Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Quick Answers to Common Questions

Have a question? You're probably not alone! Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about InterviewCue.

Can't find your answer? Check the Troubleshooting Guide or contact support.

General Questions

Is InterviewCue free?

Yes — every feature is free through Summer 2026.

After that, InterviewCue moves to a freemium model with three tiers: Free, Pro ($15/mo), and Team ($29/mo). Every tier includes the full platform — the same features, the same exports, the same tools. The only differences are volume limits (interviews per month, transcription hours, audio storage).

What's included on every tier:

  • ✅ All export formats (PDF, CSV, JSON, Markdown, Audition, EDL, Logic Pro, CUE)
  • ✅ Unlimited transcript storage
  • ✅ Unlimited show notes & chapter generation
  • ✅ Collaborative mode (Cohost + Guest)
  • ✅ No ads

See Pricing for full tier details.

Do you store my audio recordings?

Temporarily, if you choose to upload them for audio scrubbing.

What we store:

  • Interview metadata (title, dates)
  • Questions and background notes
  • Captured events (timestamps and descriptions)
  • Reference links
  • Transcripts (if you upload them)
  • Audio files (optional) — stored based on your plan tier (Free: 250MB total, 3-month retention; Pro/Team: retained while subscribed)

What we DON'T store:

  • Audio files beyond your plan's retention period
  • Video recordings
  • Your recording software's files

You record audio with your own software (Audition, Zencastr, etc.). InterviewCue captures events and timestamps alongside your recording.

About audio scrubbing uploads:

  • Completely optional feature
  • Audio retained based on your plan tier
  • You can delete them manually anytime
  • Stored securely, only you can access
  • See Audio Scrubbing section for details

Is my data private?

Yes. Your data is completely private.

Privacy guarantees:

  • ✅ Your interviews: Only you can see them
  • ✅ Your questions: Private by default
  • ✅ Your notes: Never visible to anyone else
  • ✅ Your events: Stored securely
  • ✅ No sharing without permission: We never share your data

Sharing features:

  • Share links: You control who gets access
  • Collaborative mode: You invite participants
  • All sharing is opt-in and revocable

See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Can I use InterviewCue offline?

Not yet, but coming soon!

Currently: Internet required for:

  • Accessing InterviewCue
  • Saving events
  • Syncing collaborative mode
  • Viewing interviews

Future offline support:

  • ✅ View interview list offline
  • ✅ View questions and notes offline
  • ✅ Conduct interviews offline
  • ✅ Sync when back online

This is a high-priority feature. Stay tuned!

What platforms does InterviewCue work on?

InterviewCue works everywhere modern web browsers work:

✅ Mobile:

  • iPhone (iOS 12.2+)
  • iPad (iPadOS 12.2+)
  • Android phones (Android 9+)
  • Android tablets

✅ Desktop:

  • Windows 10+ (Chrome, Edge)
  • macOS (Safari, Chrome, Edge)
  • Linux (Chrome, Edge, Brave)
  • ChromeOS/Chromebooks

✅ Install as app:

  • Progressive Web App (PWA)
  • Works like a native app
  • No app store needed

See PWA Installation Guide for details.

Feature Questions

How many interviews can I create?

It depends on your plan:

  • Free: 4 interviews per month
  • Pro/Team: Unlimited interviews

All plans support:

  • Past interviews (archive)
  • Upcoming interviews (preparation)
  • Templates for recurring formats
  • Practice interviews

Currently free through Summer 2026 — all limits are lifted during the free period. See Pricing for details.

Can I share interviews with others?

Yes! Multiple ways:

1. Share links (post-production):

  • Generate secure, read-only link
  • Share timeline view
  • No account required for recipients
  • Revoke access anytime

See: Share Interview feature

2. Collaborative Live Mode:

  • Real-time participation during recording
  • Multiple people can capture events
  • Co-hosts and guests
  • Synchronized experience

See: Collaborative Live Mode

3. Export and share files:

  • Export Markdown, PDF, JSON
  • Share via email, Slack, etc.
  • Recipient opens in any tool

Can multiple people use one account?

Technically yes, but not recommended.

