Check the audio source before your practice session
Select the input that matches your setup: your microphone, computer audio, or the combination available in the app. Choose an actual connected microphone rather than assuming that every Mac has the same devices. Start with a short public practice recording and check that words appear before you begin a full session.
Microphone and screen or system-audio capture need the appropriate Mac permissions. A disconnected device or denied permission can prevent capture. Use the status shown in the app to resolve the problem before expecting answers.
Keep one chronological transcript
Follow the conversation in time order, even when more than two people speak. An audio source such as computer audio does not identify which person is speaking. Automated speaker labels and role suggestions can be wrong.
When a role is wrong, use the control beside that turn to mark it. Distinguish correcting one sentence from applying a correction to turns identified as the same speaker. Recheck later turns when someone new joins or the audio changes.
A specific question is easier to review
Transcript: “What changes if we cannot store all the values?”
Before asking for help, check that the sentence is complete and that it refers to the problem you are currently solving. Ask about that turn to focus the answer rather than relying only on automatic question detection.
Read the answer as a response to a question
Keep captions and answers visible together. Review which question an answer addresses, then check the approach and assumptions. If the transcription missed a constraint, correct or restate it in a follow-up.
Longer context is useful when the interviewer changes requirements. Interview Roo offers 30-minute, 60-minute, and full-interview context choices. These are context preferences, not a guarantee that every previous word will fit unchanged into every answer.
Pause, review, and start a new session
Pause listening when you do not want audio captured. Use saved history to revisit transcripts and answers by session when history is enabled. Export the record to review what you said, which answer helped, and what you want to explain better next time.
Clearing the current workspace and removing saved records are different actions. Turning history off stops new records from being saved; clearing the live workspace does not delete existing history.
Run a two-minute check
- Confirm the selected audio device and capture status.
- Speak one sentence and play one short public question.
- Check the transcript and speaker labels.
- Ask about one turn and confirm that the answer matches it.
- Pause listening and check that capture stops.
For a complete practice routine, use the coding interview practice plan. When the question is on screen, pair it with a complete screenshot set.