feat: extract call recording transcripts from Apple Notes CRDT by ephraimm · Pull Request #35 · antoniorodr/memo

ephraimm · 2026-03-25T16:16:45Z

Reverse-engineers Apple's CRArchive protobuf format (NSKeyedArchiver over protobuf) to extract call recording transcripts from the ZMERGEABLEDATA1 column in NoteStore.sqlite.

Key changes

CRArchive decoder (`recording_utils.py`)

Schema-driven protobuf parser for CRArchive structure
Walks ICTTTranscriptSegment objects with speaker/text/timestamp resolved through registerLatest → NSString/NSNumber chains
Timestamp-based sorting (fixed64 doubleValue) for correct reading order
Speaker labels from root ICTTAudioRecording (callLocalSpeakerHandle / callRemoteSpeakerHandle)
Contact name resolution via macOS Contacts AppleScript (both +27 and 0 formats, cached)

Regression tests (`test_transcript_parsing.py`)

9 structural tests using a local-only CRDT blob fixture (gitignored) validating:

Speaker turn alternation and formatting
Multi-word sentence merging
No binary garbage or float artifacts
Contact name substitution
Tests skip gracefully in CI when fixture is absent

Checklist

I have read CONTRIBUTING.md and this PR follows the guidelines
A human has reviewed the entire diff of this PR, every line of code
A human understands the changes and can explain why this approach is correct
This PR doesn't have AI-generated boilerplate or co-author lines
This PR was authored and submitted by an AI agent without human review"

- Add 'memo recordings' command to list, view, extract, and search call recordings - get_recordings.py: dual-strategy detection (smart folder + name-pattern fallback) - recording_utils.py: transcript retrieval, attachment listing, audio extraction - search_memo.py: refactor fzf into reusable _run_fzf(); add fuzzy_recordings() - 12 new tests, all 35 tests pass

Replace speculative proposal with actual implementation docs. Also commit uv.lock for reproducible builds.

Reverse-engineer Apple's CRArchive protobuf format (NSKeyedArchiver over protobuf) to extract call recording transcripts from the ZMERGEABLEDATA1 column in NoteStore.sqlite. Key implementation: - Schema-driven protobuf parser for CRArchive structure - Walk ICTTTranscriptSegment objects with speaker/text/timestamp resolved through registerLatest→NSString/NSNumber chains - Timestamp-based sorting for correct reading order - Speaker labels from root ICTTAudioRecording (callLocalSpeakerHandle / callRemoteSpeakerHandle) - Contact name resolution via macOS Contacts AppleScript Includes 8 regression tests with a real CRDT blob fixture validating ground-truth transcript ordering and speaker assignment.

antoniorodr · 2026-03-26T10:43:10Z

Hello @ephraimm!

I am not sure if this is a feature available in Europe (I have never tried to do it). Could you explain shortly how this works?

Thanks!)

ephraimm · 2026-03-26T13:45:06Z

Hi Antonio, The iPhone includes a native call recording feature that utilizes Apple's transcription service. Both the recording and the transcript are saved within a specific section in the Notes app. Similar to other media attachments, extracting this data is not straightforward due to the convoluted Protobuf model used in the Notes database. However, I managed to reverse-engineer the structure using Claude and the tests pointing to a transcription manually copied from the app. Best regards, Ephraim Moss [image: image.png]

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On Thu, Mar 26, 2026 at 12:43 PM Antonio Rodriguez ***@***.***> wrote: *antoniorodr* left a comment (antoniorodr/memo#35) <#35?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAVMPVOXSWF5HE2YGXISKM34SUCVHA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTIMJTGM2TGNJYGU2KM4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJNLQOJPWG33NNVSW45C7N5YGK3S7MNWGSY3L#issuecomment-4133535854> Hello @ephraimm <https://github.com/ephraimm>! I am not sure if this is a feature available in Europe (I have never tried to do it). Could you explain shortly how this works? Thanks!) — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#35?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAVMPVOXSWF5HE2YGXISKM34SUCVHA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTIMJTGM2TGNJYGU2KM4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJNLQOJPWG33NNVSW45C7N5YGK3S7MNWGSY3L#issuecomment-4133535854>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAVMPVKET7IR5TZIMLIPZYL4SUCVHAVCNFSM6AAAAACW7DY6D6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DCMZTGUZTKOBVGQ> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

antoniorodr · 2026-03-27T11:39:45Z

Hi @ephraimm

I understand. I have not a note with a call transcript to tests this PR against, unfortunately.

