A note-taking app for meetings, on the Mac
Meeting notes you can check against the recording.
Meringo Minutes records the meeting and writes the notes on your own Mac, by default. Each point in the summary carries the moment it was said, so you can click it and hear it.
$79 in the first month after launch, then $99. Paid once, no subscription. Not for sale yet.
The meeting mentions that eight weeks at the agency's day rate comes to about 22,000. Asked for the day rate itself:
Weekly partners meeting
Answer: I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
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It stays on your Mac, by default.
No account, no sync, no usage tracking.
Where a meeting goes -
When the meeting didn't say, it says so.
In the test meeting, all 8 questions the transcript doesn't fully answer got the same refusal.
How it answers -
Nothing joins the call.
By default it says out loud that it's recording, in words you can change.
What it says
Click a timestamp. Hear it said.
Every summary point carries the moment it came from. Click it and the transcript opens on that line, with the recording cued to play from there.
Sometimes it lands a little early. Treat a timestamp as the place to start listening; the line is close.
Ask it a question. It cites the line.
Each sentence of an answer quotes the transcript lines it came from. When nothing in the meeting holds, the whole answer is I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
Across 24 public meetings and 60 questions, it refused 12 of the 14 that asked for something the meeting never says, and all 14 when those questions were put to the wrong meeting. When it's unsure it says nothing, which is the mistake I'd rather it made.
A second model checks the first.
With Ollama, the default setup, a different model reads the summary against the transcript it was written from. A sentence it can't support moves into a folded card that says Read it as a lead, not a finding.
Set aside, not deleted: you can still open the card and read them. Checked, at the top of a summary, means the second model has read it, not that it's right. The check misses things, and the transcript can be wrong too. Traced, at the top left, means a claim has a timestamp to listen from. How it works has the detail.
It tells the room.
I'm recording this meeting to take notes. The recording stays on my Mac.
By default, that's what it says out loud as recording starts, and the words go into the recording too. You can change them, or switch it off; it stays on until you do. Nothing joins the call and no invite goes out, so the announcement is how the others find out. On headphones, the far end of a call may not hear it.
It hears whatever your Mac plays, so it isn't tied to any one call app.
It doesn't try to work out whose consent law applies. The code gives the reason: the strictest participant's law governs, and nobody's location is knowable.
It isn't legal advice.
Where a meeting goes
By default, nowhere.
Meringo Minutes keeps the recording, the transcript and the notes in one folder on your Mac, by default, and its privacy panel says so:
Audio, transcripts, summaries and mindmaps are produced and stored on this machine. There is no account, no sync and no usage tracking. The only internet use is downloading a model the first time it is needed, and checking once a day for a new version of the app; talking to Ollama stays on this Mac.
Point the summariser at another computer on your network and the panel turns orange and names it. A test in the build runs a real meeting through the processing pipeline, watches the network while it does, and fails on any connection there that isn't local. The update check and model downloads happen outside that test.
One meeting, start to finish.
Weekly partners meeting is made up: three synthetic voices reading a script, 3 minutes 53 seconds of it, run through Meringo Minutes 1.1.0 on . Everything inside the window is what the app wrote, untouched. Turn on Show the audit to see each sentence checked against the transcript.
Illustrative example: a fictional meeting read by synthetic voices. Re-set from the app's exported files, build 1.1.0 (build 3), on an M4 Mac with 24 GB.
Marks each sentence and each answer yes, partly or no against the transcript, with where the supporting line actually is, and counts the misses.
The recording is 3.5 MB and loads when you press play.
The 16 questions it was asked
Pick one to see the app's answer word for word, with the lines it cites.
Where it went wrong, counted
- 8 of 8 questions the meeting doesn't fully answer: refused
- 1 of 8 questions it could have answered: refused anyway
- 1 answer adds a word nobody said
- 4 of 11 timestamps land early, on a line before the claim
- the other 7 land on a line that says only part of it
- 4 of 12 kept sentences are only partly supported by the transcript
The summary and the answers, as plain text
Meeting Summary
The key decision was to bring in a locum to manage the commercial backlog, with Dana tasked to arrange this by the end of Q3.
Key Decisions
Intake Backlog: The team decided to bring in a locum for eight weeks to address the commercial backlog, with Dana responsible for arranging this by the end of Q3. 1:33
Pemberton File: Marcus was instructed to write again to the opposing side regarding the added documents, with a deadline for a response. 2:34
Software Renewal: The team agreed to query the software provider about the 60% increase in renewal costs and to shop around if necessary. 3:05
Audit note, not from the app · Line: no · Transcript: yes. Right claim, wrong line. 3:05 is Priya asking whether everyone's read the budget draft. The 60% is at 3:13, and the decision to query it and shop around runs from 3:35 to 3:44.
Action Items
Dana: Arrange for a locum to manage the commercial backlog by the end of Q3. 1:33
Dana: Query the software provider about the 60% increase in renewal costs and ask for itemization before the renewal date. 3:32
Audit note, not from the app · Line: no · Transcript: yes. One line early. 3:32 is Dana saying the firm never asked for the AI features; Priya hands her the job at 3:35.