Issues with shared accounts:

  • All interviews visible to everyone
  • No attribution (who captured what?)
  • Potential conflicts
  • Privacy concerns

Better approaches:

For teams:

  • Each person has their own account
  • Use Collaborative Live Mode for real-time work
  • Use share links for post-production review

For couples/partners:

  • If you truly share everything: One account works
  • Otherwise: Separate accounts + collaboration

Coming soon: Team/organization accounts with proper role management.

Will you add [feature]?

Maybe! We love feature requests.

Features in active development:

  • Offline support
  • Auto-transcription (Whisper integration)
  • Team/organization accounts
  • Mobile app enhancements
  • Custom hotkeys
  • Interview templates
  • Analytics and insights

How to request features:

  • Email us with your idea
  • Explain your use case
  • Vote on planned features (roadmap coming soon)

We prioritize features based on:

  • User requests
  • Use case frequency
  • Technical feasibility
  • Strategic fit

Technical Questions

What browsers work best?

Fully supported (best experience):

  • Chrome 90+ - All features, all platforms
  • Edge 90+ - All features (Windows, Mac)
  • Safari 14+ - All features (macOS, iOS, iPadOS)
  • Brave 90+ - All features, privacy-focused

Partially supported:

  • Firefox - Website works great, PWA install limited
  • Opera - Website works, PWA varies

Not supported:

  • Internet Explorer (obsolete)
  • Very old browser versions

Recommendation: Use Chrome, Edge, or Safari for best experience.

What file formats do you support?

Transcript imports:

  • WebVTT (.vtt) - Recommended
  • SubRip (.srt)
  • Plain text (.txt) - Limited features

Exports:

  • Markdown (.md) - Show notes
  • JSON (.json) - Data archiving, custom tools
  • CSV (.csv) - Adobe Audition, spreadsheets
  • EDL (.edl) - Video editors (Premiere, Resolve, FCP)
  • PDF (.pdf) - Printing, sharing
  • MIDI (.mid) - Logic Pro X markers
  • CUE (.cue) - Podcast chapter markers

See: Export Formats Reference

Can I sync across devices?

Yes, automatically!

Your InterviewCue account syncs across all devices:

Example workflow:

  1. Monday (laptop): Create interview, add questions
  2. Tuesday (iPad): Review and refine questions
  3. Wednesday (iPad): Conduct interview in Live Mode
  4. Thursday (desktop): Post-production editing and export

All devices see same data, always in sync.

Requirements:

  • Same account logged in
  • Internet connection
  • Supported browser

Is there a mobile app?

Yes and no.

No native app (yet):

  • Not in App Store or Google Play
  • No separate download

But yes, mobile-optimized PWA:

  • Install as app on any device
  • Works like native app
  • Home screen icon
  • Full-screen experience
  • Screen wake lock
  • Push notifications (coming soon)

Why PWA instead of native apps?

  • One app, all platforms
  • No app store approval delays
  • Instant updates
  • Smaller download size
  • Same features everywhere

See: PWA Installation

How do you handle sync conflicts?

Short answer: Carefully.

How sync works:

  • Events saved immediately when captured
  • Version counter prevents conflicts
  • Server always wins (last write wins)
  • Optimistic UI updates

In practice:

  • Conflicts are rare
  • Usually happens if network drops mid-capture
  • InterviewCue retries automatically
  • You'll see event when connection returns

In collaborative mode:

  • Everyone sees same state
  • Events attributed to capturer
  • No conflicts possible
  • State syncs every 500ms

If you lose internet:

  • Recent unsaved events may be lost
  • Everything else safe in database
  • Reconnect and refresh to see latest

Live Mode Interface Questions

How do I navigate to a specific question during the interview?

Simply click the question title in the scrollable text view.

The interview will jump to that question and mark it as asked. In collaborative mode, all participants sync to the same question.

No navigation buttons needed - the entire interview is visible as scrollable text. Just scroll and click!

Will clicking question 5 mark questions 1-4 as asked?

No! Only the question you click is marked as asked.

This allows you to follow the natural flow of conversation without being locked into a linear sequence.

Example:

  • You're on Question 2
  • Guest mentions something related to Question 7
  • Click Question 7 directly - only that question gets marked as "Asked"
  • Questions 3-6 remain "Not Asked"
  • Return to them later if needed

This is perfect for conversations that naturally jump around topics!