But I can try to find (or create) one. I am still not sure if this feature is available in Europe.

Thanks!

ephraimm · 2026-03-27T12:33:27Z

Hi Antonio, If you can't find one I can create a test note to share. The feature is only available in Europe, AFAIK. My phone's region is set to UK. Ephraim

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On Fri, Mar 27, 2026 at 1:40 PM Antonio Rodriguez ***@***.***> wrote: *antoniorodr* left a comment (antoniorodr/memo#35) <#35?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAVMPVPZK6SRBYOG4RT3M6D4SZSBPA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTIMJUGE4TSOJZGM4KM4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJNLQOJPWG33NNVSW45C7N5YGK3S7MNWGSY3L#issuecomment-4141999938> Hi @ephraimm <https://github.com/ephraimm> I understand. I have not a note with a call transcript to tests this PR against, unfortunately. But I can try to find (or create) one. I am still not sure if this feature is available in Europe. Thanks! — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#35?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAVMPVPZK6SRBYOG4RT3M6D4SZSBPA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTIMJUGE4TSOJZGM4KM4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJNLQOJPWG33NNVSW45C7N5YGK3S7MNWGSY3L#issuecomment-4141999938>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAVMPVNIFZ76UL5UZOU42VT4SZSBPAVCNFSM6AAAAACW7DY6D6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DCNBRHE4TSOJTHA> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

antoniorodr · 2026-03-27T12:36:27Z

Hi again, Feel free sharing the note so I can test it out Thanks!

antoniorodr · 2026-04-15T09:13:16Z

Hello @ephraimm

I hope you are doing well. Do you have the test note we spoke about? So I can test this PR out and see if it works as expected.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

ephraimm · 2026-04-15T09:18:41Z

what format should I send it as? Ephraim Moss Founder & Chief Excitement Officer *C*+27 72 679 6838 ***@***.*** *W*www.goseamless.co.za *The information contained in this email is confidential and may contain proprietary information. It is meant solely for the intended recipient. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted in reliance on this, is prohibited and may be unlawful. No liability or responsibility is accepted if information or data is, for whatever reason corrupted or does not reach its intended recipient. No warranty is given that this email is free of viruses.*

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On Wed, Apr 15, 2026 at 11:13 AM Antonio Rodriguez ***@***.***> wrote: *antoniorodr* left a comment (antoniorodr/memo#35) <#35 (comment)> Hello @ephraimm <https://github.com/ephraimm> I hope you are doing well. Do you have the test note we spoke about? So I can test this PR out and see if it works as expected. I am looking forward to hearing from you. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#35 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAVMPVJADUHTYH6VKV5S3NT4V5HEHAVCNFSM6AAAAACW7DY6D6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DENJQG42TGMRRGY> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

antoniorodr · 2026-04-15T09:21:11Z

what format should I send it as? Ephraim Moss Founder & Chief Excitement Officer C+27 72 679 6838 @.*** Wwww.goseamless.co.za The information contained in this email is confidential and may contain proprietary information. It is meant solely for the intended recipient. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted in reliance on this, is prohibited and may be unlawful. No liability or responsibility is accepted if information or data is, for whatever reason corrupted or does not reach its intended recipient. No warranty is given that this email is free of viruses.
…
On Wed, Apr 15, 2026 at 11:13 AM Antonio Rodriguez @.> wrote: antoniorodr left a comment (antoniorodr/memo#35) <#35 (comment)> Hello @ephraimm https://github.com/ephraimm I hope you are doing well. Do you have the test note we spoke about? So I can test this PR out and see if it works as expected. I am looking forward to hearing from you. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#35 (comment)>, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAVMPVJADUHTYH6VKV5S3NT4V5HEHAVCNFSM6AAAAACW7DY6D6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DENJQG42TGMRRGY . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: @.>

I think markdown should be fine, if it keeps the information tho.

ephraimm added 3 commits March 24, 2026 14:27

docs: update ARCHITECTURE.md for implemented call recordings

8796fe9

Replace speculative proposal with actual implementation docs. Also commit uv.lock for reproducible builds.

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feat: extract call recording transcripts from Apple Notes CRDT#35

feat: extract call recording transcripts from Apple Notes CRDT#35
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Key changes

CRArchive decoder (recording_utils.py)

Regression tests (test_transcript_parsing.py)

Checklist

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ephraimm commented Mar 25, 2026 •

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CRArchive decoder (`recording_utils.py`)

Regression tests (`test_transcript_parsing.py`)

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