I rebuilt Whisper Notes as a native Mac app because the iPhone layout and workflow did not fit long recordings. The Mac version adds Fn-key dictation in any app, drag-and-drop transcription, clickable timestamps, and model choice without sending audio to a server.
Launch benchmark: the same 10-minute audio file finished in 63 seconds on a MacBook Pro M2 using Whisper Large V3 Turbo. We measured wall-clock time from starting transcription to final text in the release build; newer Parakeet models are substantially faster for supported European languages.
Core Features
1. Hold Fn, Dictate Anywhere
The most practical feature on Mac. In any application, hold the Fn key and speak—release to automatically input text at the cursor position.
- • System-level dictation works in any text field
- • Hold to speak, release to input instantly
- • An alternative to built-in macOS dictation that runs the model you choose
Hold Fn to dictate in any application
2. Streaming Output
After importing audio files, transcription results display in real-time streaming—no need to wait for the entire file to process:
- • Results appear as they're processed—no waiting with long audio
- • Stop early if you spot issues
- • Supports MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4 and more
Transcription results displayed in real-time streaming
3. Audio Import + Timestamp Export
Import audio files directly from your Mac, and transcription results include timestamps:
- • Transcribe meetings, lectures, interviews, and podcasts effortlessly
- • Every text segment has a corresponding timestamp—click to jump
- • Export transcripts with timestamps included
Every segment has a timestamp; click one to jump to that point in the audio.
4. Three Local Speech Engines
Pick the engine for the recording language:
- • Parakeet V3 is the default for English and 24 other European languages
- • SenseVoice is optimized for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Cantonese
- • Whisper Large V3 Turbo covers 100+ languages
- • Apple Silicon optimized—runs on M1/M2/M3/M4
- • Completely offline, 100% private
System Requirements
14.0 Sonoma or later
Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Whisper app for Mac?
Yes. Whisper Notes for Mac is a native macOS app that runs Parakeet V3, SenseVoice, and Whisper locally on Apple Silicon. It transcribes imported audio files, supports 100+ languages through Whisper, and works completely offline.
How do I dictate anywhere on my Mac with Whisper?
Hold the Fn key in any application and speak — release the key and the text is input at your cursor position. It works in any text field, as an alternative to built-in macOS dictation that runs the model you choose.
What are the system requirements for Whisper Notes on Mac?
macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later on an Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3/M4).
What audio formats can Whisper Notes transcribe on Mac?
MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4 and more. Results stream in as they're processed, every text segment gets a clickable timestamp, and you can export transcripts with timestamps included.
For a detailed model comparison, see the on-device speech model guide. For how it compares with MacWhisper, see Whisper Notes vs MacWhisper.
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