FiregroundScribe

Getting started

FiregroundScribe runs on one Windows PC at your station, usually the same PC that already has your scanner or radio audio. It records every transmission, writes the transcript, and builds a timeline for each incident. Everything stays on that PC unless you turn on an option that sends something out.

Safety: FiregroundScribe is a documentation and after-action review tool. It is not a life-safety system. Never rely on it for MAYDAY or emergency monitoring.

What you need

MinimumRecommended
WindowsWindows 10 or 11, 64-bitWindows 11
CPU4 cores6 or more cores
Memory8 GB16 GB
Free disk20 GB100 GB or more (about 115 MB per hour of traffic)

You also need an administrator account on the PC (only to install), internet access the first time it runs (it downloads its speech model, about 500 MB, once), and a source of radio audio: see Connecting radio audio.

1. Get your license and installer

  1. Start a free trial, or use the license key we sent you.
  2. Sign in to the customer portal and choose Download the installer. The installer you download there activates your license by itself.

2. Install

  1. Run FiregroundScribe-Setup-….exe on the station PC and allow the administrator prompt.
  2. Read the safety and privacy information and choose Next.
  3. Keep the default folder and choose Install. Leave Keep FiregroundScribe Manager in the hidden icons ticked.
  4. Choose Finish. Your browser opens http://localhost:8080.

FiregroundScribe now runs as a Windows service: it starts when the PC boots, even if nobody signs in.

3. First-time setup

  1. In the browser, enter your agency name and time zone, and create the administrator account.
  2. Open FiregroundScribe Manager (Start menu, or the icon in the hidden icons next to the clock) and check the Dashboard: the service, database and speech engine should be green. The speech model downloads in the background; recording works meanwhile.
  3. Add your people in Manager → Users. Roles: viewer (read only), officer (review and edit), admin (settings).
  4. Connect your radio audio: Connecting radio audio.

Other computers, phones and tablets on your network open http://<PC-name>:8080, for example http://STATION-PC:8080.

4. Prepare the PC to run 24/7

FiregroundScribe can only record while the PC is on and awake.

  • Never sleep: Settings → System → Power → set sleep when plugged in to Never. Turning the screen off is fine.
  • Correct time: Settings → Time & language → Date & time → Set time automatically. Timestamps come from this PC's clock.
  • Private network: Settings → Network & internet → your connection → Private, or other PCs can't reach it.
  • Windows Update: set Active hours around your busiest times. After a restart FiregroundScribe starts on its own.

Uninstalling

Settings → Apps → Installed apps → FiregroundScribe → Uninstall. You choose whether to keep your recordings and data (the default, so a reinstall picks up where you left off) or remove everything. Removing everything can't be undone: check your records-retention rules and any legal holds first.