channel_recording

Project Overview

ChannelRecorder is a Windows desktop recorder that captures only the audio played by a single program, even when the meeting app restricts recording. It uses WASAPI process loopback to capture the target process audio at the system mixing layer, and can mix in your own microphone into the same file. When slide capture is enabled, it detects page turns, saves each screen as an image, and exports a PDF or Word file. It ships with both a graphical interface and a command line.

Records just the program you choose, and files away the shared slides too

Key Features

• Targeted recording: records only the audio output of a chosen process and its children
• Microphone mixing: mixes your microphone into the same file
• Auto stop: stops when the target exits or stays silent for a set number of seconds
• Slide capture: detects page turns and saves each slide as an image
• Multi-format export: assembles image sequences into PDF or Word documents
• Flexible framing: full screen, a chosen monitor, a followed window, or a mouse-drawn region
• AAC compression: converts recordings to small m4a files, or keeps lossless WAV
• Two interfaces: a graphical interface plus command-line arguments

Target Audience

• Users who need to record online meetings
• Teachers organizing online courses and training
• Professionals capturing screen-share presentations
• Technical users who want scripted recording

Quick Start

Graphical interface

1. Make sure the system is Windows 10 version 2004 or later, or Windows 11
2. Install the .NET 8 Desktop Runtime; self-contained builds can skip this
3. Download and unzip from Releases, then double-click ChannelRecorder.exe or gui.bat in the root
4. In the top Recording Target dropdown, pick the program to record; if it is missing, let it make sound and click refresh
5. Check the options you need: include child processes, record microphone, convert to AAC, or capture slides
6. When slide capture is on, set Slide Source to a monitor, a window, or a drawn region
7. Click Start Recording, then Stop, and finally Open Recording Folder

Command line

1. Run rec.bat list to see which programs are producing sound and their PIDs
2. Run rec.bat record --name wemeetapp --mic to record a meeting with your microphone
3. Run rec.bat record --name wemeetapp --mic --slides --doc both to also capture slides and export PDF and Word

rec.bat list
rec.bat record --name wemeetapp --mic --slides --doc both

Core Advantages

• Bypasses restrictions: it records system playback audio, independent of the app's recording permission
• Audio and visuals together: recording and slide capture happen in one session
• Reliable quality: GPU-based capture still works when a window is covered, without tearing
• Controlled size: AAC by default keeps even long meetings compact

System Requirements

Notes

• Recording other people may raise privacy and legal issues, so make sure you are authorized
• Process-level recording requires Windows 10 2004 or later
• Minimized windows cannot be captured; the app tries to restore them during recording
• Microphone recording uses the Windows default recording device only
• Captured clarity depends on the actual on-screen size of the target window