--- title: Enabling Applet-Level Call Recording slug: voice-apis/enabling-applet-level-call-recording docTags: createdAt: 2025-11-13T07:04:07.120Z --- Enabling Applet-Level Call Recording ### Overview This guide demonstrates how enterprises can dynamically control call recording within their Exotel applet flow using the **Passthru Applet** (GET request) and **Recording API** (POST request). This setup enables selective, event-driven recording control — for example, starting the recording before a greeting or IVR prompt and stopping it before agent transfer. The implementation combines the[Passthru Applet](docId\:CQ8K-ivzyBxEZr3xySYpS) and[Call Recordings](docId:3ssnZ3G1MgRr4dPdxihsh) to allow real-time backend-triggered recording. ### How It Works 1. **Use Passthru Applet (GET):** The Passthru applet sends call information such as CallSID, From, and To parameters to your backend via a GET request. 2. **Backend Triggers Recording API (POST):** Your backend receives the GET request, extracts the CallSID, and immediately makes a POST call to the **Recording API** to start recording. 3. **Continue Call Flow:** The call proceeds through the configured applets (Greeting, IVR, Gather, etc.) while recording remains active. 4. **End-of-Flow Stop Recording:** At the final stage, another Passthru applet sends a GET request to your backend endpoint (e.g., /stop\_recording), which triggers a POST API call to stop recording. This ensures Exotel only records the specific portion of the call you need, such as the main interaction, and not hold or transfer periods. ### Step-by-Step Implementation ### 1. Configure the Passthru Applet (Start Recording) - Add a **Passthru Applet** at the point in the flow where you want to begin recording. - Set the Passthru applet’s GET **URL** to a backend endpoint like https\://yourdomain.com/start\_recording. - When executed, Exotel performs a **GET** request to this endpoint with call details appended as query parameters: :::BlockQuote https\://yourdomain.com/start\_recording?CallSid=abcd1234efgh5678\&From=%2B919900112233\&To=08088919888\&CallType=outgoing ::: Your backend should capture the CallSid from this GET request quer params ### 2. Backend: Invoke Start Recording API (POST) Your backend now calls Exotel’s Recording API using the captured CallSid. `POST` :::BlockQuote https\://\:\\/v1/Accounts/\/Calls/\/recording.json ::: **Example:** ```curl curl --location 'https:///v1/Accounts//Calls//recording.json' \ --header 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' \ --data-urlencode 'Action=START' \ --data-urlencode 'RecordingChannels=dual' \ --data-urlencode 'RecordingFormat=mp3-hq' \ --data-urlencode 'StatusCallback=' \ --data-urlencode 'Leg1Recording=True' ``` Replace `` and `` with the API key and token created by you. - Replace `` with your “Account sid” - Replace `` with the region of your account 1. `` of Singapore cluster is @api.exotel.com 2. `` of Mumbai cluster is @api.in.exotel.com `` , `` and `` are available in the API settings page of your Exotel Dashboard **Parameter Reference:** | **Parameter** | **Type** | **Description** | | --------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Action** | String | START or STOP to control recording. | | **RecordingChannels** | String | Optional — Audio channels. • single *(default)* – Both legs mixed. • dual – Caller/callee recorded separately. | | **RecordingFormat** | String | Optional — Audio quality. • mp3 *(default)* – Standard bitrate. • mp3-hq – High bitrate (32 kbps/channel). Requires enablement via hello\@exotel.com. | | **StatusCallback** | URL | Callback endpoint for recording status. | | **Leg1Recording** | Boolean | True to record only the first call leg. | ### 3. Continue with Business Applets After triggering the start recording API, your flow continues normally with applets such as: - **Greeting Applet:** Playback welcome message. - **IVR Applet:** Capture user selections. - **Gather Applet:** Collect input. - **Connect Applet:** Transfer to agent. **Example Flow:** :::BlockQuote Passthru (GET → start\_recording) → Backend (POST → Start Recording API) → Greeting → IVR → Gather → Passthru (GET → stop\_recording) ::: ### 4. Configure Passthru Applet (Stop Recording) At the end of the flow: - Add another **Passthru Applet** configured to call a URL like `https://yourdomain.com/stop_recording.` - This GET request from Exotel again includes the CallSid. - Your backend receives this GET, extracts the CallSid, and invokes: ```curl curl --location 'https://:/v1/Accounts//Calls//recording.json' \ --header 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' \ --data-urlencode 'Action=STOP' ``` This cleanly terminates recording at the end of the call. ### Recording Access - **Dashboard:** Under each call log. - \*\*Call Detail APIs: \*\*https\://developer.exotel.com/api/make-a-call-api#call-details ### Compliance Notes - The Passthru applet always sends a **GET request** to your backend; the enterprise must use POST to trigger or stop recording. - Obtain customer consent per regional compliance rules. - *mp3-hq* is an optional, on-demand feature. - Recordings are stored securely in Exotel’s environment. ### Example Use Case **Scenario:** A customer support survey where only the IVR interaction is recorded. 1. Passthru applet sends GET to backend → backend triggers **Start Recording (POST)**. 2. IVR runs and records customer input. 3. Final Passthru sends GET → backend triggers **Stop Recording (POST)** before agent connection. This ensures only the main customer interaction is captured. ### References [Passthru Applet](docId\:CQ8K-ivzyBxEZr3xySYpS) [Call Recordings](docId:3ssnZ3G1MgRr4dPdxihsh) [Secure Call Recording](docId\:b89H_wKLyWIc8PhKjcqtT)