How to capture a lecture as searchable notes without typing through it

Recording a lecture is normal at most universities, but the polite and often required first step is to ask the lecturer. Many are fine with it for personal study; some aren't, and a few cover it in the course rules. Once you've got the nod, start the recording in Sprachmemo at the beginning and just leave it running, you don't have to babysit it.

This is the actual win. When you're typing every word, you're a stenographer, not a learner, you process almost nothing. With the lecture recording, your hands are free to jot only the few things worth a live note: a diagram, a "this is exam-relevant", a question to ask later. You understand more in the room because you're listening, not racing.

Afterwards, transcribe the recording with Vosk, all on your device, nothing uploaded. For dense material the larger model is worth the slightly longer wait. You now have the full spoken content as text sitting next to the audio, so a term you half-heard becomes a quick search instead of a 50-minute re-listen.

Don't revise from the raw transcript, it's too long. Read it once and pull out the structure: the key terms, the three or four main claims, the worked example, anything the lecturer flagged. That compression IS the studying, the transcript just means you do it from a complete, searchable source instead of from gappy hand-notes you took while distracted. Keep the transcript attached so any point you compressed too far can be expanded back to the lecturer's exact words.