# Your first call (/api/quickstart)

You make keys in Taad itself, never through the API. It takes a minute, then one `curl` tells you it works.

<Callout title="The API is for those who pay for Taad">
  You need a paid plan, or money in your [API wallet](/api/wallet). Without either, Taad asks you to choose one before it makes a key. See [Paying for the API](/api/pricing).
</Callout>

<Steps>

<Step>

### Open Settings › Developers [#open-settings--developers]

In Taad, open **Settings** and choose **Developers**, at the end of the list. Your API wallet is at the top; your keys are below it, under **API keys**.

</Step>

<Step>

### Choose Make a key [#choose-make-a-key]

Choose **Make a key**, then say what the key is for. Taad picks what it may do from your answer:

- **Send my recordings somewhere**: it only reads (Notion, a sheet, a CRM).
- **Sync both ways**: it reads and changes recordings, to-dos and the calendar.
- **Send audio to Taad**: everything, sending audio and asking questions included (a phone system, a dialer).
- **Something else**: you choose each thing it may do.

If you want Claude or ChatGPT to use your recordings, choose **Let an AI assistant use my recordings**: the [MCP connector](/help-center/integrations/mcp-assistant) does it with no key at all.

<AppPicture name="api-new-key" wallpaper="lilac" alt="Settings › Developers, API keys: a new key asking what it's for, with five choices from Send my recordings somewhere to Something else" />

</Step>

<Step>

### Name it and make it [#name-it-and-make-it]

Give it a name you'll recognise later (where it's used: "Zapier", "CRM sync"). Then choose:

- **Live** for your real recordings, or **Test** for the [sandbox](/api/sandbox)'s samples, never charged.
- **Read-only**, if it should never change anything.
- A **weekly spending cap**, the most it may spend from your wallet in a week. Empty means no cap.
- When it **expires**: never, or in 30 days, 90 days or a year.

Choose **Make the key**. If you last signed in more than 10 minutes ago, Taad asks you to sign in again first.

<AppPicture name="api-key-form" wallpaper="lilac" alt="A new key named Zapier: Live chosen, Read-only off, no weekly spending cap, never expires, and Make the key" />

</Step>

<Step>

### Copy the key [#copy-the-key]

Choose **Copy key** and keep it somewhere safe, on your server: it's shown this once and Taad doesn't keep it. Then choose **I've saved it**. Lost it? [Roll it](/api/authentication#keeping-it-safe) for a new one.

<AppPicture name="api-key-made" wallpaper="lilac" alt="Your new key: a long token starting taad_, with Copy key and I've saved it, and the new key listed below" />

</Step>

<Step>

### Check it works [#check-it-works]

```bash
export TAAD_API_KEY="taad_…"

curl https://api.taad.app/v1/me \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAAD_API_KEY"
```

You get back what the key is: its name, where it reaches and what it may do.

</Step>

<Step>

### Read your recordings [#read-your-recordings]

```bash
curl "https://api.taad.app/v1/recordings?created_after=2026-10-01&limit=10" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TAAD_API_KEY"
```

Then open one with its transcript and notes: `GET /v1/recordings/{id}`, `GET /v1/recordings/{id}/transcript`, `GET /v1/recordings/{id}/notes`.

</Step>

</Steps>

## What's next [#whats-next]

- [Keys](/api/authentication): personal and organization keys, and keeping a key safe.
- [Webhooks](/api/webhooks): hear about a recording the moment its notes are ready.
- [Your API wallet](/api/wallet): add money for sending audio and asking questions.