Who this is for
People who run a second-brain / PKM system (Obsidian, Notion, Roam) and want insights captured as clean atomic notes, not stray fragments.
The moment this saves you
I have a real insight on a walk, tell myself I'll add it to my notes later, and later it's either gone or it's a one-line fragment with no context that I can't use.
See it work
Messy spoken thought in. A clean, structured artifact out.
Idea I want to capture. I've been thinking about how the best products aren't the ones with the most features, they're the ones that make a single decision for you so you don't have to. Like how a great default is worth more than ten settings. This connects to that Barry Schwartz paradox of choice thing. I want to remember this for the design philosophy note I'm building. Tag it product and design and decision-making maybe.
The best products make one decision for you
The best products aren't the ones with the most features, they're the ones that make a single decision for you so you don't have to. A great default is worth more than ten settings.
Connects to: Barry Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice. Relevant to my design-philosophy note.
Tags: #product #design #decision-making
The workflow
Record a voice note
Hit the hotkey and talk, no formatting, no typing.
Tag it with this context
Contextli shapes your words into the structured output above.
Find it later
Everything's searchable and organised by context.
Pull it into Claude or ChatGPT
Bring your contexts straight into your AI tools with the Contextli MCP.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
The prompt behind this context
I'm going to speak a raw insight or idea I want to keep in my notes system. Turn it into a clean atomic note: a bold Title that captures the idea as a claim (not a vague topic), the idea itself rewritten as one or two tight paragraphs in my voice, a **Connects to:** line ONLY if I mention a related source, note, or concept, and a **Tags:** line of hashtags ONLY from tags I actually said. Keep my framing of the idea. Don't invent connections or tags I didn't mention, and don't pad it. Output only the note.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Use this context
One click copies it and shows you exactly how to drop it into Contextli.
Next, open Contextli, go to the Contexts page, click Import, choose From JSON, paste, then Import Context. It is ready to use.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
Related contexts
Brain Dump
Your head's too full to think, tasks, worries, ideas, all tangled. Just say everything out loud, in whatever messy order it comes. You get it back sorted into to-dos, ideas, and worries, so your brain can finally let go of holding it all.
Reading & Research Note
You highlighted half the article and saved it to a graveyard you'll never revisit. Instead, say what the source actually claimed and why it matters to your project. The takeaway, the relevance, and the caveat all get kept.
Book Takeaways
You finish a great book and two weeks later can't name a single idea from it. Right after the last page, say what actually stuck and how you'd use it. You build a personal library of takeaways you'll genuinely return to, instead of a shelf of forgotten covers.
Questions people ask
Questions knowledge workers ask about Second Brain Capture
What is the fastest way for a knowledge worker to capture an idea before forgetting it?
Speak the idea immediately, before you do anything else. The Second Brain Capture context accepts a rambling voice note and structures it into an idea brief with the key components preserved and organized. The whole process takes under 60 seconds, which means you can capture while the idea is still alive.
How do I turn a brain dump into something organized and actionable?
Speak everything you are thinking without filtering or organizing, then let the Second Brain Capture context do the structuring. It groups related items, separates tasks from ideas, and produces an idea brief with categories and priorities. You contribute the raw material; Contextli contributes the organization.
What should I do with ideas I get during a commute or workout?
Speak them into Contextli immediately. Once the Second Brain Capture context is in your app, you can capture hands-free while walking, driving by voice, or working out. The structured idea brief is waiting when you get back to your desk.
Can I dictate ideas instead of writing them down?
Yes. Contextli is built for this. Select the Second Brain Capture context, speak your idea in plain language, and receive an idea brief. The output is plain text you can paste anywhere, and your recording stays on your device.
How do I add this context to Contextli?
Copy the context on this page, then open Contextli and go to the Contexts page. Click Import, choose From JSON, paste it into the Import from Clipboard window, and click Import Context. It is ready to use in under 30 seconds. If you do not have Contextli yet, you can download it for free first.
Is my voice recording private? Does Contextli send it anywhere?
Your voice recording and the transcription are stored on your device only. Contextli processes your audio locally and does not send your recordings or transcription text to any server. The structured output it produces is text you control, and you decide where it goes.
Can I change what the output looks like?
Yes. Every context in Contextli is a starting point you can edit. Open the context in the app, change the instructions to adjust the structure, tone, or fields, and save. The next time you use it, the output reflects your changes. You are not locked into the default format.
Do I need to install an app to use this context?
Yes. Contextli is a free app. Download it, then copy this context and paste it into the Import from Clipboard window on the Contexts page. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.