Conducting Interviews in Live Mode

The Heart of InterviewCue

Live Mode is where everything comes together. It's your focused, distraction-free interface for conducting interviews while effortlessly capturing the moments that matter.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Live Mode interface with clean, focused design]

Starting Live Mode

Before You Begin

  1. Open your interview
  2. Make sure you have:
    • ✅ Questions prepared
    • ✅ Background notes added
    • ✅ Reference links added (if needed)
    • ✅ Recording software ready

Entering Live Mode

From the interview details page, click:

  • "Go Live" or
  • "Start Live Mode" or
  • "Enter Live Mode"

The interface transforms into a clean, focused recording environment.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing the transition to Live Mode]

Your Screen Stays Awake

Important: When you enter Live Mode, InterviewCue requests a screen wake lock. Your screen will stay on during the entire interview—no more accidentally sleeping mid-conversation!

This works on:

  • 📱 iPhone/iPad (in Safari or installed as app)
  • 🤖 Android devices
  • 💻 Desktop browsers (Chrome, Edge, Safari)

The Live Mode Interface

What You'll See

Top Section:

  • Timer - Elapsed time since you started
  • Interview name - Reminder of what you're recording
  • Controls - Pause, Stop, Links, Settings

Main Section (Scrollable Text View):

  • Full interview text - All questions and background notes visible
  • Question titles - Clickable to navigate (for hosts/co-hosts)
  • Status badges - "✓ Asked" or "Not Asked" for each question
  • Current question - Highlighted with yellow background
  • Background notes - Below each question in lighter text

Bottom Section (Sticky Footer):

  • Event capture buttons - Flow interrupt, Add Link, Add Note
  • Export button - Quick access to markdown export

[PLACEHOLDER: Annotated screenshot of Live Mode with labels]

Clean, Focused Design

Everything is designed to stay out of your way:

  • Large, readable text in scrollable view
  • Entire interview visible - no hidden content
  • Minimal controls - just the essentials
  • Plenty of white space
  • Focus on the conversation, not the interface

Starting Your Interview

Two-Stage Start

Live Mode has a two-stage process to keep things organized:

Stage 1: Start Recording

  1. Click "Start Recording"
  2. The timer begins
  3. Status: "Recording Started" event is captured

This is when you:

  • Start your audio/video recording software
  • Do your intro and housekeeping
  • Chat casually with your guest

Stage 2: Begin Questions

  1. When ready to dive into questions, click "Begin Questions"
  2. First question appears
  3. Status: "Questions Begun" event is captured
  4. Question 1 is marked as "started" with timestamp

This marks the beginning of your structured interview.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing Start Recording and Begin Questions buttons]

Why Two Stages?

This separation helps you:

  • Warm up naturally before questions
  • Have a clear marker for where questions start
  • Keep intro/outro separate from main content
  • Generate accurate chapter markers later

Navigating Questions

The Full Text View Interface

Live Mode shows your entire interview as a scrollable document. All questions are visible at once, making it easy to see context, jump around naturally, and follow the conversation wherever it goes.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing scrollable text view with all questions]

Click to Navigate

Simply click any question title to jump to it.

  • Click anywhere on the question text
  • The interview scrolls to that question
  • It's marked as "Asked" (with a green ✓ badge)
  • In collaborative mode, all participants sync to the same question

No navigation buttons needed - the entire interview is right there for you to scroll and click.

Following Natural Conversation Flow

Real conversations don't follow linear order - and that's okay!

Common scenario:

  • You're on Question 2
  • Your guest mentions their "first major project"
  • You have a question about that in Question 7
  • Old problem: Hard to jump ahead without accidentally marking Q3-Q6 as asked
  • New solution: Just click Question 7 directly - only that question gets marked!

This is a feature, not a limitation:

  • Jump to any question without triggering others
  • Follow tangents naturally
  • Return to planned questions anytime
  • Your tool adapts to the conversation, not the other way around

Network Resilience & Offline Capability

Your interview continues even if the network fails.

The scenario:

  • You're conducting a live interview
  • Your internet connection drops unexpectedly
  • WebSocket disconnects

Old single-question UI:

  • ❌ You'd be stuck seeing only the current question
  • ❌ Can't see what's next
  • ❌ Can't navigate to other questions
  • ❌ Interview effectively halted

New text view UI:

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

Why this matters:

  • Critical failsafe for production environments
  • Peace of mind during live recording
  • Reduced dependency on constant connectivity
  • You're never stuck without your questions

What still works offline:

  • Viewing all questions
  • Reading background notes
  • Scrolling through interview
  • Browser search (Cmd+F)

What requires connection:

  • Saving new events
  • Navigation sync (collaborative mode)
  • Timer synchronization (collaborative mode)

Question Status Indicators

Each question shows its status at a glance:

  • "✓ Asked" (green badge) - You've navigated to this question
  • "Not Asked" (gray badge) - Not yet covered

Why this helps:

  • Quick progress check during long interviews
  • See what's left to cover
  • Easy to spot gaps in conversation
  • Useful for planning wrap-up

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing status badges]

Current Question Highlighting

The active question is clearly marked:

  • Yellow background
  • Yellow left border
  • "You are here" badge
  • Auto-scrolls into view when you or others navigate

This helps you:

  • Never lose your place
  • See what everyone else is looking at (collaborative mode)
  • Stay oriented during long interviews

Browser Search (Cmd+F)

Want to find a specific question quickly?

