diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/main/managers/recording-manager.ts b/apps/desktop/src/main/managers/recording-manager.ts
index 04bff82..398094e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/main/managers/recording-manager.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/main/managers/recording-manager.ts
@@ -167,7 +167,12 @@ export class RecordingManager extends EventEmitter {
   public async onPTTRelease() {
     // Hands-free mode ignores PTT release
     if (this.recordingMode !== "ptt") return;
-    if (this.recordingState !== "recording") return;
+    if (
+      this.recordingState !== "recording" &&
+      this.recordingState !== "starting"
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
 
     if (this.isQuickAction()) {
       // Quick release - wait for potential double-tap before cancelling
@@ -201,7 +206,10 @@ export class RecordingManager extends EventEmitter {
     }
 
     // Already recording
-    if (this.recordingState === "recording") {
+    if (
+      this.recordingState === "recording" ||
+      this.recordingState === "starting"
+    ) {
       // In PTT mode? Switch to hands-free
       if (this.recordingMode === "ptt") {
         logger.audio.info("Toggle in PTT mode, switching to hands-free");
@@ -241,7 +249,7 @@ export class RecordingManager extends EventEmitter {
       const startTime = performance.now();
       logger.audio.info("RecordingManager: doStart called", { mode });
 
-      // Sync state broadcast
+      // Sync state broadcast - stay in "starting" until init completes
       this.setState("starting");
       this.setMode(mode);
       this.terminationCode = null;
@@ -252,14 +260,16 @@ export class RecordingManager extends EventEmitter {
 
       const timestamp = new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, "-");
       this.currentSessionId = `session-${timestamp}`;
-      this.setState("recording");
 
-      this.startNoAudioTimer();
-
-      // Async init inside mutex
+      // Initialize session (includes muting) BEFORE changing to "recording"
+      // This ensures audio is muted before renderer starts capturing
       this.initPromise = this.initializeSession();
       await this.initPromise;
 
+      // Now safe to start recording - audio is muted
+      this.setState("recording");
+      this.startNoAudioTimer();
+
       const totalDuration = performance.now() - startTime;
       logger.audio.info("Recording started", {
         sessionId: this.currentSessionId,
@@ -297,7 +307,10 @@ export class RecordingManager extends EventEmitter {
     code: TerminationCode | null = null,
   ): Promise<void> {
     await this.lifecycleMutex.runExclusive(async () => {
-      if (this.recordingState !== "recording") {
+      if (
+        this.recordingState !== "recording" &&
+        this.recordingState !== "starting"
+      ) {
         logger.audio.warn("Cannot end recording - not recording", {
           currentState: this.recordingState,
         });
@@ -745,7 +758,10 @@ export class RecordingManager extends EventEmitter {
    * Signal to stop recording (called from tRPC)
    */
   public async signalStop(): Promise<void> {
-    if (this.recordingState === "recording") {
+    if (
+      this.recordingState === "recording" ||
+      this.recordingState === "starting"
+    ) {
       await this.endRecording();
     }
   }
@@ -755,7 +771,10 @@ export class RecordingManager extends EventEmitter {
     this.clearTimers();
 
     // Stop recording if active
-    if (this.recordingState === "recording") {
+    if (
+      this.recordingState === "recording" ||
+      this.recordingState === "starting"
+    ) {
       await this.endRecording();
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-start.mp3 b/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-start.mp3
index 72bdf45..601bd69 100644
Binary files a/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-start.mp3 and b/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-start.mp3 differ
diff --git a/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3 b/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3
index c1b8383..8bf2db4 100644
Binary files a/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3 and b/packages/native-helpers/swift-helper/Sources/SwiftHelper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3 differ
diff --git a/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-start.mp3 b/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-start.mp3
index 72bdf45..601bd69 100644
Binary files a/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-start.mp3 and b/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-start.mp3 differ
diff --git a/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3 b/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3
index c1b8383..8bf2db4 100644
Binary files a/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3 and b/packages/native-helpers/windows-helper/Resources/rec-stop.mp3 differ