What happened to the previous/next buttons and jump-to dropdown?

We replaced them with a simpler, more intuitive interface.

Old UI:

  • Previous/Next buttons to move one question at a time
  • Jump-to dropdown to skip around
  • Single question visible at a time

New UI:

  • All questions visible in scrollable text view
  • Click any question to navigate directly
  • Browser search (Cmd+F) to find specific questions
  • Simpler, cleaner interface

Why the change?

Based on user feedback, the new approach:

  • ✅ Supports natural conversation flow (jump to any question without triggering others)
  • ✅ Provides better context (see full interview structure)
  • ✅ Eliminates accidental navigation (clicking next won't accidentally mark questions)
  • ✅ Works better if network drops (all questions remain visible)
  • ✅ Fewer UI controls to learn

What happened to the keyboard shortcuts for navigation (arrow keys, J key)?

Navigation keyboard shortcuts have been removed.

Why?

With the scrollable text view interface, natural scrolling is more intuitive:

  • Mouse wheel / trackpad - Scroll through questions naturally
  • Touch gestures - Swipe to scroll on mobile/tablet
  • Click questions - Direct navigation to any question
  • Browser search (Cmd+F) - Find specific questions instantly

What still has shortcuts?

  • Event capture (1-5 keys) - Still the core hotkeys!
  • Pause/Resume (Space bar)
  • View links (L key)
  • Add link (Shift+A)
  • Help (? key)

Result: Simpler to learn, more intuitive to use, leverages browser-native scrolling.

How do I know which questions I've already asked?

Each question shows a status badge:

  • "✓ Asked" (green badge) - Questions you've navigated to
  • "Not Asked" (gray badge) - Questions not yet covered

Visual at a glance:

  • Scroll through your interview
  • Status badges show progress instantly
  • Current question is highlighted with yellow background
  • Perfect for long interviews to track what's left

What happens if my network connection drops during a live interview?

The full text view provides a critical failsafe.

If your WebSocket connection fails:

  • ✅ All questions remain visible - full interview stays on screen
  • ✅ Local scrolling works - browse questions without network
  • ✅ You can continue - conduct interview using visible questions
  • ✅ Reconnect later - sync events when connection returns

Old single-question UI:

  • ❌ Would leave you stuck seeing only one question
  • ❌ Couldn't navigate without connection
  • ❌ Interview effectively halted

New text view UI:

  • ✅ Full interview structure always available
  • ✅ Network resilience built in
  • ✅ Peace of mind during live production

Workflow Questions

How long should my interviews be?

There's no limit, but consider:

Optimal lengths by format:

  • Podcast episode: 30-60 minutes
  • Video interview: 20-45 minutes
  • Long-form conversation: 60-90 minutes
  • Documentary interview: 2-3 hours (split into sessions)

Factors to consider:

  • Your audience's attention span
  • Format conventions
  • Content depth needed
  • Guest availability
  • Post-production time

InterviewCue works great for any length! We've seen:

  • 15-minute quick interviews
  • 3-hour deep dives
  • Everything in between

Can I edit interviews after recording?

Yes! In multiple ways:

1. Edit captured events:

  • Add, edit, or delete events
  • Change descriptions
  • Click timestamps directly to edit them (inline editing)
  • Adjust timestamps with transcript alignment
  • Filter and organize

2. Quick timestamp editing:

  • Click any timestamp in the timeline
  • Input field appears
  • Type new time (MM:SS format)
  • Press Enter to save instantly
  • No page reload-seamless editing!

3. Add missed moments:

  • Click "Add Event" in post-production
  • Enter timestamp manually
  • Add description and type

4. Refine question list:

  • Update questions for future reference
  • Add notes about what worked
  • Template for similar interviews

5. Upload transcripts:

  • Add transcript after recording
  • Align timestamps with edited audio

What you CAN'T edit:

  • Original audio (that's your recording software)
  • Past timestamps (but can adjust with alignment)

Do I need special equipment?

No special equipment required!

