Should you’ve ever wished the text-to-speech characteristic in your Mac labored higher, Spokenly is perhaps the answer for you. It is a free Mac utility that permits you to use trendy AI transcription proper in your Mac without cost—simply set off the appliance with a keyboard shortcut, say what you need to sort, and watch because it seems on the display.
No matter you are feeling about trendy AI, it is arduous to disclaim that it is good at turning the spoken phrase into textual content. Whether or not it is real-time transcription or making a transcript for a video or audio file, the open supply Whisper engine is correct and quick. Spokenly is a free utility that permits you to use this expertise in your Mac.
Set up the appliance, which is presently free on the Mac App Retailer, and it’ll begin in your menu bar. Transcribing is easy: Simply press and maintain the correct Command button and you may see the pop-up, as proven above. Say what you need to sort and let go if you’re executed—the textual content will seem within the presently energetic textual content subject.
You could possibly actually simply set up the appliance, use it this manner, and by no means take into consideration the settings—it principally simply works. If you wish to dig into, although, open the settings by clicking the menu bar icon and clicking Normal Settings. You possibly can resolve whether or not the appliance will present up within the menu bar, dock, or each. You possibly can resolve which microphone you would like the appliance to favor, assuming you employ a couple of. And you may resolve whether or not transcribed textual content needs to be copied to your clipboard by default.
Should you like experimenting with AI, although, it is best to try the Voice Fashions tab. From right here, you you’ll be able to select which AI mannequin you need to use. By default, the appliance makes use of a web-based model of “Whisper Giant v3,” which is the one mannequin that helps displaying your transcription within the pop-up window as you are speaking. There are different fashions you should utilize, although, together with GTP-4o by way of Spokenly.
Credit score: Justin Pot
Should you’d reasonably not use a web-based service, there’s help for downloading and operating varied Whisper fashions domestically. You’ll have to discover a steadiness between arduous drive area, efficiency, and accuracy—I like to recommend making an attempt out a couple of fashions till one works for you. There’s additionally help for utilizing Deepgram, Fireworks, and OpenAI API keys, assuming you are already paying for a type of companies.
If you do not know what any of meaning, don’t be concerned: The default mannequin works extraordinarily nicely. And there is extra to dig into with this utility. The Transcribe File tab of the settings window allows you to add any video or audio file and get a transcription, with or with out timestamps. There’s even help for producing subtitle recordsdata in your movies.
What do you assume to date?
Credit score: Justin Pot
And there is a few power-user instruments you’ll be able to arrange. The Fast Instructions tab allows you to select a couple of mixtures of phrases that run an motion as an alternative of transcribing. Simply select a set off phrase and what you would like that phrase to do—open a URL, launch an utility, or run one in every of your Apple Shortcuts. For instance, you can arrange “Open Lifehacker” as a set off phrase and our homepage because the URL. Do this and the Lifehacker web site will open each time your say the phrases “Open Lifehacker,” enhancing your life (one assumes).
Credit score: Justin Pot
One other characteristic, AI Prompts, means that you can set a immediate that may change your textual content after dictating it. Simply select a separate keyboard shortcut and sort your immediate for the textual content. For instance, you can write a immediate that claims “translate this textual content into Spanish”—now you can use a customized keyboard shortcut to transcribe one thing earlier than utilizing AI to translate it. Any immediate you’ll be able to consider will work.
All of those options reward tinkering, which is precisely the type of utility I like. And the appliance is totally free as of this writing, whereas providing options that can help you use it privately. Attempt it out if you want you can get extra out of transcription software program.
