backchannel
Windows x64
For Windows 10 or later on 64-bit Intel or AMD processors.
- Download
Backchannel-windows-x64-v0.6.5.zip. - Unzip it and run
Backchannel.exe. - If SmartScreen appears, choose More info, then Run anyway.
Release v0.6.5
Long jobs stay visible. Calls finish cleanly.
Audio import and Re-transcribe now show their work instead of making the app look frozen. End Call reaches the completed review when transcript refinement is enabled, safe Ask requests can repair one missed PII token locally, and live connection notices say whether recording is continuing before anything else.
Download Backchannel v0.6.5
These unsigned open-source builds are delivered through the Backchannel download portal. Downloads are open to everyone; no account or GitHub sign-in is required.
The Windows and Linux bundles include ffmpeg. On macOS, voice calibration and compressed audio imports still need ffmpeg on PATH.
macOS Apple Silicon
For Apple Silicon Macs. Intel macOS builds are not included in this release.
- Download
Backchannel-macos-arm64-v0.6.5.zip. - Unzip it and move
Backchannel.appwherever you keep apps. - Right-click
Backchannel.appand choose Open the first time.
Linux x64
A portable bundle for 64-bit Intel or AMD Linux systems.
- Download
Backchannel-linux-x64-v0.6.5.tar.gz. - Extract it with
tar -xzf Backchannel-linux-x64-v0.6.5.tar.gz. - Run
Backchannel/Backchannel.
What changed
v0.6.5 concentrates on work that previously looked stuck, live-call failure states that were hard to interpret, and two paths that could prevent a session or Ask request from finishing.
Long transcription jobs show their work
Audio import and Re-transcribe run in the background with their model, progress, segments, and saved transcript-entry count visible. Either job can be canceled. A canceled or failed replacement keeps the transcript that was already there instead of saving a partial result.
End Call reaches the review
Transcript refinement could send an incomplete progress update during the final pass, crash post-processing, and leave a session looking active. The complete path now reaches the completed review, including when refinement is enabled.
A safe Ask gets one local token repair
If the final PII tripwire finds a session value that should already have been tokenized, Backchannel locally tokenizes the prompt again and repeats the check. If the value survives, the request is still refused before any provider receives it.
Connection notices say what matters
Connecting is no longer described as a lost connection. A real interruption begins with "Recording paused." Slower processing begins with whether recording continues, then explains the possible transcript impact without exposing internal frame, segment, or gateway terminology.
The updater explains the handoff
Download update stays visible above the optional release notes. Once a build is ready, the panel says plainly that Backchannel will close the current window, install the update, and reopen automatically.
Unknown speakers stay unknown
When the configured speaker-profile limit is reached, an unmatched voice is no longer forced onto the closest known speaker. Longer unmatched turns remain in the transcript as unknown rather than being mislabeled or discarded.
First-run notes
| Need | What to do |
|---|---|
| Release access | Nothing - downloads are open to everyone; no account or sign-in is required. |
| Provider key | Follow the guided setup on first launch, or add a key later in Admin -> Connections. Calls will not start until the transcription model has a usable credential; local ONNX transcription needs none. |
| Voice calibration | Works out of the box on Windows and Linux. On macOS, install ffmpeg and make sure it is on PATH before enrolling your voice. |
| Upgrading | An install on v0.5.3 or later updates itself in place, verifies the new build first, and waits for recording and post-processing to finish before restarting. An install on v0.5.2 or earlier will not see this release from inside the app: download the bundle above, quit the old version from the tray, and run the new one. Session data is stored per-user and shared by every version. |
| Desktop launch | Backchannel opens a dedicated local app window in your default browser when it supports app windows, otherwise it uses a standard browser tab. It remains available from the system tray or menu bar. |
| Docker | Check out the v0.6.5 source tag and rebuild Compose to run the same release through containers. If you reach the stack by a DNS hostname rather than an IP address or localhost, set BACKCHANNEL_ALLOWED_HOSTS to that name in .env first. |
Start with the desktop app or self-host the stack
Both paths run Backchannel on your machine. Choose the desktop bundle for the fastest start, or Compose for maximum control.