Minimum requirements:

  • Computer, tablet, or phone
  • Web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge)
  • Internet connection

Recommended setup:

  • Desktop/laptop - For keyboard shortcuts
  • iPad/tablet - Great secondary display
  • Good microphone - For audio quality (separate from InterviewCue)
  • Recording software - Audacity, Audition, Zencastr, etc.

InterviewCue is interview management, not recording:

  • You record with your normal tools
  • InterviewCue organizes and captures moments
  • Works alongside your existing setup

Can I import interviews from other tools?

Yes! Drop a markdown file and you're done.

InterviewCue imports from markdown (.md, .markdown, .txt) — the same format used by AI tools, note apps, and plain text editors. Just use headings to structure your interview:

  • H1 = Interview title
  • H2 = Each question
  • Body text = Background notes
  • Links section = Reference URLs (optional)

Works with tools you already use:

  • ✅ AI prep tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) — they output markdown natively
  • ✅ Note apps (Notion, Obsidian, Bear) — export as markdown
  • ✅ Any text editor — just save as .md or .txt

How it works:

  1. Drag and drop your file (or click to browse)
  2. Preview the parsed interview
  3. Click "Create Interview" — done

Don't want to import? The built-in editor works great too. Use whatever feels natural.

Can I use AI to help prepare my interview questions?

Absolutely — and we make it easy to bring that prep into InterviewCue.

Many interviewers use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to brainstorm questions and research guests. Since these tools output markdown, you can drop that output directly into InterviewCue's import feature.

Example workflow:

  1. Ask your AI tool to generate questions for your guest
  2. Copy the output to a .md file (or export from the AI tool)
  3. Drop the file into InterviewCue's import
  4. Review, refine, and add your own background notes

Why this matters: Your prep doesn't start over when you open InterviewCue. Bring what you've already built.

How do you handle different time zones?

Automatically!

Time zones:

  • Timestamps stored in UTC (universal time)
  • Displayed in your local time zone
  • Adjusts automatically when traveling
  • Exports use your current time zone

Example:

  • Record interview in New York (EST)
  • Review on laptop in California (PST)
  • Timestamps display correctly for your location
  • No manual conversion needed

What audio formats are supported for audio scrubbing?

Upload any common audio or video format — we'll handle the rest.

InterviewCue automatically converts your upload to browser-compatible MP3 using FFmpeg, so you don't need to worry about format conversion. Inbound uploads are free and don't count against your storage quota.

Audio formats:

  • ✅ MP3 (stored directly, no conversion needed)
  • ✅ WAV (lossless — upload your raw recordings)
  • ✅ FLAC (lossless)
  • ✅ AAC
  • ✅ OGG Vorbis
  • ✅ M4A
  • ✅ AIFF
  • ✅ WMA
  • ✅ WebM Audio

Video formats (audio track is extracted):

  • ✅ MP4
  • ✅ MOV
  • ✅ MKV
  • ✅ AVI
  • ✅ WMV

File size limit: 500MB maximum

Can I use audio scrubbing on my finalized timeline?

Yes! As of December 2023, audio scrubbing works on BOTH timelines.

How it works:

  • Original Times view → Upload your raw/original recording
  • Adjusted Times view → Upload your finalized/edited recording
  • Each timeline has its own separate audio file

Why upload both?

If you've used transcript alignment to adjust timestamps, you'll want both:

  • Raw audio - Verify original timestamps were captured correctly
  • Final audio - Verify aligned timestamps match your published version

Use cases for finalized timeline audio:

  • Confirm transcript alignment accuracy
  • Fine-tune chapter markers before publishing
  • Double-check timestamps before exporting to CUE/EDL

To upload:

  1. Switch to the timeline view you want (Original Times or Adjusted Times)
  2. Expand "Audio Scrubbing" section
  3. Upload the matching audio file (raw or final)

See: Post-Production Timeline - Audio Scrubbing

How long are audio files stored?

