This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Every part of a criminal trial has to be recorded, either by a court reporter typing everything down or by an electronic recording system. This includes the main trial itself, but it also covers smaller moments that might otherwise get skipped, like conversations that happen at the judge's bench during the trial or discussions about what instructions will be given to the jury.
This matters because it creates a complete record of what happened in court. If someone wants to appeal the case later, or if there's a dispute about what was said or decided during the trial, this recording serves as proof. Without it, there would be no reliable way to check what actually took place.
For anyone involved in a criminal case, this rule means nothing said in the courtroom is truly "off the record" during trial proceedings. Even quiet conversations at the bench between the judge and lawyers get captured, so there's always an accurate account available if it's needed down the road.
