awkward).
- Not mentioning it at all and hoping nobody notices (they will).
Step 2: Set up Vowel for smooth recording
Vowel makes recording easy, but “easy” can still go sideways if you’re not prepared. Here’s how to avoid the classic mishaps:
Before the call
- Check your tech. Make sure your mic, camera, and internet are working. Nothing derails a call like “Can you hear me now?”
- Double-check your Vowel link. Is it in the invite? Does it open for external guests?
- Prep your workspace. Quiet, good lighting, no weird backgrounds. You want the customer focused on the conversation, not your laundry pile.
During the call
- Click “Record” after you’ve gotten consent.
- Use Vowel’s live transcript. Don’t obsess over taking verbatim notes—let the transcript do the heavy lifting.
- Bookmark key moments. Vowel lets you tag highlights in real time. Use this. It saves you digging later.
What to ignore
- Don’t stress about recording every single call. Internal team chats? Skip ‘em.
- Avoid fiddling with Vowel settings mid-call. Prep once, then focus on the customer.
Step 3: Make your recordings useful (for you and your team)
Recordings are only valuable if someone actually uses them. Here’s how to make sure they don’t just gather digital dust.
Right after the call
- Review your highlights. While it’s fresh, add quick tags or notes to the transcript. Don’t wait a week—future you will thank you.
- Clip short snippets. Need a killer quote or a moment of user pain? Clip it now while you remember where it was.
- Summarize in plain English. In Vowel, jot a 2-3 sentence summary at the top. Think: “User struggles with onboarding flow, key pain is X.”
Sharing with your team
- Share highlights, not the whole call. Nobody wants a 45-minute video. Pull out 1-2 minute clips or transcript snippets that matter.
- Tag teammates in Vowel. Assign actions or follow-ups right in the tool so nothing gets lost in Slack purgatory.
- Keep a running doc. If you do a lot of discovery, keep a single doc or database of top insights, not scattered links.
What doesn’t work
- Forwarding the full call link and hoping folks will “just watch it later.” Spoiler: they won’t.
- Overloading your share-out with every single comment. Curate ruthlessly.
Step 4: Respect privacy and security
You’re handling real customer voices and possibly sensitive info. Here’s how not to screw that up:
- Store recordings where you’re supposed to. Don’t download and throw them in your personal Google Drive.
- Limit sharing. Only with people who really need access. No blasting customer calls to the whole company.
- Understand Vowel’s retention settings. Know how long recordings stick around and how to delete if needed.
- Be honest with customers. If they want you to erase something, do it—no questions asked.
Step 5: Build habits, not just one-offs
It’s easy to do all this once. The trick is making it a habit so your future discovery calls are easier, not harder.
- Have a checklist. Consent? Recording started? Highlights tagged? Run through it every time.
- Block time for review. Schedule 10 minutes after every call to process the recording. Don’t trust yourself to “get to it later.”
- Make sharing a ritual. Weekly insights roundup? Customer quote of the week? Build it into your team’s workflow.
Pro tip: If you’re overloaded, delegate. Can someone else pull highlights or summaries? Don’t be a bottleneck.
What actually matters (and what’s just noise)
What works
- Getting explicit consent. It builds trust and protects you.
- Using Vowel’s transcript and highlight features—huge time savers.
- Sharing short, curated clips with clear context.
What doesn’t
- Relying on recordings as your only notes. Always jot down your own quick takeaways.
- Expecting others to watch or read everything. Their time is as tight as yours.
- Overcomplicating your workflow with fancy tools you don’t actually use.
Keep it simple, iterate as you go
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of done. Recording calls in Vowel is about making your life easier, not creating more busywork. Start with the basics: get consent, record, highlight, share the good stuff, and move on.
You’ll find your own rhythm—and the best practices that actually fit your team—by trying things out and tweaking as you go. The key is to keep it lightweight and consistent. You’ve got enough to do already.