The last conference I attended, I didn’t use my iPad to take notes. Instead, I recorded each session with my Plaud Pro, a $189 digital recorder that captured keynotes, breakout sessions, and even impromptu chats with my roommate.And it turned all of those recordings into summaries with uncanny perfection.
By my calculations, I “sold” about six of these devices just by demonstrating how they work to other attendees. Truthfully, I didn’t actually sell them – more like provided each attendee with a link to Amazon where nearly everyone who watched me demo immediately ordered their own Plaud.
This device couldn’t be easier to use. That’s fortunate, as I often arrive at conference sessions just as the speaker is beginning. With Plaud, I simply press the on button and place the device on the table. In most instances, I’m halfway to the back of the room, and the transcription captures everything flawlessly.
Once the session ended I attached the Plaud to the back of my iPhone (it comes with a Magbak-like carry case). Then I opened the Plaud app and the recording was automatically uploaded and transcribed using one of several existing templates. Most recorded sessions took Plaud’s AI under three minutes to generate a complete set of notes.
It’s worth noting that transcription services are offered under two plans: an unlimited plan ($239.99/yr) and a Pro Plan ($99.99/yr). The main difference is that the Pro plan includes up to 1,200 minutes of monthly transcription. Therefore, if you’re hesitant to pay for another subscription, this device might not be the best fit.
During the upcoming Acumatica Summit 2026 conference (January 25-28, 2026, Seattle, WA), I plan to exclusively use my Plaud Pro to capture and transcribe each session. If you’re like me, you probably take tons of notes at conferences. The problem I found is that I rarely went back and tidied up the notes once the conference was over. Now, with Plaud Pro, the sessions are transcribed and summarized, and readily available for review. ( Link: Amazon )