It depends on your plan:

  • Free: 250MB total storage, 3-month retention
  • Pro: 2GB uploads/month (accumulates while subscribed), retained while subscribed
  • Team: 10GB uploads/month (accumulates while subscribed), retained while subscribed

If you downgrade or cancel:

  • Audio falls back to Free tier limits (250MB, 3 months)
  • Interviews, transcripts, show notes, and chapters are never deleted
  • Download your audio before downgrading

Manual deletion:

  • You can delete audio anytime via the "Remove" button
  • Instant deletion

Your recording is safe:

  • Always keep your original recordings backed up
  • InterviewCue audio storage is a convenience feature, not a primary backup

See Pricing for full storage details.

Privacy & Security Questions

Who can see my interviews?

Only you, unless you explicitly share.

Default privacy:

  • ❌ Not publicly listed
  • ❌ Not searchable
  • ❌ Not visible to other users
  • ❌ Not accessible without login

Optional sharing:

  • ✅ You generate share link → read-only access
  • ✅ You invite to collaborative mode → temporary access
  • ✅ You can revoke access anytime

Team members:

  • Coming soon: Team accounts with proper permissions
  • For now: Each person uses own account + sharing features

How secure is my data?

Very secure. We take this seriously.

InterviewCue was built with security as a foundation, not an afterthought. We conducted a comprehensive security review against the OWASP Top 10, the global standard for web application security. We pass across all categories.

What protects your data:

  • ✅ Encrypted everywhere - All data travels over HTTPS with strict transport security. No exceptions.
  • ✅ Ownership verified on every request - Every API call confirms you own the data you're accessing. Your interviews are invisible to everyone else.
  • ✅ Industry-standard password security - Passwords are hashed with Argon2, the same algorithm recommended by security experts worldwide. We never store plain text passwords.
  • ✅ Cryptographically signed sessions - Your login sessions use HMAC-SHA256 signatures that can't be forged or tampered with.
  • ✅ CSRF protection - Every form submission is verified with a unique token, preventing cross-site attacks.
  • ✅ Share links use unguessable tokens - Cryptographically random, revocable anytime.

What you can do:

  • Use a strong, unique password
  • Log out on shared devices
  • Don't share account credentials
  • Revoke share links when done

Do you sell my data?

No. Your content stays yours.

Your questions, recordings, transcripts, and notes are never sold to advertisers, data brokers, or used for AI training. Period.

Our business model:

  • Free tier: Generous limits for getting started (4 interviews/month, 250MB audio)
  • Pro tier: $15/month for working podcasters (unlimited interviews, 30 hours transcription, 2GB audio/month)
  • Team tier: $29/month for production teams (coming soon — 150 hours transcription, 10GB audio/month, team collaboration)
  • No advertising
  • No third-party data selling
  • No third-party tracking

All features free through Summer 2026. See Pricing for details.

Your data is yours.

Can I delete my account and data?

Yes, completely.

Account deletion:

  • Contact support to request deletion
  • All your data permanently deleted
  • Cannot be recovered
  • Complies with GDPR/privacy laws

Before deleting:

  • Export interviews you want to keep
  • Download all data (JSON exports)
  • Revoke share links
  • Cancel any paid subscriptions (future)

Partial deletion:

  • Delete specific interviews
  • Keep account but remove data

What happens if InterviewCue shuts down?

Unlikely, but we plan for it:

Data portability:

  • You can export everything (JSON format)
  • Standard formats (Markdown, CSV, etc.)
  • No vendor lock-in
  • Own your data always

If we ever shut down:

  • Advance notice (minimum 90 days)
  • Export tools available
  • Assistance with migration
  • Open-source option considered

Your work is never held hostage.

Comparison Questions

How is this different from just taking notes?

Traditional notes:

  • ❌ Manual timestamps (error-prone)
  • ❌ Lost in notebooks/files
  • ❌ Not searchable
  • ❌ Hard to share
  • ❌ No integration with tools
  • ❌ Transcription required for search

InterviewCue:

  • ✅ Automatic timestamps (precise)
  • ✅ Organized, searchable
  • ✅ Cloud-based, always accessible
  • ✅ Easy sharing and collaboration
  • ✅ Exports to all major tools
  • ✅ Transcript integration optional

How is this different from [other tool]?

vs. Descript:

  • Descript: Audio/video editing + transcription
  • InterviewCue: Interview workflow management
  • Use together: Record in Descript, organize in InterviewCue

vs. Notion/Evernote:

  • Notion: General note-taking
  • InterviewCue: Specialized for interviews with timestamps
  • Use together: Research in Notion, interview in InterviewCue

vs. Spreadsheets:

  • Spreadsheets: Manual data entry, no hotkeys
  • InterviewCue: Purpose-built, hotkey-driven
  • Use together: Export to spreadsheet for custom analysis

InterviewCue complements your existing tools, doesn't replace them.