Discussion Notes
Intake Backlog: The backlog is currently 14 days, up from 9 days in June. 0:11 The commercial backlog increased due to Aisha's absence, leaving 31 new inquiries sitting since August 18. 0:37 Marcus took over some of Aisha's work but noted that the backlog is still problematic.
Audit note, not from the app · “The backlog is currently 14…” Line: no · Transcript: partly. Two problems. 0:11 is the agenda (the figures are at 0:20 and 0:25), and 14 and 9 days are the commercial numbers: Dana puts private client at about 5 days, at 0:31 to 0:37.
Audit note, not from the app · “The commercial backlog increased due…” Line: partly · Transcript: partly. Two facts merged, and the check kept it. There are 31 inquiries (0:57) and only the oldest dates from 18 August (0:59). Nobody says Aisha leaving caused them.
Audit note, not from the app · “Marcus took over some of…” Line: no · Transcript: partly. Half right, on the wrong line. Marcus says he picked up about a third of it at 0:44. Nobody says he called the backlog still a problem.
Pemberton File: The disclosure deadline was extended, but the bundle needs to be agreed by mid-October due to the opposing side adding 42 documents after the deadline. 2:13
Audit note, not from the app · Line: partly · Transcript: partly. Wrong cause. Mid-October comes from the hearing on 4 November and the three weeks before it (2:25 to 2:31). The 42 extra documents at 2:34 are a risk to that date.
Budget: The budget draft was reviewed, with a significant increase in the software renewal cost noted. 3:02 The team agreed to query the software provider and consider alternatives if necessary. 3:08
Open Questions & Next Steps
4 unverified sentences
Written by the AI, but the check model found that the transcript lines it worked from don't say this. Read it as a lead, not a finding.
The meeting, attended by Priya, Marcus, and Dana, focused on addressing the intake backlog, the Pemberton file, and the budget.
Marcus: Write to the opposing side regarding the added documents and set a deadline for a response by the end of the week.
Intake Backlog: How will the locum's work be integrated with the existing team?
Audit note, not from the app · Transcript: no. Nobody in the meeting asks this. Set aside is the right place for it.
Software Renewal: What are the specific features causing the 60% increase, and are they necessary for the firm's operations?
The 16 questions it was asked
Why did the commercial backlog get worse?
The commercial backlog got worse because Aisha's queue was not picked up after she left.
0:37 Dana: Commercial went from 9 to 14 because we lost Aisha and nobody picked up her queue.
How many new enquiries are waiting, and how old is the oldest?
There are 31 new enquiries waiting.
0:57 Dana: 31 as of this morning.
The oldest enquiry is from August 18th.
0:59 Dana: Oldest is from the 18th of August.
What did we decide about the backlog?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
Audit note, not from the app · Verdict: no · Refused, wrongly. The answer is in the meeting: Priya rules out closing intake at 1:30, and the locum is agreed at 1:33. Of the two ways to be wrong, it's the one I'd rather it made.
When does the Pemberton bundle need to be agreed?
Marcus: “The hearing is the 4th of November, so realistically we want it agreed three weeks before.”
2:25 Marcus: The hearing is the 4th of November, so realistically we want it agreed three weeks before.
Marcus is concerned that the other side keeps adding documents, complicating the agreement process.
2:34 Marcus: Only if their side keeps adding documents, they've added 42 since we last agreed a version.
1 shown in the transcript's own words: the check model would not support the wording.
How many documents has the other side added since the last agreed version?
The other side has added 42 documents since the last agreed version.
2:34 Marcus: Only if their side keeps adding documents, they've added 42 since we last agreed a version.
How much has the software renewal gone up?
The software renewal has gone up sixty percent.
3:13 Dana: It's gone up sixty percent and nobody can tell me why.
This means it has increased from four thousand two hundred to just under seven thousand dollars.
3:18 Dana: Sixty percent? From four thousand two hundred to just under seven thousand.
Audit note, not from the app · Verdict: partly · Answered, with an invented word. Nobody in the meeting names a currency. "Dollars" is the app's own addition, the check let it through with no footnote, and asking again produced the same sentence word for word.
Who is writing to the other side about the bundle, and when?
Marcus is writing to the other side about the bundle.
2:34 Marcus: Only if their side keeps adding documents, they've added 42 since we last agreed a version.
Priya instructs Marcus to write again, copying their supervising partner.
2:50 Priya: Write again, copy their supervising partner and give them a date.
Priya asks Marcus to do it by next Friday at the latest.
2:54 Priya: Marcus, can you do that next Friday at the latest?
Marcus says he can do it sooner than later.
2:58 Marcus: I can do it sooner than later.
Audit note, not from the app · Verdict: partly · Answered, two slips. The first sentence cites 2:34, which doesn't say Marcus is writing (that's 2:50 to 2:54). And the answer leaves out Marcus's own when: "I'll get it out this week," at 3:00.
Did anyone disagree with closing intake?
Marcus disagreed with closing intake.
1:21 Marcus: We're not closing the door.
Marcus explained that closing intake would lose referrals.