Use your browser's built-in search:

  1. Press Cmd+F (Mac) or Ctrl+F (Windows/Linux)
  2. Type keywords
  3. Browser highlights all matches
  4. Click through results

This works across your entire interview - all questions, all background notes, instantly searchable.

Capturing Events: The Magic of Hotkeys

The Philosophy

Stay present with your guest—press a single key to capture moments without looking away, without breaking eye contact, without losing focus.

The Five Event Types

Key Event Type When to Use
1 🔊 Audio Issue Coughs, interruptions, technical problems
2 💡 Flow Follow-ups, topics to revisit later
3 ⭐ Highlight Quotable moments, share-worthy content
4 📍 Segment Chapter markers, natural topic breaks
5 📝 Custom Note Anything else you want to remember

[PLACEHOLDER: Visual reference card showing the 5 hotkeys]

How It Works

Press the hotkey:

  1. A quick capture modal appears
  2. (Optional) Type additional details
  3. Press Enter or click Save
  4. Event is timestamped and saved
  5. You're back to the interview—total time: 2-3 seconds

Or skip the details:

  • Just press the number key
  • Press Enter immediately
  • The event is captured with just the timestamp

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of event capture modal]

Event Type Details

1 - Audio Issues

Mark technical problems or interruptions:

  • Coughs or sneezes
  • Phone rings
  • Dogs barking
  • Recording glitches
  • Background noise

Why: Your editor knows where to clean up the audio.

2 - Flow (Follow-ups)

Note topics to revisit or ideas for follow-up:

  • "Ask about the acquisition mentioned"
  • "Circle back to team structure"
  • "Follow up on that story"

Why: You can naturally return to topics without losing the conversation flow.

3 - Highlights

Mark quotable, shareable, promotional moments:

  • Powerful quotes
  • Key insights
  • Funny moments
  • Share-worthy content
  • Main takeaways

Why: These become your social media clips, show notes highlights, and chapter titles.

4 - Segments (Chapter Markers)

Mark natural breaks between topics:

  • Topic transitions
  • Major sections
  • Chapter boundaries

Why: These become podcast chapter markers for listeners to navigate.

5 - Custom Notes

Anything that doesn't fit the other categories:

  • Personal reminders
  • Show notes ideas
  • Research to add later
  • Gifts or books mentioned

Why: Flexibility for whatever you need.

Working with Background Notes

How They Appear

Background notes appear below the current question in a lighter, smaller font.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing background notes visibility]

Reading Background Notes

Take quick glances between your conversation:

  • Pronunciation reminders
  • Key facts to mention
  • Follow-up prompts
  • Context refreshers

They're there when you need them, invisible when you don't.

Pro Tip

Don't read background notes word-for-word! Use them as:

  • Quick reminders
  • Conversation sparks
  • Factual checks

The conversation should feel natural, not scripted.

Using Reference Links

Opening the Links Modal

Press L or click "Links" button.

The Quick Reference Links modal appears showing all your links.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of links modal in Live Mode]

What You Can Do

  • Search/filter - Type to find specific links
  • Click to open - Opens in new tab
  • Copy URL - Quick clipboard copy
  • Scroll through - Browse all links

Close: Press Esc or click outside the modal.

Adding Links in Real-Time

Discovered something mid-interview?

  1. Press Shift + A or click "Add Link"
  2. Enter the URL and optional name
  3. Press Enter

The link is saved and timestamped as an event!

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of add link modal]

Common Use Cases

  • Guest mentions a blog post → add it
  • Reference a product → add the URL
  • Discover a resource → capture for show notes
  • Social media mentioned → add for promotion

Pausing and Resuming

When to Pause

  • Taking a break
  • Technical difficulties
  • Comfort breaks
  • Interruptions

How to Pause

  1. Click "Pause" button or press Space bar
  2. Timer stops
  3. Interface shows "Paused" state

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of paused state]

Resuming

  1. Click "Resume" or press Space again
  2. Timer continues
  3. Back to recording

Note: Everything is preserved during the pause—question position, captured events, timeline.

Viewing All Shortcuts

The Help Modal

Press ? (question mark) at any time to see all keyboard shortcuts.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of shortcuts help modal]

A comprehensive reference appears showing:

  • All hotkeys
  • Navigation shortcuts
  • Action shortcuts
  • Modal controls

Close: Press ? again or Esc.

For a complete reference, see Keyboard Shortcuts.

