📊 Minute Allocation System
🎯 Core Allocation Rules
Monthly Limits & Reset Schedule
📅 Basic Allocation:
- • Total monthly minutes: 300 minutes
- • Reset date: Account creation anniversary
- • Reset time: 12:00 AM UTC on reset date
- • Rollover policy: No unused minutes carried forward
- • Early reset: Not available before monthly date
- • Tracking precision: Rounded to nearest minute
📈 Usage Counting Method:
- • Speech time only: Actual talking duration
- • Silence excluded: Pauses don't count
- • Background noise: Filtered out automatically
- • Multiple speakers: Overlapping speech counted once
- • Recording vs transcription: Both count equally
Session Limits & Extensions
⏰ Session Restrictions:
- • Maximum session: 30 minutes continuous
- • Hard cutoff: Recording stops automatically
- • Warning alerts: 5, 2, 1 minute before limit
- • Session resumption: Can restart immediately
- • Daily sessions: Unlimited session count
🎁 Daily Extension Bonus:
- • Extension duration: 10 additional minutes
- • Once per 24-hour period
- • Reset time: 12:00 AM local time
- • Usage trigger: Automatic when session hits 30 min
- • Manual activation: Available via app notification
📱 Usage Tracking & Monitoring
📊 Real-Time Monitoring System
Usage Dashboard & Alerts
📈 Dashboard Features:
- • Current usage: Minutes used this month
- • Remaining balance: Minutes left until reset
- • Daily breakdown: Usage by day chart
- • Session history: Individual meeting durations
- • Projected usage: Estimated monthly total
- • Reset countdown: Days until next allocation
🔔 Alert System:
- • 250 minutes: "Getting close" warning
- • 280 minutes: "Almost full" alert
- • 295 minutes: "Critical" warning
- • 300 minutes: "Limit reached" notification
- • Delivery methods: In-app, email, push
- • Custom thresholds: Not available on free plan
Access Methods & Platforms
💻 Where to Check Usage:
- • Web app: Settings → Account → Usage
- • Mobile app: Profile → Usage Statistics
- • Desktop app: Account → Subscription
- • Email reports: Weekly usage summaries
- • API access: Not available for free users
🔄 Update Frequency:
- • Live sessions: Real-time updates
- • Completed meetings: Within 2 minutes
- • Dashboard refresh: Every 15 seconds
- • Mobile sync: 30-second intervals
- • Historical data: Updated within 1 hour
🎯 Minute Optimization Strategies
💡 Smart Usage Techniques
Strategic Meeting Selection
🎯 Priority Framework:
- • High-priority meetings: Client calls, reviews
- • Complex discussions: Technical, strategic sessions
- • Action-heavy meetings: Planning, decision-making
- • Important stakeholders: Leadership, key clients
- • Knowledge transfer: Training, onboarding
❌ Skip These Meetings:
- • Social calls: Team happy hours, informal chats
- • Routine check-ins: Daily standups (if repetitive)
- • Large group calls: All-hands, webinars
- • Poor audio quality: Noisy environments
- • Short sessions: <5 minute quick calls
Time-Saving Techniques
⏰ Session Management:
- • Strategic pausing: Stop during breaks, side conversations
- • Late joins: Start recording when meeting begins
- • Early endings: Stop when meeting concludes
- • Agenda focus: Record only main discussion
- • Split sessions: Break long meetings into segments
🔧 Audio Optimization:
- • Quality settings: Use "High Quality" mode
- • Noise reduction: Enable background filtering
- • Speaker positioning: Optimal microphone placement
- • Volume levels: Consistent audio input
- • Connection stability: Strong internet required
Alternative Recording Methods
📱 Backup Strategies:
- • Audio uploads: Use 3 monthly file uploads
- • Multiple devices: Family members' accounts
- • Manual notes: Traditional note-taking backup
- • Native recording: Platform-built-in features
- • Voice memos: Phone recordings for key points
🔄 Hybrid Approach:
- • Selective recording: Key segments only
- • Upload important parts later
- • Summary focus: Record decision points
- • Action item capture: End-of-meeting summaries
📅 Monthly Planning & Budgeting
📊 Usage Planning Framework
Weekly Allocation Strategy
📈 Recommended Distribution:
- • Week 1: 90 minutes (30% of total)
- • Week 2: 75 minutes (25% of total)
- • Week 3: 75 minutes (25% of total)
- • Week 4: 60 minutes (20% of total)
- • Keep 15-20 minutes for emergencies
🎯 Daily Budget Guidelines:
- • Average daily: 10 minutes (300÷30 days)
- • Heavy days: 15-20 minutes maximum
- • Light days: 5 minutes or less
- • Meeting-free days: 0 minutes (save for busy days)
- • Reserve 30 minutes for important calls
Usage Scenarios & Examples
💼 Common Usage Patterns:
🏢 Business Professional (Heavy User)
6-8 meetings/week, 15-20 min average → 120-160 min/week → Needs upgrade
🎓 Student/Academic (Moderate User)
3-4 lectures/week, 20-25 min segments → 60-100 min/week → Perfect fit
👥 Team Lead (Strategic User)
2-3 key meetings/week, selective recording → 40-60 min/week → Good fit
🏠 Remote Worker (Light User)
1-2 important calls/week, 10-15 min each → 20-30 min/week → Excellent fit
🔧 Troubleshooting & Support
❗ Common Issues & Solutions
Minute Counting Discrepancies
🚨 Common Problems:
- • Unexpected usage: Minutes higher than expected
- • Silent recordings: Minutes counted for quiet meetings
- • Multiple sessions: Overlapping meeting counts
- • Background recording: Accidental activation
- • Sync delays: Usage not updating immediately
✅ Quick Fixes:
- • Check session history: Review all recordings
- • Manual calculation: Add up actual speech time
- • Clear cache: Refresh app data
- • Contact support: Report discrepancies
- • Account reset: Log out and back in
Emergency Situations
🆘 When Minutes Run Out:
- • Immediate upgrade: Pro plan activation
- • Audio upload method: Use file upload feature
- • Alternative platforms: Free trials elsewhere
- • Manual note-taking: Traditional backup method
- • Recording apps: Native device recording
📞 Support Channels:
- • Help center: In-app support articles
- • Email support: help@otter.ai
- • Community forum: User discussions
- • Chat support: Premium users only
- • Video tutorials: YouTube channel
🔗 Related Otter AI Resources
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