1:23 Marcus: Half our referrals come from two accountants, and they'll just send the next one somewhere else.
Priya: “I agree with Marcus. We don't close in 8.”
1:30 Priya: I agree with Marcus. We don't close in 8.
1 shown in the transcript's own words: the check model would not support the wording.
What day rate did the agency quote for the locum?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
What currency is the locum budget in?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
What date is "next Friday"?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
Which agency are we using?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
Why did the software renewal go up?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
Audit note, not from the app · Verdict: partly · Refused, safely. Safe, but the meeting does say something: Dana says nobody can tell her why at 3:13, and Marcus guesses it's the AI features at 3:27.
Who is Tom?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
Audit note, not from the app · Verdict: partly · Refused, safely. Safe, but the meeting does mention him: Tom sent round the budget draft, at 3:05. Who he is isn't said.
What's the weather in London today?
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
Summarise our last three meetings.
I found nothing in this meeting that says that.
What was actually said
The script the voices read. Where the transcript differs from it, the transcript misheard.
- Priya: Right, that's everyone. Thanks for moving this — I know Thursday is bad for half the room.
- Marcus: It's fine. I've got a hard stop at twenty past, though.
- Priya: Noted. Three things: the intake backlog, the Pemberton file, and then budget. Backlog first.
- Dana: So the number is worse than last month. We're at fourteen days from first contact to opened matter. It was nine in June.
- Priya: Fourteen. Across everything, or just the commercial side?
- Dana: Commercial is the problem. Private client is holding at about five days. Commercial went from nine to fourteen because we lost Aisha and nobody picked up her queue.
- Marcus: That's not quite fair — I picked up about a third of it.
- Dana: A third of the active ones. The new enquiries have been sitting.
- Priya: How many are sitting?
- Dana: Thirty-one as of this morning. Oldest is from the eighteenth of August.
- Marcus: That's six weeks. That's a complaint waiting to happen.
- Priya: Agreed. So what do we actually do this week, not in principle.
- Dana: Two options. We either bring in a locum for eight weeks, or we stop taking new commercial enquiries until the queue is clear.
- Marcus: We're not closing the door. Half our referrals come from two accountants and they'll just send the next one somewhere else.
- Priya: I agree with Marcus. We don't close intake. Let's do the locum.
- Dana: Then I need a budget number before I can ring the agency.
- Priya: What's it likely to be?
- Dana: Eight weeks at their day rate is somewhere around twenty-two thousand. Call it twenty-five with the agency fee.
- Priya: That's more than I expected but it's less than the cost of losing the referrers. Approved up to twenty-five. Dana, can you get that agreed with the agency and have someone starting by the end of the quarter?
- Dana: I'll ring them tomorrow. End of Q3 is realistic if they've got anyone on the bench.
- Priya: Good. Second thing — the Pemberton file.
- Marcus: I've been through it. The disclosure deadline was extended, so we're not in breach, but the bundle is still not agreed with the other side.
- Priya: When does it need to be agreed by?
- Marcus: The hearing is the fourth of November, so realistically we want it agreed three weeks before.
- Priya: So mid-October. Is that a problem?
- Marcus: Only if their side keeps adding documents. They've added forty-two since we last agreed a version.
- Dana: Forty-two? After the deadline?
- Marcus: After the deadline. I've written to them about it and had nothing back.
- Priya: Write again, copy their supervising partner, and give them a date. Marcus, can you do that next Friday at the latest?
- Marcus: I can do it sooner than that. I'll get it out this week.
- Priya: Even better. Last thing, budget. Tom sent round the draft — has everyone read it?
- Dana: I've read it. The only line I'd query is the software renewal. It's gone up sixty per cent and nobody can tell me why.
- Priya: Sixty per cent?
- Dana: From four thousand two hundred to just under seven thousand. Same number of seats.
- Marcus: That'll be the AI features they added. Everyone's doing it.
- Dana: We didn't ask for the AI features.
- Priya: Then we query it. Dana, put that in writing to them before the renewal date and ask them to itemise it. If they can't, we shop around.
- Dana: Happy to.
- Priya: Anything else? No? Then we're done four minutes early, which never happens. Thanks everyone.
What it costs, and what it needs.
$99 paid once
$79 during the first month after launch, and the date that ends will be printed here from launch day. No subscription. Once it's on sale, 30 days to a refund, no questions.
The free version records and transcribes every meeting, and writes the notes for your first three. A recording under ten minutes doesn't count towards them.
One email when it's ready, and nothing else.
- An Apple Silicon Mac on macOS 27 or later.
- Ollama, a free app that runs the models. The setup assistant finds it, or takes you to Ollama's download page.
- About 15 GB of disk for the default setup, most of it the two language models.
- Tested on an M4 with 24 GB.
Who makes it
I'm Adam Siemaszko. I build three apps under Meringo Labs LLC, in Erie County, New York: Meringo, a music player for Android; Meringo Listen, an audiobook player; and Meringo Minutes. I keep a list of where it's weak. If a sentence on this site is wrong, tell me at support@meringo.app.