Hi everyone,
First, I searched the forum to check if this exists already — I didn't find an active thread covering this, so please excuse if this duplicates existing discussion.
Use Case Many users want to capture spoken thoughts or quick video walkthroughs directly within a rich text pad, similar to how OneNote handles voice notes. Typical scenarios:
Meeting or interview notes where audio context matters beyond text
Hands-free capture while working (e.g., walking, cooking, driving)
Collaborative feedback loops where audio/video conveys nuance better than comments
Accessibility — voice-to-text or recording for users who find typing difficult
What I'm Proposing
An audio recording button embedded in the rich text toolbar that records directly to a pad section
Optional: video recording for screen captures or facecam notes
Recordings would be stored as encrypted blobs in CryptDrive and rendered inline (like embedded images)
Ideally paired with optional live transcription (speech-to-text) for searchable content
Why This Fits CryptPad's Mission Most existing solutions are privacy-compromising:
Google Docs requires third-party add-ons (Beep, Mote) that access document content
OneNote lacks end-to-end encryption
Local-only tools don't support real-time collaboration
A native, encrypted audio/video recording feature would let users keep voice and video data within the same zero-knowledge workflow they already trust for text and files.
Technical Notes From what I understand of browser APIs:
MediaRecorder API could handle client-side capture
Encrypted blobs stored in CryptDrive (existing infrastructure)
Playback via standard <audio>/<video> elements
Mobile compatibility would need attention (iOS Safari quirks are real)
Open Questions
Should recordings be capped at a certain duration/file size by default?
Is automatic transcription worth considering later (could be opt-in, client-side)?
Any privacy concerns the maintainers want addressed upfront?
Happy to provide more detail, test early builds, or help flesh out requirements. Thanks for considering this!