Ending the Interview

When You're Done

  1. Click "End Interview"
  2. Confirm you're finished
  3. The interview is marked as completed
  4. You're redirected to Post-Production

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of end interview confirmation]

What Gets Saved

Everything is automatically saved:

  • All captured events with timestamps
  • Questions visited
  • Start and end times
  • Recorded date
  • Complete timeline

Nothing is lost!

Best Practices During Interviews

Before You Start

✅ Test your setup - Audio, video, internet connection
✅ Review questions - Quick refresh
✅ Position your device - Visible but not distracting
✅ Close distractions - Other apps, notifications

During the Interview

✅ Stay present - Focus on your guest, not the screen
✅ Use hotkeys - Don't reach for the mouse
✅ Capture liberally - Better to have too many markers than too few
✅ Don't over-capture - Not every second needs a note
✅ Trust your prep - Questions and notes are there to guide, not constrain

Energy Management

  • Start strong - First 10-15 minutes set the tone
  • Watch for energy dips - Around 30-40 minute mark
  • Time-check mentally - Glance at timer occasionally
  • Save best for early - Energy drops over time
  • End on a high note - Finish with inspiration

Mobile-Specific Tips

Using on Phone/Tablet

Landscape mode recommended - More screen space for questions and controls.

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of Live Mode in landscape]

Touch-optimized:

  • All buttons are large (48px minimum)
  • Haptic feedback on touches
  • Easy thumb reach
  • Swipe-friendly

Positioning:

  • Place device where you can glance easily
  • But not between you and your guest
  • Eye level or slightly below
  • Stable surface (not in your hand)

iPad Setup

Perfect recording companion:

  • Large screen for easy reading
  • Stable on desk or stand
  • Long battery life
  • Install as app for best experience

Desktop-Specific Tips

Multi-Monitor Setup

Ideal configuration:

  • Monitor 1: Your guest (video call)
  • Monitor 2: InterviewCue Live Mode
  • Monitor 3: Notes, research, recording software

Single monitor:

  • InterviewCue in one window
  • Guest video beside it
  • Alt-Tab to reference materials

Keyboard Shortcuts Shine

Desktop is where hotkeys really shine:

  • Physical keyboard
  • Muscle memory develops quickly
  • Lightning fast capture
  • No need to look away

Common Scenarios

"I forgot to capture something!"

No problem! After the interview:

  1. Go to Post-Production
  2. Click "Add Event"
  3. Enter the approximate time
  4. Add your note

You can add, edit, or delete events anytime after recording.

"I skipped a question by accident"

Easy fix:

  1. Press J to open Jump to Question
  2. Select the question you skipped
  3. Go back to it

No harm done!

"The guest went on a tangent"

Embrace it! Often the best content is unplanned.

  • Press 3 to mark highlights if it's good
  • Press 2 if you need to follow up later
  • Press 4 if it's a new topic (chapter marker)

Don't worry about following your question list rigidly.

"I captured the wrong event type"

Fix it later:

  • Events can be edited or deleted in Post-Production
  • The timestamp is what matters most
  • You can change the type or text afterward

"The interview is going long"

Monitor your time:

  • Glance at the timer
  • Skip less important questions
  • Use J to jump ahead
  • Wrap up gracefully with final questions

Practice Mode

Want to Rehearse?

Before your real interview, try Practice Mode:

  • Same interface as Live Mode
  • Nothing is saved
  • Safe environment to explore
  • Build muscle memory for hotkeys

Add ?mode=practice to your URL or look for "Practice Mode" option.

Technical Notes

Offline Functionality

Currently: Live Mode requires internet connection.

Future: Offline support is planned for network-independent recording.

Browser Support

Works best in:

  • ✅ Chrome/Edge (Desktop & Android)
  • ✅ Safari (Desktop & iOS)
  • ✅ Firefox (Desktop)

Screen wake lock works on all modern browsers.

Data Saving

Auto-save: Every event is saved immediately to the database.

Network issues: If connection drops, events are queued and saved when reconnected.

Don't worry: Your data is safe!

Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference

Event Capture:

Shortcut Action
1 Capture Audio Issue
2 Capture Flow/Follow-up
3 Capture Highlight
4 Capture Segment Marker
5 Capture Custom Note

Other Actions:

Shortcut Action
L View Links
Shift + A Add Link
Space Pause/Resume
? View All Shortcuts
Esc Close Modal

Navigation:

  • Scroll - Use mouse wheel, trackpad, or touch to scroll through interview
  • Click - Click any question title to navigate directly to it
  • Browser Search - Press Cmd+F (Mac) or Ctrl+F (Windows) to search

Note: Keyboard navigation shortcuts (arrow keys, J key) have been removed. Natural scrolling and clicking is more intuitive for the document-style interface.

For complete documentation, see Keyboard Shortcuts Reference.

What's Next?

After your interview, it's time for post-production:

Or explore advanced live mode features:

You're ready to conduct amazing interviews! 🎙️