Support Questions

How do I report a bug?

We want to know about bugs!

How to report:

  1. Email support with:

    • What happened (describe the bug)
    • What you expected to happen
    • Steps to reproduce
    • Browser and device info
    • Screenshots if helpful
    • Console errors (F12 → Console, screenshot red errors)

  2. Be specific:

    • ✅ "Clicking Export → Markdown shows error 'undefined'"
    • ❌ "Exports don't work"

  3. Include context:

    • Which interview?
    • Which page?
    • What were you doing before it happened?

We'll:

  • Acknowledge receipt within 24 hours
  • Investigate and fix
  • Update you on progress
  • Thank you for helping improve InterviewCue!

How do I request a feature?

Feature requests welcome!

How to request:

  1. Email us with:

    • Feature description (what you want)
    • Use case (why you need it)
    • Workflow (how you'd use it)
    • Priority (nice-to-have vs. critical)

  2. Check if it exists:

    • Review documentation (might already exist!)
    • Check roadmap (coming soon)

  3. Vote on roadmap:

    • Coming soon: Public roadmap with voting
    • Upvote features you want

We prioritize based on:

  • Number of requests
  • Use case importance
  • Technical feasibility
  • Strategic fit

How do I get help with my account?

Account issues:

Common fixes:

  • Can't log in: Reset password (forgot password link)
  • Email not received: Check spam folder
  • Account locked: Wait 15 minutes, try again
  • Wrong email: Contact support to update

Contact support for:

  • Account deletion requests
  • Email change requests
  • Billing issues (future)
  • Access problems
  • Data export assistance

Billing & Pricing Questions

Will there be a paid version?

Yes — paid plans launch after Summer 2026.

InterviewCue will have three tiers:

Free Pro — $15/mo Team — $29/mo
Interviews 4/month Unlimited Unlimited
Transcription ~4 hrs/month 30 hrs/month 150 hrs/month
Audio storage 250MB total 2GB/month (accumulates) 10GB/month (accumulates)
Audio retention 3 months While subscribed While subscribed

Every tier includes the full platform — all features, all exports, all tools. Limits exist because transcription and audio storage have real infrastructure costs, not because we're holding features hostage.

What happens at launch:

  • All existing users receive one month of Pro free
  • No automatic charges — you choose your plan
  • The Free tier stays generous

See Pricing for complete details.

Do you have an API?

Not yet, but we'd love to hear from you!

We don't currently offer a public API, but we're very interested in understanding how developers and teams would use one.

If you're interested in API access:

  • Tell us about your use case
  • Describe what you'd want to build
  • Explain how it would fit into your workflow
  • Share what endpoints or features you'd need

Why reach out?

  • Help us design an API that actually solves real problems
  • Influence our API roadmap and priorities
  • Get early access when we do build it
  • Join our developer community

Contact us: support@interviewcue.com with "API Interest" in the subject line

If there's enough demand and compelling use cases, we'll prioritize building an API that works for you.

Getting Started Questions

I'm brand new. Where should I start?

Welcome! Here's your path:

1. Read this first (5 minutes):

2. Quick start (10 minutes):

3. Learn the workflow (15 minutes):

4. Master hotkeys (5-10 minutes):

5. Record your first real interview! (🎙️)

Total learning time: 30-40 minutes

What's the one thing I should know?

The one thing:

InterviewCue lets you stay present with your guest while capturing everything important-use hotkeys (1-5) to mark moments without looking away from the conversation.

That's the core value. Everything else builds on that.

Related Documentation

Still Have Questions?

Can't find your answer?

📧 Email support: support@interviewcue.com (placeholder)
📚 Read docs: Browse all documentation
🔧 Check troubleshooting: Common problems & fixes
💬 Community (coming soon): Forum and discussion channels

We're here to help! 🙌✨